Rainbow has put a smile on villagers’ faces

A colourful sight has greeted visitors to Freshford’s Tyning Field, thanks to the artistic efforts of some of the village’s younger residents.

Working with artist Annabel Menheneott, children from the area have been painting rocks in rainbow colours and adding them to a growing art project, pictured.

Annabel said: “At the start of lockdown I wanted to do a collective art project for the village children that they could all contribute to.

“I had the idea of creating a large a scale rainbow made out of painted stones to be built up over the weeks on the Tyning field, as a group project and a great symbol for the village; something nice for the children to contribute to at a time when they couldn’t be with their friends. The collective art project meant they would get a sense of building something together even when they couldn’t be together.”

The first stones were laid out at the sight on VE Day - May 8- and the project is now nearing completion.

“I’ve been so moved by the positivity surrounding the project,” said Annabel. “Firstly, I was taken aback by the amount of people who wanted to be involved and secondly, and possibly more surprisingly, by the positive effect it has had on people who see the rainbow building.

“It has transcended the ages, giving the very youngest to the older passers-by a positive message, creating a sense of hope and positivity which is so important.

“The project has reminded me the powerful nature that art can have, especially when placed in public spaces and when opened up to the public to get involved with.

“Every time I see someone sitting near the rainbow or talking about the project, I know it has had the desired effect of giving people something to focus on.”

Local resident Drummond, aged nine, said: “I’ve never done a community art project before. It’s really fun to count how many stones there are every time we go to drop off more. It’s growing every day. It reminds me of the poem ‘Catch A Rainbow’ by Brian Whittingham that we learnt at school and that makes me smile.”