Fresh take on 17th century painting
Keen artist Terry O’Shea has donated his version of a 17th century painting to Oakwell Hall Country Park. The painting is Terry’s first copy of the Fishing Scene, which hangs above the fireplace in the Great Hall.
Senior museum officer Eric Brown said the painting was one of the few pieces in the collection that was given to Council when the Hall was donated in the 1920s. Unfortunately much of the detail on the original has been obscured so Terry thought he’d like to paint a version that would help people understand the theme of the original.
He said, "On behalf of Oakwell Hall we’d like to thank Terry for his generosity and we hope visitors will enjoy this painting."
The Trust’s communications officer Lisa Millett went to meet Terry to find out more about his love of Oakwell Hall.
Terry was brought up close to Oakwell Hall and has been visiting the museum since he was 7 years old. Now some 50 years on Oakwell Hall is still a big part of Terry’s life and he is a ‘Friend of Oakwell Hall’
Friends of Oakwell work closely with the dedicated staff and provide assistance both inside and outside the Hall. As well as offering hands on opportunities, being a ‘Friend of Oakwell’ is also a great way to appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of the Hall and Park.
Since the group was first formed in 1988 Terry has gained a lot of pleasure out of being a member and has made lots of friends along the way. His involvement with Oakwell has also given him the chance to explore his love of art, painting many of the pieces that have been part of the Hall’s history for hundreds of years, including the Fishing Scene.
Terry is currently working on a piece by Bramwell Bronte, who was a painter and the only son of the Brontë family, and the brother of the writers Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Having been hidden away in a drawer for many years Terry is hoping to paint his own version and bring the original back to life.
Speaking about his connection with Oakwell Hall, Terry said he has gained a lot of satisfaction from being a part of the team and been able to incorporate its history into his artwork.
But it’s not just Oakwell Hall that Terry paints. On a weekend he can often be found rambling around the local countryside capturing the landscape and buildings in his artwork, which he has found to be a great way to relax.
A number Trust services use creative approaches such as painting and drawing to achieve high quality outcomes for people who use services.
By using creative approaches, the importance of engagement and involvement is highlighted and barriers between staff and services users can be broken down. For this reason creativity is embedded in the care and treatment of many Trust services producing fantastic results for individuals.
You can find out more about Terry’s role and other friends on their dedicated website.