Photo by Dan Soley

Sweet serenity lies behind a gate

 In the peace of a garden’s allure

Where time slows, seems to await

 Nature’s orchestral overture

Allowing a wandering soul to hear

Each season tell their story

 Across the swiftly fleeting year

In fanfares of floral glory

Natural living artistry

Composed in perfect harmony

Winters cold indifference

Melting, heralds Spring’s deliverance

Warm Summer’s rich magnificence

Aiding Autumn’s wild munificence

When colours change from green to gold

To orange, russet, red

On maples, hips and haws

And filigree seed head

From rill to stream to waterfall

Crescendos of thundering sound

Act as counterpoint to fungi

Murmuring softly underground

Wood smoke’s weaving tendrils

 Play their plaintive part

Spiralling through the tree tops

As clouds of starlings start

A concerto of exquisite movement

In perfect unison

Cobwebs catching rays of

The slowly setting sun

A moment transcendent

As God and soul align

In the wonder of nature

Ineffable

                                             Sublime                                    LH 2025

Members of the Ashburton Community Folk Orchestra will be playing informally in the garden at Lukesland on Sunday 18th May from 2pm

‘ A Way Within’ - A 5 week course of Yoga with Christian reflection is starting on Tuesday evenings in May 2025 in the Lukesland tearoom. £10 per session.

To express interest email: eRainsfordMcMahon@gmail.com.

Louise Scammell is a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists and Make South West. She teaches printmaking at Art House in South Brent where she also has her own studio. She has a deep connection with the sea and is committed tosharing her interest in the natural world. Louise draws underwaterusing a waterproof sketch pad and translates her images into print, using wooden lithographic plates (Mokulito), lino blocks, collagraphs and monotypes, processes suitable for catching the fluid ethereal creatures she encounters below the surface. Her work describes coastal and underwater encounters in the South West, Skokholm Island and also in the ‘Hope Spot’ Scotland, where she has recently been involved in a conservation project. She regularly exhibits her work in London at the ‘Natural Eye’ exhibition in the Mall galleries alongside fellow members of the Society of Wildlife Artists.

My inspiration is driven by the natural world, from which I am surrounded as my studio is based in the heart of the beautiful Tamar Valley in Cornwall.

Having been inspired by the richness of Impressionism throughout my life, I work with a sculptural creative process, using oils with only a small painting knife.  Each painting is heavily researched on site, capturing the ambience and composition that will enable a painting to embrace their audience.

Studying carefully my subject matter enables me to fully explore and work with the complexity of light, colour and texture. In particular, I am drawn to the rich vegetation and scenes of water where the intricacy of all three values can be fully explored.

Many of Clare’s paintings are inspired by Lukesland. they will be on display in the servery on all open days during the Autmn 24 season.

Reflection pond at Lukesland

The piano and flute recital on Tuesday 14th May raised £800 for Plymouth Music Zone, thanks to the generosity of the performers and the audience. It was a wonderful evening with a varied programme, showing off the talent of the 3 musicians - Maggie Grimsdell, Caroline Collingridge and Nina Savicevic

This Spring we are delighted to welcome well-known local artist and tutor Sue Ifould to exhibit her atmospheric paintings of local scenery during Lukesland’s spring opening season.