< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYHOMES1) Davos Lambskin Rug These genuine lambskin rugs from Modern Rugs arethe epitome of comfort and luxury, hand selected fromthe finest flocks and transformed into premium qualityrugs. Let your feet sink in and relax. 2) NF EnergisThe NF Energis fireplace from Burning Sensations inGrimsby strokes a balance between traditional andcontemporary design – perfect for any home. 3) Odella SurroundThe Odella marble surround is a true vision to beholdwith graceful detailing and timeless styling – availablefrom Boston Heating. 4) Teal & Orange Lovebirds CushionBoasting a gorgeous original painting from artistLouise Mead, this cushion would set any sofa,armchair or bed off with a final flourish. 5) Blush Textile Wall HangingA blush textile wall hanging to bring a soft and calmingfeel to your wall décor – available from MiaFleur. 6) Aga This gorgeous, versatile Aga is a glorious addition inrustic and contemporary kitchens alike - available fromCooks & Company in Newark.7) Tim GoslingTaken from Tim Gosling’s Grand Tour FireplaceCollection, this evocative fireplace is inspired by a visitto ancient Pompeii – available from Boston Heating. 8) Ffion Baa Sheepskin StoolAdd style and luxury to your home with this industrialsteel style hairpin Ffion Baa Sheepskin Stool,handmade in North Wales in a traditional upholsteryworkshop and available via Lime Lace. 9) Log Basket - Blue-Grey HempIdeally suited for compact fireplaces, this durablehemp basket from Decorator’s Notebook can wholeenough logs for a whole night snuggled by the fire.Also ideal for laundry, toys or towels. By now, you’ve probably come across Hygge (pronounced hue-guh), the Danishconcept that loosely translates as comfort and cosiness. Think a mug of hot chocolatewith your favourite book, or a bowl of hot stew with friends. In Britain, it’s becomemore an excuse for marketers to capitalise on the concept, and sell products promotingrelaxation. Though just because a product purports to be relaxing, it isn’t exactly a sealof endorsement. For Danes, curling up under a blanket or by a fire promotes a sense of belonging andwellbeing, especially in what is a more unforgiving climate than what we’re used tohere in Lincolnshire. Setting time and space for comfort is something we can all do withmore of in our lives, and it begins at home. Throws, fluffy cushions and comfy chairsare all a great place to start, but it’s as much an abstract as tangible concept, so all thecomfort aides in the world won’t mean a thing unless you’re spending time feelingblissful in your home.DanesPHOTO: BURNING SENSATIONS12Make like theMake like the20-21_Layout 1 20/03/2017 09:30 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21HOMESBeautiful fireplaces, firesand stoves for every homelOver 75 beautiful displays in Huge Showroom with room settingslBespoke fireplace manufacturing service availablelIn-house Gas Safe and HETAS registered fitting serviceslFires available in Gas, Electric and Solid Fuel – including wood burning and multi-fuel stoveslFamily run showroom established in April 1989Burning Sensation(Grimsby) LtdArmstrong Street, Grimsby. DN31 1XDTel: 01472 351651Email: sales@burningsensation.co.ukwww.burningsensation.co.uk365498720-21_Layout 1 20/03/2017 09:30 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Breaking through to the soul of asubject is the mission statement of theartist, whether it’s a thought given formon canvas, or finding the innermost truthof a posing model. For British-born sculptor AprilShepherd, movement is her muse. Herhighly expressive works explore fluidity,taking cues from the natural worldaround us. And what inspiration there is.One need only look at a skulking fox, orthe staccato steps of a bird to see thediversity of motion to draw from. Capturing a sense of motion is no easyfeat, with generations of artists grapplingwith cascading water and models caughtcandidly. April uses sculpture to capturethe beauty of her animal subjects. Hersensitive yet remarkably unsentimentalanimal studies have won her considerableacclaim. Though her extensive body ofwork boasts all manner of wildlife – withan emphasis on canines most recently –it’s the horse that remains the lynchpin ofher portfolio. April’s smoke-fired horse series exploresthe idea of weightlessness, that throughthe expression of extreme andspontaneous movement, even a mass ofmuscle like the horse can defy itsterrestrial nature and transcend intosomething greater. In that regard, hersculptures have something of a dreamabout them, as if plucked from thesubconscious and given form. While lifelike, April’s works have analmost impressionist quality to them, anaspect of abstract inspired perhaps by theanimals’ personalities rather than theirphysical attributes alone. Her conceptsare often enriched by her love ofFree formSculptor April Shepherddoesn’t just capture hersubjects in bronze orclay, but takesinspiration from theirmovements and herown love of myth andfolklore.Dog Days22-23_Layout 1 20/03/2017 09:31 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY23ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE THE LITTLE REDGALLERYLove art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat.The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas.8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE01522 589134art@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.ukliterature, folklore and mythology. So, forexample, a sculpture might be indialogue with that animal’s standing inmythology, something which informs theartwork as much as the tangible animal. Employing a variety of media –including clay, bronze and resin – Aprilattempts to push the boundaries of thematerials she uses. Working entirelywithout armatures (the frameworkaround which a sculpture is traditionallybuilt), allows her to maintain totalcontrol of the piece as itevolves. Through loose yetdefinite mark making, sheworks vigorously, “pulling out” ashape from within. It was Michelangelohimself who said “Every block of stonehas a statue inside it and it is the task ofthe sculptor to discover it”. It’s abeautifully organic way of working, onewhich is clearly resulting in somethinghonest and pure. The bronze, burnished surface of theworks is inspired by the effect that smokefiring imparts. As smoke rises around aform, it leaves a resinous variegation.Those marks coalesce into a dramatic andnaturally derived canvas, tracing apermanent record of the fire. It’s aprocess that is perfectly in tune withApril’s process of preserving the abstractof the natural world in physical form.Each piece is both a visual thesis on theanimal as well as showcasing the storyof the flames that fired it. April has been called fora number of commissions, including aseries of life-sized bronze figures formultinational financial servicescorporation Morgan Stanley. Her work isheld in private collections worldwide andhas been shown in a number of mixedexhibitions at venues including the RoyalAcademy. In more recent years, hersculptures were selected for display at theBritish Embassy in India. Now,her latest canine inspiredworks are going on display atLincolnshire’s own Little RedGallery. On GuardEver HopefulPaying AttentionGreat ExpectationsRaring To Go22-23_Layout 1 20/03/2017 09:31 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSLooking at the house from the front, justa short drive from Lincoln, this gardenmakeover is quite remarkable and unique,to say the least. Japanese gardens aren’teasy to replicate – at least not authentically.Perhaps it’s because they require thegardener to draw inspiration from the vitalprinciples of reflection and restraint - twowords that these days don’t seem to fit intoour vocabulary.The garden’s owner though, seems moreat peace than most of us, his name isBuddha Maitreya (pronounced ‘My-treeya’),who acquired the land back in 1973. At thattime, he tells us the one and half acres weresimply flat wasteland and needed a gooddeal of landscaping before it resembledanything like a Japanese garden. Maitreya also had no previous gardeningexperience, so it’s a credit to him that theproject ever got off the ground let alonelooks so completely authentic. Missing the hills and mountainousscenery of Japan, Maitreya embarked oncreating something that would remind himof home, enlisting the help of a JCB driverAesthetic artistryat its natural best It’s one of the great attractions of working for thecounty’s top lifestyle magazine, that we get to seewhat lurks in peoples’ back gardens, and this month’sis a rather spectacular Japanese themed garden. 24-31_Layout 1 20/03/2017 13:20 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY25GARDENSto move earth and create hills wherethere were none and ponds below them.Although these aren’t generally the toolsof most gardeners it certainly changedthe landscape, but if you’re thinkingthat’s cheating then bear in mind allthese hills had to be later shaped byhand.The next big task was placing rocksfrom a nearby quarry around the garden,which Matreiya explains were positioned‘meditatively and harmoniously’ one byone. Then, only when he was happy withthe flow was he able to consider thewinding paths between and begin tobring in the traditional features ofJapanese gardens such as: water, bridges,maples, bamboo, cherry, evergreens, andso forth.As word caught on, neighboursTrees are reflectedin the water beneath26 Á24-31_Layout 1 20/03/2017 13:20 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSScunthorpe Lawnmowers LtdWe have the tools to tackle SpringAgents for: Honda, Stihl, Mountfield, Atco, Bosch,Stiga, Hayter, Countax, Lawnflite & many moreTel: 01724 866581 - email: wayne@scunthorpelawnmowers.co.uk187 Cottage Beck Rd, Scunthorpe DN16 1TRwww.scunthorpelawnmowers.co.ukcontributed with plants, so there’s some English onesdotted here and there that work harmoniously withthe Japanese planting. Even local farmers lent ahelping hand volunteering their machinery to helpmove the larger rocks.These days, of course, the buzzword is‘re-purposing’ but back then the word was hardlyused. Maitreya was therefore ahead of his time in re-purposing scrap materials found in some of the out-buildings, to make a pagoda and a Japanese TeaHouse for ceremonial use. More recently, he has built a Zen garden, whichconsists of glittering rocks and chipped marble to tryand represent the beauty of nature and harmony ofcreation; mountains, a river, fields, and an ocean arecreated by countless crystals, gems and preciousstones. As Maitreya says: “The essence of the crystalSoothing surrounds:stepping stones leadvisitors on a winding path24-31_Layout 1 20/03/2017 13:20 Page 3millstonegardencentre.co.uk01472 828 150 Cheapside, Waltham, Grimsby DN37 0HX Mon to Sat: 8:00—5:00pm. Sun: 10—4pmQUALITYTURFFROM 1mTO 1000m2 GRADESQUALITYTOPSOILFrom £40per tonEASY TO USE!GGE RAN O UALTY OMOSTSAlAll major top quality brrandds avaiialblalpImIrove the soil in planters, dbeds asnd borbders. Mannreure also in stockkHUGE RANGE OF QUALITY COMPOSTSAll major top quality brands availableImprove the soil in planters, beds and borders. Manure also in stockSERSTONEHardfiondrockery stoen Limitmied estoockkVarious type&s & numeroussizesSUPERB STONEHard-to-find rockery stone. Limited stock!Various types & numerous sizesTREEE & SUBTreat yyour grrraren to soteeeeinggin sp sceealTREES & SHRUBSTreat your garden to something special!EXPERT ADVICEEXPERT ADVICEFree expert advice fromexperienced professionalsFree expert advice fromexperienced professionals SLEEER5 Typeyps AgAgeed & NewewwAl ppreesseure tr treateteeedRAILWAY SLEEPERS5 Types Aged & NewAll pressure treatedMANYUSES!AQUUAATICSWater Features, PlanttnsPonn d Liners, PPmpus, ssPies,es Fielters, FittingsgsTreatments & CompopsstAQUATICSWater Features, Plants, Pond Liners, Pumps, Pipes, Filters, Fittings, Treatments & CompostAED ALLF BARRLSOld Whisky Barreels2 Sizes. WatertighhtAGED HALF BARRELSOld Whisky Barrels2 Sizes. WatertightSTYLISH &DURABLE!BRLLAAT BEEDGrPimimrorsees,s PPnaasiees,VVilolas &m multi-ppackkKindnndregagadrnene plusgg &&& s seeeldinsBRILLIANT BEDDINGPrimroses, Pansies, Violas & multi-packKindergarden plugs & seedlingsLINCOLNSHIRETODAY27GARDENSCharles H Hill Ltd. Moor Lane, Horsington,Woodhall Spa, LN10 5HH.Tel: 01526 388281www.charleshhill.co.ukgarden is for spiritual inspiration, to bring awareness of thebeauty of Life and the miracle of creation. When we areaware of Life, which all creation is, we realize the Truth ofour self. Without appreciation there is no respect of Lifeand we are lead by ignorance, greed and fear, whichmakes our life frustrating and we feel discontent. When wehave awareness of Life and its wonder we respect all life,all beings, and our self. When we love our self, we loveall.”Perhaps he’s hit on something too as it certainly had acalming effect on this ageing journalist who all too oftenfinds himself caught up in the frenetic pace of life. But it’shard to remain so tightly wound when you’re surroundedby such serenity and as you find yourself standing,wondering at the way Matreiya plays with the space andthe way he has trained and pruned those wonderful cloudshapes from his trees you can almost feel the stresses andstrains of life being lifted from you. 24-31_Layout 1 20/03/2017 13:21 Page 428 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSCreating aJapaneseGardenJapanese gardens are spaces that are designedand planted in a harmonious way, to encouragemeditation and reflection. Utilising featuressuch as ponds, streams, islands and hills tocreate miniature reproductions of naturalscenery, they can be breathtaking in theirsimplicity and, done well, are works of art.24-31_Layout 1 20/03/2017 13:21 Page 5© Shutterstock / tungtopgunLINCOLNSHIRETODAY29GARDENSBy combining the basic elements of plants,water and rocks with simple, clean lines theycreate a tranquil retreat and, in a world thatdemands much from us where everyone isconstantly on the move, our lives can becomestressful, so having a place to unwind, andfind inspiration is more important than ever.While each and every attempt at this typeof landscape is going to be slightly different,depending on who is creating it. The firstnoticeable feature of a Japanese garden isthat one feels they have entered a havenaway from the hubbub of the surroundingworld which can be accomplished by highshrubs and/or a bamboo fence. The sound ofwater tinkling down a rock and the use ofvignettes that don’t quite allow the visitor tosee the garden all at once is another keyfeature but if you are overlooked by a largefeature outside the garden, don’t despair youcan use the concept of ‘Shakkei’, whichmeans integrating the background landscapeoutside the garden into the design of thegarden. Winding paths to lead your eye past astone pagoda, perhaps some stepping stones,crushed gravel, sand or packed earth are justsome of the elements we see in a Japanesegarden. The winding path, incidentally,symbolises the future and the past ie: thatfeeling of hope for what’s around the nextcorner being the future, and the need to letgo of your past. Zen, after all, is about beingrelaxed and not worrying about things youcannot change.Ponds are another key element and oftenrepresent real or mythical lakes or seas. It’shard to resist the temptation of Koi in them,as these introduce additional colour and lifeto the garden and a room a bridge/pier overthe water serves as an excellent viewpoint orplace for thoughtful contemplation.The inclusion of a rock garden, to portray ascene of mountains and rivers is anotherfeature that is worth including. Raking sandin a particular way around the rocks,symbolizes the flow of the river, and ofcourse rocks need to be carefully placed tosymbolize islands or mountains. The visitorcan be led over or around this by the meansof stepping stones.30 Á24-31_Layout 1 20/03/2017 13:21 Page 6Next >