Public are invited to see an exhibition of sculptures and paintings by a Barnet care home resident  

Leaving behind her sculptures and paintings was quite a wrench for artist Joy Feld, so Carlton Court Care Home in Bells Hill, Barnet, came up with the idea of staging an exhibition of her work.

Joy, now 97, looked on with delight from her wheelchair as her family, fellow residents, friends and guests admired her African tribal heads, paintings and drawings.

Joy, who studied at Barnet College, became a member of the Barnet Guild of Artists and Finchley Arts Society.

The exhibition of her work, which is in the reception area of Carlton Court, is to continue until 25 October and is open to the public from 9am to 6pm.

Family members were full of praise for the care home’s initiative in offering to stage the exhibition.

Joy was smiling again after her disappointment at having to move into care eight weeks ago and leave behind at her house artwork from the last 40 years.

At a ceremony celebrating the opening of her exhibition a manager at the home, Moses Barnabas (above, far left) said Joy had been an inspiration to residents and staff since her arrival.

The strength of her passion for art was remarkable, and it was a great privilege for the home to show her work and place it on public display.

Sara Hassell (above, second from left) congratulated Carlton Court for giving her mother the chance to exhibit her work and share her brilliance with her fellow residents and friends in Barnet.

“Mum has been her for eight weeks and it is wonderful for her family to be part of such a joyous event. We never thought we would see her smile again. Mum is so pleased that she hasn’t had to leave behind her art.”

Max Hassell (above, with Joy) said the family had done all they could to help organise the exhibition of his grandmother’s work, especially the sculptures of the heads of indigenous African tribes.

Joy, who completed an art foundation course in Belfast where she grew up, worked as a designer in Belfast and London for the textile and carpet manufacturer Cyril Lord.

After moving to Barnet almost 45 years ago, she started courses in watercolour and drawing at Barnet College in the 1980s, under the tutelage of Leonie Bunn and W Huntley.

She also did a sculpture course at Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute where her tutor was the late acclaimed sculptor, John Brown, of the Bow House Gallery in Barnet.

Joy’s limited edition bronze resin sculptures have been exhibited at the Cato Gallery in Hampstead and the Lucy Kemp Welch Gallery in Bushey.

She shared a studio with her great friend and fellow sculptor Richard Chapman of the Sheridan Russell Gallery exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea.