By Bejay Browne
SITTING outside a beautiful old building in the heart of a traditional Cypriot village bathed in sunshine and sipping a Cyprus coffee made at the taverna opposite is just a dream for many. But for one woman this is now her daily life and she loves it.
Artist Angela Winstanley has recently seen a year long project come to fruition and opened Kouklia’s first arts and crafts centre. She says she is determined to put Kouklia in Paphos on the map as a place which attracts artists, crafters and artisans from all over Cyprus and further afield.
The project was officially opened by the local muktah and blessed by the village priest at a ceremony held on April 18. It promises to be a haven for all creative sorts and a must to visit for holidaymakers and locals.
Kouklia Arts Centre comprises a working studio and gallery in one building and a separate craft centre and shop just a few metres down the road.
This unspoiled village is an ideal setting for the venture; Kouklia is a traditional Cypriot village and the studio/gallery is in the heart of it facing the village square. The building is sympathetically restored and the interior walls are covered with art work from many different artists including Winstanley herself.
The likeable 60-year-old lives in Kouklia with husband Harry and is an accomplished painter. She is able to put her ideas onto canvas in a number of different styles but says she most enjoys painting humourous subjects, at which she excels.
Her observations of Cypriot life have led to a number of amusing paintings which show Cyprus eccentricities at their best. “I love to watch Cypriot life and have so many ideas bubbling around like a larva lamp. Sometimes I have a problem in getting them onto canvas quickly enough,” she says.
During the 1970s she received formal art training and continued to paint as a hobby and a sometimes source of income. But she decided to follow a different career path and qualified as a social worker and specialist in Autism spectrum conditions, and still uses these skills on a weekly basis in Limassol.
“Art and the arts can definitely help people with all sorts of conditions and in the future I would love to be able to extend an invitation to the centre, but that will be further down the line.”
For now, Winstanley is offering art lessons. Her warm and engaging personality has helped her to build an excellent relationship with the local Cypriots who she says have welcomed her with open arms. She said: “I love Kouklia and the people here and I now have more time for my art and undertake quite a few commissioned pieces.”
The arts centre is set in a building which was previously used as the village supermarket and is over 100 years old.
The craft centre is found in an old stone house, just a few steps away from the centre and has also been beautifully restored. There are an array of different arts and crafts on sale here, all created by artists living in Cyprus. This includes a range of handmade soaps and candles, to handmade clothes, jewellery and hand painted icons. These sit alongside a series of felt gnomes, beautiful hand made lace and superb mosaic work.
Winstanley has made sure there is something for every pocket and goods for sale start at €1 and climb to around €500 for some of the larger items.
“We have an outside courtyard area which I call our secret garden. It has a workshop, a traditional bread oven and enough space to hold all sorts of classes and ‘get togethers.”
Winstanley believes that art should be accessible to everyone and that she can teach anyone to paint. “Obviously everyone has different levels of talent, no matter how much training people have. The important thing is to get something down on canvas.”
The centre is proving popular with locals and children from the village are already taking part in regular art classes, including the Kouklia kid’s mosaic project.
“We have received so much encouragement and support from villagers who have welcomed the gallery as a new attraction for Kouklia. I wanted to do something for the village so I painted some icons on the centre’s shutters and everyone seems to love them.”
In addition she illustrated a book of poems by Steve Cartwright titled ‘ Eating Biscuits in a field.’
“This project has been made possible with the help of the locals and a good many friends and we hope to be here for many years to come.”
The Kouklia studio, gallery and craft centre is open daily except Mondays when its closed, unless it’s a holiday or festival- when visitors are welcome. www.artworkskouklia.com
