Find out more about our current sellers and their work.
Did you know, the Winchester Visitor Information Centre (VIC) sell a variety of lovely goodies, including a selection of work by local creatives? The creatives featured in the VIC change every six months – read on to find out more about the artists and creatives currently on display at the centre.
Josephine Chisholm
Josephine is a Winchester artist and art tutor who produces paintings, illustrations, prints, postcards and commissions of the local area and travels around the world. Using media such as oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolour, pen & wash, pastel Josephine aims to capture the vibrancy, theatre and personality of urban life and the freedom of landscape and seascape.
You can find her work printed on cards in the Visitor Information Centre. All greetings cards (21 cms x 15 cms) are blank inside, supplied with a white envelope in a cellophane wrapper. They make the perfect accompaniment for any gift bought in Winchester! Explore more of her work here.
Ted Hempstal
As an artist Ted wanted to create paintings that spoke to others about the beauty that he sees in the world. He loves to paint landscapes and townscapes, particularly scenes in his home county of Hampshire.
Ted is influenced by the post impressionist movement and has spent the past nine years evolving as an artist to create his own unique painting style. Using bold colours and brushstrokes he hopes to capture moods, emotions and also create a sense of connection to a location.
From the initial plein air tonal study to the finished painting, the process allows creativity to intervene at each step – whether selecting the colour palette to reflect first light at sunrise or darkening storming skies through to finalising compositional adjustments and surface textures.
His paintings are made by using a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil, gouache, oil pastel, ink, collage and pencil.
Ted's prints and greetings cards are currently on sale in the Visitor Information Centre until March 2026.
Vanessa Crowe Jewellery
Vanessa's collections are handmade in her home studio in Winchester — aka the greenhouse. She creates sustainable, simple and easy to wear designs, taking inspiration from loved pieces handed down to her or found when scouring flea markets and antique fairs, both at home and on her travels. Vanessa works mainly in sterling silver, and loves the contrast between textured and smooth metal finishes. She believes that jewellery should be special, yet comfortable enough to wear everyday, each piece locking in memories of people, places and occasions.
Hand made. All pieces are hand made. As a result, no two pieces will be exactly the same.
Sustainable. All pieces are 100% recycled sterling silver, 100% recycled 9 carat gold or 14 carat gold filled*. Vanessa is passionate about caring for the earth and its natural resources, and as far as possible, all packaging is recyclable.
Great for gifts. All products are presented in a beautiful recycled drawstring bag.
Hallmarking. All rings, necklaces and silver items over 7.78g in weight are stamped with a full traditional London, UK hallmark including her own sponsor’s mark
Silkstead Pottery
Offering unique handmade ceramics thrown on the pottery wheel, Silkstead Pottery is located near the historic city of Winchester. Helen uses white, grey and black stoneware clays as well as white and black porcelain.
Many of the glazes used, Helen makes herself. Despite a lack of interest in chemistry at school she now finds experimenting with different chemical materials fascinating. She enjoys using different layers to create a flow between glazes. Pieces are fired at around 1220 centigrade in oxidation.
A number of Helen's pieces are available to purchase in the Visitor Information Centre until March 2026.
Alola Design
Alison initially started working with resin in 2021when a friend sent her a starter kit for Christmas. She quickly realised the potential of resin in creating functional, affordable and beautiful artworks as resin was so versatile.
Alola Design offers unique pieces of jewellery and accessories with real flowers and resin. Flowers are collected from Alison's own garden or wholesale florists before being pressed at home.
Ashley James
Ashley James is an artist and graphic designer based in Southampton for over 30 years. He enjoys creating unique ceramic pieces and colourful painted wood art blocks. In addition to these mediums, he also loves experimenting with digital designs, which he uses on greeting cards, prints, and even t-shirts. His work has been described as quirky and original, drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature. Ashley believes that art should be fun and playful, and his goal is to bring joy and a touch of whimsy to people’s everyday lives through his creations.
