< Previouseedd40 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBut, whether it’s a she-shed or a mancave, both can actually help relationshipsby providing partners with valuable timealone (without the kids, perhaps) and aspace to call their own; at least that’swhat experts say. In reality, my own man-cave is often frequented by my wife whotries to impress upon me how it shouldbe set out and gets decidedly irked whenI leave things in a total mess. But, as Iargue, the beauty of a man cave is that’sthe look we’re going for! A quiet place to retreat to when yourhead’s buzzing is without doubt one ofthe most popular additions to homes,due largely to their versatility and the factthat many don’t need planning consent(up to a certain size). They cater for avariety of uses, from home office tocrafting studio, and everything inbetween, indeed the myriad of usesseems almost endless.The traditional shed, summer house orpotting shed was the forerunner to whatwe see today but there’s something to fitevery budget nowadays, with modules,pods and chalet buildings, if theaforementioned don’t exactly float yourboat. But it’s what you do with your bit ofspace that really makes any structure intoa liveable space and transforming it into apersonal haven is where the fun lies. Assuming you’ve already consideredFirst the man cave, now the ‘she shed’ - It was only a matterof time before someone redressed the balance on thetraditional ‘Man Cave’, and ladies across the county are nowtaking the initiative to create their own garden haven –somewhere they can escape to at the end of a hectic dayand hang out with friends. what your area is and how you want touse the space, you’ll have also decide onhow you are going to provide powerfrom the house as you’ll need plenty ofoutdoor plug sockets for all your gadgetsand gizmos.Insulation and heating is anotherimportant consideration for winter use,and with electricity costs spiralling youmay want to consider alternate heatsources – a multi fuel stove perhaps, or aportable gas heater should suffice. Afterall there’s nothing worse than gatheringwith friends and everyone keeping theircoats on.Depending on how you intend to useyour ‘she shed’/’man cave’, it will dependGGeeuuttssrrnnddiihhooaa40-41_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:25 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY41on the kind of lighting you require. Youmay fancy a dimmer – especially if you’reintending to watch films or do anygaming, that way your room will still hasa certain ambience about it, to help youget into the mood. Of course, nothingbrings a man cave to life quite like neonsigns. While men will be happy with slatblinds, the fairer sex might wantsomething a little more classy, althoughit’s all down to personal taste. Wall artcan bring any ‘she-shed’/‘man-cave’ tolife, whether it be sleek and stylish printsor vintage style plaques.Remember your cave - your rules, soenjoy. © Garden Hideouts© Garden Hideouts© Garden Hideouts© Garden Hideouts© Bean Bag Bazaar40-41_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:26 Page 242 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Despite being born in Standish nearWigan in 1978, artist Rayford JamesHolroyd moved to York as a child andnow calls one of the quaint neighbouringvillages home. It was while readingIndustrial Design at university thatRayford developed his passion for art,using his spare time to hone his craft andsharpen his skills. The shoulders of students take a greatdeal of strain, and to escape financialpressures, he would immerse himself inpencil sketches and paper. It might havebeen that Rayford found solace in whitespace, where each pencil stroke was adeliberate action, and he could eek backsome control in the otherwise hecticschedule of a student. But, amateurphycology aside, it proved to be alucrative pursuit. Counting the Hon.Magic realismRayford JamesHolroyd uncovers themagic hiding behindthe everyday worldaround us. Simon Howard of Castle Howard in NorthYorkshire among his early clients was atell-tale sign that Rayford was destined forgreatness. Reality dictates that one must pay theutilities, rent or mortgage whether anartist or not. It’s seen many a creativedeviate from their career path and intosome soul-sapping office to make endsmeet. Fortunately for Rayford, working asa 3D designer for the next few years atleast meant he was flexing those creativemuscles. Whenever he did find some freetime, he’d fill it with producing pencildrawings for commission. Being entirely self-taught, Rayfordevolved free of academic shackles andartistic boundaries, and experimented incolour, exploring the possibilities in avariety of tints and hues. Setting asideBridge to New York42-43_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:33 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY43THE 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 5891348 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DPart@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.uktime to indulge his artistic urges became increasingly difficult, so, in2010, Rayford took the plunge and became an artist full time. Hecould finally commit time to honing his ability and style. From hisworks, it’s obvious his decision was the right one. His pieces appearas if half remembered, the way a place might appear in a fadingmemory or crumpled post card from a childhood holiday. Hisrepresentations of New York are recognisable, yes, but hauntingand dreamlike.This dreaminess evolved from his earlier works, the ‘quirkylandscapes’ series produced at Buckingham Fine Art. They arehallucinogenic, where buildings twist and morph, becomingnaturalistic in their rejection of convention and structure. Had LewisCarroll been writing today, he may have imagined London lookingsomething like this. It’s not just the built environment that fascinates Rayford, with abeautiful collection of wildlife paintings. They’re odes to magicrealism, as animals stand lifelike atop blurred and fracturedbackgrounds, indicating perhaps the otherness of the everyday, or thefantastical hiding just behind the normal. Rayford’s inspirations lie in landscapes, pulling together an eclecticmix of new and historical architectural features. It goes some way toexplaining his fascination with New York, a city that might be bestdescribed as his muse, combining, as it does, the baroque with thecontemporary. Crucially, his paintings are free of people, leaving aprofound loneliness but, look a little deeper, and you’ll see thepaintings come to life, resplendent with the beauty of our everydaysurroundings. From his quirky landscapes to the latest renditions of New York, it’seasy to see why Rayford’s work is now widely available in galleriesacross the UK, including our own Little Red in Lincoln. Havingpreviously displayed his work, Little Red will be filling their walls forRayford’s visit in September, both in Lincoln and their newly openedgallery in Stamford. ChryslerEmpire State BuildingFlat IronARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE 42-43_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:33 Page 244 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNAround us, the blue skies and brightsun suggests that summer has, at last,blessed Blighty. Ice cream cones,swimming cossies and holiday snaps willdoubtless drive the message home, buthere in Lincolnshire we’ve a few of oursignifiers. None come more highlyanticipated than the Lincolnshire Showwhich, for two days in June, celebratesthe best our county has to offer.Positioned on the outskirts of Lincoln, theevent is as much an ode to the city itselfas its surrounding county. While certainlya highlight, the Show is far from the onlyevent in the packed city calendar. Lincolnremains, after all, one of the nation’sforemost shopping destinations as well asboasting culture, heritage and fine diningby the bucket load. Though there’s never a quiet day inLincoln, and nary a weekend withoutsome event or other, the last few yearshave seen a massive upsurge in culturalactivity. Last year saw the climax of the800th anniversary of the sealing of theMagna Carta. The Castle was also treatedto the ionic Poppies: Wave sculpture inrespect of the First World War’s honoureddead. The attraction drew huge amountsof visitors from across the country (someeven from around the globe). And whocould forget the Barons, those loveableodes to the city’s rich history? Thequestion on everyone’s lips was just howorganisers Lincoln BIG and its partner,Visit Lincoln, were going to follow theimpressive city-wide event up. By now,CityLincsWith the Lincolnshire Show, June is one of the bestmonths for our county’s capital, but there’s so muchmore to the nation’s most beloved medieval city.44-47_Layout 1 22/05/2017 13:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY45LINCOLNyou will probably have seen the Knight’sTrail for yourself and, we’re sureyou’ll agree with us, that it’s morethan a worthy successor to theBarons. The beauty of the Barons was inits celebration of culture, historyand society with the city of Lincolnas exciting and electrifying as anyother in England. The encore, inpartnership with Wild in Art, marksthe 800th anniversary of the Battleof Lincoln. The attraction is© Shutterstock / Lucian Milasan46 Á44-47_Layout 1 22/05/2017 13:19 Page 246 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNcomprised of 36 Knights, all of whichhave been sponsored by businesses andorganisations and have been installed inand around the city centre. If you haven’talready had a chance to see the Knightsup close, don’t worry, they’ll be stickingaround until September 3. Having recently clocked up a numberof awards and accolades, Lincoln Castlewill be busier than ever. Home to theMagna Carta and the Victorian Prison, thecastle also brings in the crowds with itsmediaeval wall walk around theperimeter. From May until September,though, the castle will house theDomesday Book – widely considered tobe nation’s earliest, most important andtreasured public record. There is also theCathedral, of course, though one hardlyneeds to be reminded of that when thegothic spires puncture the skyline abovethe city, giving its distinctive silhouette. There’s more to Lincoln than just thepast, fascinating though it is, as the cityremains a bustling shopping destination.© Shutterstock / Lucian MilasanFrom the antique streets of the Bailgate,with its independent shops and high-class hotels, down to the main HighStreet with more mainstream brands andnames, there is always something to see.Unlike some of the nation’s other cities,its High Street hasn’t suffered from theadvent of online shopping. It’s hard toremember the last time a singlestorefront was lacking a retailer, andavailable space is snapped up quickly.Our particular favourite remains theaforementioned Bailgate area, with itsvintage shops and quirky boutiques thatoffer a truly unique spread of shops. Thearea is also usually quite a bit less busythan the High Street, mainly due to theeffort involved in climbing Steep Hill –one of the most beautiful streets in thecountry, but admittedly, rather steep. Wesuggest parking at the top and thenenjoying a leisurely stroll down afterexperiencing the scenic delights of theBailgate. Then, when loaded up withshopping, you can cheat and take a taxiback up. For dining, there is a wide array ofoptions, spanning the entire globe interms of taste. Once more the Bailgateplays host to some fabulous hotels, mostof which have their own restaurants thatwe can personally attest to servingfantastic food. It’s perhapsunderstandable that it’s all up the hillonce more considering that the view isconsidered a staple in a diningexperience - and what better view thanthat of the Cathedral itself? There areother locations though arrayed downSteep Hill and into the High Street itself,many of which have gone for a morecontemporary dining experience thanthe usual restaurant fare. Our advice is togo where your nose takes you, as the cityis hardly lacking for little bistros andindependent restaurants putting theirown twists on classic British cuisine. Once the lights go out the city comesalive in other ways, with a bustlingnightlife that offers options to all ages.44-47_Layout 1 22/05/2017 13:19 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY47LINCOLNAlthough the city has a University attached to it, it never feelslike nights in Lincoln are overflowing with students as onemight expect. In many cases it feels like they have their clubs,and then there are clubs for the older generation - which arejust as packed, mind you. It’s rare to see a location with such alively night life that still manages to avoid turning into adisaster of disorderly violence, but Lincoln somehow managesto pull it off. Our advice would be to take a walk down theHigh Street, which has a number of lovely bars with live music,before heading down to the clubbing area if you want thenight to go on a little later. It’s impossible to miss thanks tothe people in the streets handing out offers and discounts onentry. In most cases they are all clustered quite close togetheras well, meaning that the rest of the city need not deal withthe noise and crowds, perfect if your evening plans involvemore of a quiet or romantic vibe.For events taking place in the city you can always read theWhat’s on pages at the back of the mag, but there’s also theVisit Lincoln website which has a dedicated list of eventstaking place in the city as they are announced. From marketsto concerts, art displays to food festivals, there’s alwayssomething going on and it’s always worth coming down totake a look. As always, Lincoln remains a jewel in the crown ofthe county and a prime destination for residents and touristsalike. © Shutterstock / Caron BadkinMembership availability for ladies, gents and juniorsLincoln Golf ClubTorksey, Lincoln LN1 2EG Tel: 01427 718721www.lincolngc.co.ukmanager@lincolngc.co.ukNEW TO GOLF?Ladies’ Taster Sessions AvailableCORPORATEMEMBERSHIPOPPORTUNITIESFull Playing MembershipFlexible MembershipIntermediate Membership up to age 35Junior MembershipLadies AcademyJunior AcademyCoaching available from our PGA qualified teaching professionalsDownload an application form from our website or contact the Club Manager for further informationMembership availability for ladies, gents and juniorsVisit us in the ActiveLincolnshire Sport Zoneat the LincolnshireCounty Showwww.follie.co.uk83 Bailgate, Lincoln, LN1 3ARTel: 01522 579400Farrow & Ball Stockisthomejewellerycardsgifts44-47_Layout 1 22/05/2017 13:19 Page 427TH MAY - 3RD SEPTWITNESS AN UNMISSABLE MOMENT IN HISTORYFor advance tickets and group information visit www.lincolncastle.comBOOK ONLINE AND SAVE 10%48-49_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:29 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY49LINCOLNExplore the conflict for the crown fromthe Domesday Book to present daythrough fascinating documents, paintingsand artefacts in ‘Battles and Dynasties’.The major exhibition will be held at TheCollection, with the Domesday Book atLincoln Castle, from 27 May to 3September. It’s an unmissable opportunity to seesignificant pieces on our doorstep here inLincolnshire, including major objects andpaintings that are rarely shown outside ofLondon and some things from privatecollections that are never on display.As part of the Battles and Dynastiesexhibition, the Domesday Book – one ofthe most significant documents in history– will be on show at Lincoln Castle thissummer. This is the first time that it hasbeen on display outside of London inliving memory. This is a rare opportunityto see Domesday in a castlebuilt by the same king thatordered the document. Theiconic document will be inthe David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault,alongside Magna Carta and Charter of theForest. Domesday Book at Lincoln Castle setsthe tone for the splendour of the otherexhibits on display at The Collection,which range from the prayer book thatRichard III took to Bosworth Field to theletter of abdication of Edward VIII.In the 800th anniversary year of theBattle of Lincoln, visitors to The Collectionwill be able to 12th and 13th centurydocuments about the battle. The solesurviving manuscript recording the life ofthe great William Marshal, the hero of theBattle of Lincoln, will journey across theAtlantic from the Pierpont Morgan Libraryin New York, to be part of the exhibition.The pages on display will include parts ofWilliam’s rousing speech to his troopsbefore the fight.Amongst the treasures will be the greatilluminated bible of Henry IV, HenryBolingbroke, the only Lincolnshire bornking, and Mary Tudor’s book of devotions.On a more sombre note, visitors will beable to see the act of attainder which ledto the execution of Katherine Howard,and the death warrant of Mary Queen ofScots.Battles and Dynasties has been broughttogether by Lincolnshire County Counciland Lord Cormack in partnership with theHistoric Lincoln Trust, The NationalArchives and the British Library. This exhibition has been made possibleas a result of the Government IndemnityScheme. Lincolnshire County Councilwould like to thank HM Government forproviding Government Indemnity and theDepartment for Culture, Media and Sportand Arts Council England for arrangingthe indemnity. Receive a 10% online discount bypurchasing a Lincoln Castle All InclusiveDomesday tickets and Battles andDynasties tickets from eitherwww.lincolncastle.com orwww.thecollectionmuseum.com, all onlinepurchases will receive a 10% discount. Witness anunmissablemoment inhistory© Alecto Historical Editions© Shutterstock / Jason Batterham48-49_Layout 1 22/05/2017 12:29 Page 2Next >