A TALENTED resident of a Dorset care home wowed fellow residents and staff with an exhibition featuring pencil portraits of the care home’s entire roll of 73 staff members. 

Judith Forster spent six months on the project at Colten Care’s Abbey View in Sherborne 

The idea of sketching each one of her carers, companions, clinical team, chefs, waiting staff, domestic assistants and others came about in February this year.  

Companionship team leader Bev de Bruyn said: “One of our team was talking with Judith.  

“They were in close proximity and Judith immediately thought ‘what a beautiful smile, I should make a picture of that’.  

“And so, an idea was born.  

“She invited the first few team members to come to her room and have sketches done and people loved it.  

“Soon, everyone was happy to sit for her.  

Judith Forster at her exhibition at Colten Care’s Abbey View in Sherborne with companionship team member Sara Foster Picture: Colten Care

“For the next six months, Judith could be seen in her room all hours of the day and evening sketching away to her heart’s content.  

“She is an avid artist with an amazing talent and a love of art.  

“As a ‘people person’ she has built lovely relationships with the staff she interacts with and staging the exhibition has come out of those bonds.”  

On the opening day of the exhibition, Abbey View residents were told they were in for a treat and invited to make their way to the lounge where the 73 portraits had been mounted on large panels around the walls.  

Ms de Bruyn said: “As they took in the sketches in front of them, residents and staff alike had great fun identifying each subject by name.

“Visiting friends and family, including two of Judith’s grandchildren, Herbie and Gracie, joined us and the room was buzzing with chatter.  

“It was a fabulous occasion. Judith thoroughly enjoyed delighting everyone with her art. The exhibition was an amazing accomplishment.” 

Abbey View resident David Froud enjoying the exhibition with Sara Foster Picture: Colten Care

Fellow residents were full of praise. 

As he viewed the artworks, Roy Carne said: “This is incredible!”  

Commenting on her mammoth sketching project and exhibition at Abbey View, Ms Forster said: “I so enjoyed doing this. 

“It enabled me to get to know each individual staff member in a very different way. It made me really happy to undertake this work.” 

Ms Forster’s companionship team colleague Sara Foster explained that Judith’s passion for art started when she lived in Japan between 1984 and 1990.  

Ms Foster said: “She started lessons there and progressed through various mediums of art. She particularly loved doing miniature portraits.  

“In the past six months, she prepared her Abbey View exhibition while at the same time attending our weekly arts club with fellow residents.  

“Her love of art is so evident. She adds tremendous value to the club and even introduced an instruction book ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ for fellow members.”  

Residents Roy and Barbara Carne view the sketches. Roy described the exhibition as ‘incredible’ Picture: Colten Care

Outside Abbey View, Ms Forster has enrolled at an art studio in Sherborne where she creates and shows pieces

She also participates in a weekly online art course.  

Reflecting on the success of the exhibition, Ms Foster said: “Our Judith is an amazing lady, and we do wonder what her next project will be at Abbey View. Watch this space!”