Resident’s ‘gallery in the garden’ showcases seahorse-themed artwork

A local artist has created a unique ‘gallery in the garden’ to exhibit his seahorse-themed artwork. 

David Walker, who resides in Melksham East, transformed his back garden into a ‘reflection and tranquillity space’ for the Melksham Gardens Competition, where his display earned him joint first place. His garden gallery was opened to the public on Sunday 21st July as part of Melksham Open Gardens, which ran in aid of the Children’s Society. 

The display showcased David’s seahorse-themed artwork across various visual mediums, including wood, marble, clay, resin, glitter, gold/silver leaf, papier-mâché and plaster. 

“The seahorses have been hand-carved into the surface of the wood and filled with resin with a sparkle effect,” explained David, who was Melksham’s former Carers Champion after he cared for his late wife, Georgina who had Alzheimer’s Disease. 

David’s inspiration for the seahorse theme began with sessions at Celebrating Age Wiltshire held at Melksham Library, where he started creating seahorses using a rubber mould. 

Celebrating Age Wiltshire is a project that promotes the health and wellbeing of older people through creative arts and cultural activities, including those who are socially isolated or vulnerable due to dementia, reduced mobility, ill health or caregiving responsibilities. 

“When I bought the seahorses home from my session with Celebrating Age Wiltshire, I thought, ‘what shall I do them?’” said David. “We used to have a memory picture wall in the house when Georgina was alive so I have about 100 photo frames. Another thing we did was marbling paper and I thought if I put that in the frame, I could glue the seahorses on top.” 

This year, the garden has undergone a transformation after David decided to change the space from a memory and sensory garden into a tranquillity and reflection space. 

“It will always be a memory and sensory garden for me,” says David, who has kept a stone bench where he used to sit with Georgina. “If you look straight ahead, there is a mirror and you can see your reflection in it.” 

In the corner of the garden was a canvas which David was asking all visitors, including Melksham News, to contribute to. “I plan to donate this to the Children’s Society to raffle next year,” says David, who also won joint first place for the Best Miniature Garden and second place for the Best Small Front Garden.