A YOUNG artist with a passion for horses has been selected to exhibit four original pieces of artwork at this year’s Henley Festival.
Sophie Fois, 23, from Turville, is a former pupil of Gillotts School and The Henley College.
She completed a one-year art and design foundation course at Oxford Brookes Univerity — achieving a distinction — before going on to read for a BA in decorative arts at Nottingham Trent University, where she specialised in ceramic sculpture.
On graduating with first class honours last summer, her degree show saw her selected to exhibit at New Designers in London.
Sophie is now pursuing a career as a freelance artist undertaking private commissions.
Her current portfolio focuses on the natural spirit and movement of the horse, which has been a passion throughout her life.
As Sophie explains on her website: “Born in a beautiful Oxfordshire village, I have had the pleasure of being surrounded by the rural countryside that has helped fuel my love of animals.
“Ever since young age my desire for creating art has been alive. From sitting among the animals in the fields with my array of coloured crayons to aiming to achieve the most intricate flower design for our homemade Mother’s Day card at primary school.”
While some of her work is on display in select galleries, Sophie says it was a dream come true to be invited to contribute to the exhibition of original artwork at this year’s Henley Festival.
She said: “I was so honoured to have been selected. Having visited the festival in previous years, and having always been drawn to the visual arts, I could only dream about exhibiting there myself.”
Sophie adds that her next ambition is to build her own studios in the coming year and start creating more sculptural work.
The Henley Festival runs from July 6 to 10. For more on Sophie and her work, visit www.sophiefois.co.uk
