Have you spotted any painted stones in or around Thame?
If so it may just have been painted by resident Darryl. She has painted some beautiful rocks and hidden them around the area for people to find and to spread some cheer. It is up to the finder if they keep the rock, rehide it or to leave it for the next person.
Darryl told us she started her rock painting journey during lockdown…
‘I had found one whilst on holiday in Somerset and it really cheered me up so I decided that I’d give it a go. I’m not particularly artistic but I get ideas from searching via Google and then personalise them a bit.
Originally I ordered cobble stones but often they were broken or unsuitable so I now get them from the coast – I look on it as recycling as I just paint them and hide them somewhere else!
I leave them around Lea Park where I live or down Thame High Street, just on windowsills. Originally I posted on a popular Thame Facebook group that I was leaving them, just to advise people that they can either keep them or rehide them. Unbelievably I seem to have attracted a bit of a following so now I post a photo of what I’ve done and let people know when I’ll be leaving them out. I do also have people ask me for commissions which is very flattering!
I do themed ones for Halloween, Christmas and Pride (ladybirds) then just any other design that appeals to me the rest of the year. The guinea pigs have been very popular – they have the ideal body shape for cobblestones!
A few years ago I did remembrance ones for the Canadian pilots and left them on the memorial in Aston Rowant woods where the plane crashed in WW2 – I must go back and check if any are still there.
My friend is the manager of Wallingford Library and I’ve run a few workshops there for children which was great fun and it’s nice to introduce a new hobby to people.
I’ve left over 250 rocks in the last few years and I just hope people have as much pleasure when they find them as I do painting them.
I just use acrylic paint / pens and seal them with clear varnish spray and I can confirm that you need no special talent!’
We love Darryl’s painted stones and we hope that she and/or others who may join in with them, continue to do so, or maybe you’d like to take it up as a hobby.
Feel free to post on our social media if you’ve found any! I’m sure the painters would love to see.
Happy Hunting.
