Zehra Ipek Williamson
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It never ceases to amaze me just how much talent we have within our church community. Those of you have lived here for many years will be far more aware than I am, as a relative newcomer, and that was 
apparent from the large numbers of people who came to see Ipek Williamson’s wonderful exhibition last weekend*. There was an array of beautifully crafted land and seascapes, still life and commissioned paintings of local houses. The skilful use of colour and texture, and the ability to convey the sense of a season or recall memories of places we may have visited is remarkable and I overheard many of the visitors wishing that they had plenty of empty wall space to be able to hang several of her paintings. The bluebell wood is one of my favourites, taking me back to late springtime walks in the Forest of Dean, where carpets of bluebells abound.
However, Ipek is not only a talented artist; she also had on sale her recently published autobiography, and it is a fascinating story. Having moved from Turkey to the UK Ipek was educated at Cheltenham
Ladies’ College and then studied Italian and French at London University, followed by post graduate work at The Courtauld Institute of Art. In later years she worked with a Publisher and taught at the University of Istanbul before marrying and moving to Denmark, and finally to Kempsford and then Fairford. She took up her painting 
again following the death of her husband, and now paints with Lechlade and Fairford Art Societies and has recently become a member of the Fairford Creative Writing Group having provided the cover pictures for their 2025 anthology to which she has also contributed prose and poetry. We are indeed very fortunate to have so many living amongst us who give of their time and share their many talents for our enjoyment and education.
Meg Ralph
* Fairford Community Centre – Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th October 2025
Updated 28th October 2025