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Brentwood Art Trail Commission Has A Permanent Home In Ingatestone

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Image showing the unveiling of Nicola Osborne's painting at Ingatestone Station, featuring (L-R) Robert Fletcher, Villene Hyam, Nicola Osborne, Sarah Walmsley and June Povey.

The annual Brentwood Art Trail from Brentwood Connected, the Business Improvement District (BID), took place across Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone in June.  However, its legacy lives on in the form of a painting by local artist Nicola Osborne, commissioned by Brentwood Connected as part of the month-long event, and now on permanent display at Ingatestone Station.

Nicola’s painting is inspired by Philippa Threlfall’s mosaic titled ‘Peoples Who Used The Essex Road’.  The mosaic, a much-loved landmark in Ingatestone, can be found on The Chequers building in the High Street.  Unveiled in 1969, it’s an 18 foot tall depiction of the town in the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring Queen Elizabeth I, a Roman foot soldier, a Knight Templar, and a Victorian coachman.  There’s also a man and young boy driving turkey and sheep, in a nod to the flocks of turkeys who were herded down the road from Norfolk for the Christmas market in those times.

As part of the Brentwood Art Trail’s extensive programme of events this year, artist Nicola Osborne was commissioned to create a modern-day version of Threlfall’s work to go on display in the historic Ingatestone Station.  Nicola immersed herself in the heritage of the village on the day, painting outside Kennadys and The Ginger Tree, and recreated a scene in acrylic on canvas, featuring the modern-day people and places in Ingatestone, including St. Mary & St, Edmund’s Church, families, dogs, delivery drivers, prams and mobile phones.  The painting was created live on Saturday 14 June in Ingatestone High Street, exhibited in the Brentwood Art Trail Pop-Up Gallery, and then gifted by Brentwood Connected businesses to Ingatestone Station for permanent display.

The painting was officially unveiled at Ingatestone Station’s platform two waiting room by artist Nicola Osborne, Brentwood Connected BID Manager Sarah Walmsley, Brentwood Art Trail Project Manager Villene Hyam, June Povey from Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and station adopter Robert Fletcher from Friends of Ingatestone Station (all pictured).

Sarah Walmsley, Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID) Manager, said, “One of the successes of this year’s Brentwood Art Trail was the impact of our live art events in the High Streets, so it made complete sense to create something which the public could enjoy not only on the day but all year round.  We’re hoping visitors to Ingatestone Station will enjoy this painting and be encouraged to see what else the area has to offer.”

Villene Hyam, Brentwood Connected’s Social Media & Marketing Manager, who leads the Brentwood Art Trail project added, “We’re grateful to our artist Nicola Osborne, who did a huge amount of research and preparation beforehand and created something wonderful on the day.  The result is this beautiful representation of the village and its heritage, which has enabled us to create our own part of history through the Brentwood Art Trail.”

June Povey, Essex & Suffolk Community Rail Partnership Officer, said, “Nicola’s painting is a welcome addition to the waiting room at Ingatestone Station and enhances the great work members of the local community are already carrying out in this space.  Thank you to Brentwood Connected for gifting this work of art to the station, and to Robert Fletcher, Neil Bromley and the Friends of Ingatestone Station for helping to build this relationship.”

Ingatestone Station is steeped in plenty of history of its own.  In April, an official blue plaque was installed to commemorate the inspirational life of Dorothy Wadham, brought up and educated at Ingatestone Hall, and the founder of Wadham College, Oxford at the age of 75.  There is also a series of history boards around the station, produced by Robert Fletcher, with information about Ingatestone and Fryerning.  Work is underway to develop the former Gatekeepers’ Cottage on site, and Ingatestone Museum Trust hopes this will open as a museum and community space later this year.  The small cottage, which dates back to 1856 is one of the last of its kind in the UK.  So far, the project has been financed through various arts and heritage funding streams, including Ingatestone & Fryerning Parish Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Brentwood Borough Council, but further financial support is required to complete essential works before opening.  The museum is also looking for photographs or objects of interest for donation or loan to build the museum’s collection.  If you can help in any way, you can contact the Ingatestone Museum Trust by email (secretary@imt.gb.net).

Brentwood Connected is a unique Business Improvement District (BID) supporting the borough’s three high streets and funded by town centre businesses to improve the experience of residents, visitors, employees and businesses in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. The Brentwood Art Trail will return in 2026.