Television Wales and West presenters

In 1965 Winnie decided to paint portraits of the presenters of her local television channel Television Wales and West (TWW). These presenters included Sally Alford and Guy Thomas. When she completed these, she organised an exhibition in Glastonbury of her own paintings and those of other people. Then she was invited to the TWW studios in Bristol to present these portraits to the presenters personally. See later blog for photo.

Celebration cake baked by Graham Chubb

As well as painting on canvas, etc. Winnie painted, using edible paints on icing, decorations on celebration cakes baked by Graham Chubb of Street, in Somerset. These fruit cakes were baked from a recipe handed down from his grandfather, who set up the bakers in Street in 1900. The cakes were displayed in the window of Chubbs the Bakers in the High Street in Street before being delivered to members of the Royal Family and other people. This photograph is of the cake made to celebrate the 21st birthday of Princess Anne (1971). The painted plaques represent the interests of the Princess, including societies of which she was president and other interests including her love of horses. Other cakes included a silver jubilee cake for Queen Elizabeth II (1977), a Silver wedding Anniversary cake for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh (1972), and a wedding cake for Princess Anne and Mark Phillips (1973). Doing these cakes meant very small, detailed work and Winnie did a lot of research for these plaques.

HRH Duchess of Kent

This painting, done in 1970, is of HRH Duchess of Kent, with her new baby son, Lord Nicholas Windsor, who was born in 1970. He is the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Princess Elizabeth

This portrait of Princess Elizabeth, aged 11 years, was drawn by Winnie in 1937 on brown stained paper. Also, at this time, Winnie did a painting of Princess Elizabeth and a painting of Princess Margaret and sent both of them to the Princesses. Winnie received a thank you letter from their lady in waiting.

Why this blog has been set-up

This blog has been set up to display the paintings of Winifred Wheeler. Winnie, as she was known, loved painting, a talent she inherited from her father, George Arthur Wheeler. Her sister, Theresa and brother Anthony also did portraits, etc. A lot of Winnie's paintings have found their way overseas, including America. While working at Whitehead's munitions factory in Street, Somerset during World War II, Winnie did lots of portraits for the other workers of their family members. Later on she decorated cakes made by Graham Chubb of Street - these cakes were for special occasions for members of the Royal family - examples can be seen on this blog. If anyone has a portrait painted by Winnie, her family would love to hear from you.