Family art at village heart

THE sculptor, painter and the filmmaker of Cuffley are on a mission to put the village on the map as a place to inspire and be inspired.
Jen Hurlock – the painter of the trio – has lived in Cuffley for 33 years, moving from Winchmore Hill when she was attracted to the character and safe environment of the ‘pretty village’.
Over the years she has been witness to Cuffley’s evolution. ‘From quite a small, quiet commuter village where everyone knew everyone else, it has grown into a bustling suburban village, however, it hasn’t lost its charm,’ she says.
A dog lover, Jen uses her daily walks as a source of neverending inspiration to take the natural scenes on her doorstep to her attic studio, within walking distance of both the Northaw Great Woods, a site of scientific interest, and Home Wood, a small woodland at the end of
Tolmers Road.
She explains, ‘From our bungalow, which is on a hill, we have magnificent views over the Hertfordshire countryside and it is wonderful for me as an artist to be able to watch the seasons and enjoy the natural beauty of England.’
This passion for nature and art is what inspired her to open her bungalow and its beautiful backdrop to the public as an artistic space for all to enjoy. But she was keen not to hog the spotlight, as she has a wealth of talent within the family.
‘I exhibited in the Hertfordshire Open Studios for several years at Mill Green Museum in Hatfield which proved very successful. However, I decided that it would be a good idea to put Cuffley on the map this year so I invited my daughter and her partner to join me,’ Jen said.
So for a month, Jen’s nature-inspired named home – Foxgrove, in Kingsmead – was transformed into an eclectic studio, gallery, cinema and sculpture park as they pooled their talents to share their enthusiasm for art with demonstrations to interact with interested visitors from around the village and beyond.
Creativity is certainly in the genes. Jen’s maternal grandfather was an artist, her mother was a fashion designer and she has obviously passed the family fascination on to daughter Nic Kemp.
Nic trained in fine art and printmaking but changed direction to concentrate on performance art to become a filmmaker. She now has her own production company and has made installations and videos for contemporary dance performances around Europe, had short films shown in festivals across the UK and America and VJ’d for bands and dance music events.
Unsurprisingly, Nic was attracted to someone who was also of an artistic bent. Her partner, Matthew Foster, comes from a long line of sculptors. A third generation stone carver and letter cutter, his interest in stone carving and sculpture was also sparked early in life through
his family.
Unlike her daughter, although an artist for most of her life, it was not until Jen moved to Hertfordshire that she completed any formal training in her craft at the University of Hertfordshire to develop her colourful and decorative style. She is fascinated by the alternative dimensions and unusual perspectives that natural objects take on when viewed through a microscope.
Jen explains, ‘Much of my inspiration has been drawn from microscopic images; the natural world takes on a new dimension when viewed through the microscope. Being married to an entomologist I have a wealth of inspiration at my fingertips, but I also look around me and marvel at the colours, textures and shapes that are visible to the naked eye.
‘I found the inspiration for my latest work literally outside my back door. I have captured the beauty of my garden on canvas to enjoy throughout the year, and this work certainly received a great many compliments and sales during our month of Open Studios.’
Jen is pleased to have added to the friendly hive of activity she feels the village has always been and hopes it will continue to be.
‘When I walk down to the shops in Station Road on a Saturday morning to buy a loaf of bread or visit the library I can be sure that I can never just go there and back without stopping. The street is always busy and I normally bump into several friends who stop for a chat – it is one of the things I like most about Cuffley. All the shopkeepers are friendly and willing to pass the time of day and there is always a nod and a smile on the street.’

Article taken from December issue of Hertfordshire Life

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