Silent auction raises funds for anti-road campaign

An exhibition in St Leonards with works of art by well-known local artists including Alan Wright, Rebecca Youssefi and Emily Johns offers the chance to buy your favourite artwork for what you think it is worth! Erica Smith went to eye up the talent.

“The Vision of the Valley” – inspired by the landscapes of Combe Haven Valley is showing at One Cafe, 1 London Road, St Leonards, until the end of December. It features art works by over 50 local artists and residents. If you like the look of any of them, you are invited to post a secret bid into a mini letterbox. The highest bidders will win the artworks that have caught their eye.

Whilst most of the artworks are anonymous, it is easy to guess the style of some of the artists. Some pieces are not anonymous, and have a minimum asking price, such as the oil painting Rapefield of Combe Haven by Harriet Appleby with a starting bid of £40.00. Other postcard-sized pieces of work, like a print of an endangered great crested newt might be yours for as little as a £1 bid in the silent auction. All proceeds go towards supporting the anti-road campaign.

The majority of the artworks were created on a walk organised by the Combe Haven Defenders on 24 November. Over 40 people attended despite relentless rain, and over 50 artists spent the afternoon drawing and painting in Crowhurst village hall.

This is another example of the Combe Haven Defenders being inventive about how they convey their opposition to the proposed link road. One of the artists, Emily Johns, said: “Although construction of the road is very close, we are still determined to save Combe Haven Valley. Our aim is to create spaces where local people can come together, learn about what’s happening in Combe Haven, build community and discuss what they can do to be part of the campaign to stop this disastrous road.”

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