Artists and Craftsmen in Telford, Shropshire

“Leo Donaghy has undertaken a range of commissions and work streams in our substantive (25-room) Victorian house. These have included both original work on a substantial scale and renovation & restoration. His work is of an extremely high order on both fields. It is in addition a pleasure as well as an education to entertain Leo as an artist ‘in the house’. He is a mine of fascinating insights in his field and in general knowledge well beyond. Finally, Leo takes infinite care of his surroundings and leaves his work areas in impeccable condition. Original work •Major mural on three sides of a 3.5m-high Victorian bedroom above the picture rail. This embraces Italianate landscape, riverine, shore-side and Venetian canal-city themes with the central wall merging into a harbour vista drawing upon the Grey Havens from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Interspersed are family vignettes, recalling honeymoon in Venice, favourite events in children’s upbringing, pets, and mid 20th century sailing episodes. Execution, including an exquisite sense of detail in in execution together with the sense of harmony between the room and its bay-window surroundings overlooking gardens, river and meadows is of an extremely high quality. •The same principles have been applied to an adjacent en-suite bathroom / dressing room. This includes an exotic neo-classical frieze sited over a double bath, restored from a resin moulding of unpleasant tone to harmonise with the complete mural surroundings covering every wall and cupboard with classical a mainly watery scenes, from sea vistas and islands, to brightly-coloured birds of a flamingo derivation and submerged grottos. A sculptured merman & mermaid support a sconces each, and companions in 3-D effect frolic spumes. A door lets into a further bedroom, which can be separated by close-fitting screens on which Leo has painted scenes filling the walk-through access between the rooms. An elegant naked young lady tips water into the overhead Thomas Crapper cistern. •This adjacent bedroom is fitted with a walk-in wardrobe constructed from Indian pillar and arch remnants. Leo has painted the final construct with a jungly tropical theme. The inside door of a second entrance to this room Leo has painted with a 3-D effect harmonised with the Indian theme of the wardrobe. •Leo has used a parallel approach a teenage girl’s room, with similar remnants supporting a bed raised 2m from the floor. •In progress is the composition of a Lord of the Rings theme on two removable dining-table leaves. When complete, this work will be covered and completely protected by a 2mm transparent resin coating. •Also commissioned is the landscape painting of a dull double door separating two part of the house. Renovation and restoration Leo has undertaken with the utmost care detailed restoration of a range of artefacts, including remodelling where required. His unerring eye and skill with his paints and brush ensures complete harmonisation with previous finishes.”