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Art Wall

Art At the Hub

We’re so excited that some of our local artist community is joining us, in addition to the amazing studio space they’ve created they’re adorning our walls with their talent.

Emergence 004.3 Acrylic on paper Framed £250

Caz is a multi-disciplinary artist and community teacher based in Early. She works primarily with acrylics on paper and canvas. Her debut collection ‘Winter Ridge’ brings vibrant, textual landscapes that reflect her deep connection to nature and music. Influenced by her experiences hiking and dancing to electronic music, her paintings fuse bold abstract backgrounds with intricate palette knife textures, echoing the rhythms and energy of melodic breakbeats, deep house and drum and bass. 

Emergence Series is a visual exploration of self-discovery and artist freedom. This body of work represents my transition into the art world as my most authentic self; unfiltered, unapologetic and unafraid of judgement. It is the realization of a long-held dream, a step into the unknown with trust in my own creative voice. 

www.cazdowdallart.co.uk   Inst: @cazdowdallart

Emergence 003 – 2025 Acrylic on paper Framed £290

Lucinda Anderson’s work explores perception, connection and transformation, revealing hidden structures that link nature, the self and the universe. Her focus on fractals and organic forms points to an invisible order, one that repeats through all things and communicates a sense of unity beneath surface appearance.
She works with themes of oneness, spirituality and the human experience, often blurring the line between inner and outer worlds. Using mixed media including oil paint latex and tactile sculptural elements she creates textured surfaces that invite a deeper sensing. The work becomes a space of reflection where the ordinary opens into something more expansive.
With a background in photography and fashion Lucinda studied photography at college before completing a degree in fashion design at Falmouth University. Her practice has since evolved into painting and sculpture merging disciplines to translate sculptural forms onto canvas and explore depth through layered materials.
Her first exhibition Under Ice was held at 54 The Gallery Mayfair in February 2025. Through her work she seeks to hold the balance between chaos and calm presence and absence inviting reflection on the interconnectedness of all things.

Oilpaint on canvas
Acrylic on canvas

Lisa is an artist, stage designer and a keen runner. She loves spending time outside and soaking up the great outdoors and consequently, her art works are linked to nature and wellbeing. Our natural surroundings and constant throughout our trails and tribulations and nature never judges us. Lisa mainly works in acrylics and oil paints. She explores the use of with colour, pattern making, shapes and pathways on the canvas, to create playful artworks. 

Previously Lisa worked as a stage designer and set painter for 24 yrs, 2002 – 2022 at the University of Reading, Watermill theatre, Sonning Mill and the Royal Opera House.

In 2023, Lisa set up her own teaching studio ‘The Art Shed’ which is based in Reading where she teaches children and adults art. At the Heart of Art shed she is the sense of the art, community and wellness where like minded people come together to share their love for art and the making process. 

www.lisaclarkart.co.uk  Email: lisajaneclarck2009@gmail.com Whatsapp: 079736822502

Acrylic on canvas

Geroge Ryan’s work is anchored in the quiet precision of sacred geometry. First encountered during his years at university, concepts such as the golden ratio, the rule of thirds, symmetry, and the Platonic solids soon moved beyond academic theory to become a structural foundation within their work. These universal patterns, found as readily in the branching of a tree as in the façade of a cathedral, offer a constant framework – an underlying order through which he explores form, balance, and visual harmony. In all its forms, George’s work seeks to inhabit the space between the measured and the intuitive, the constructed and the organic. Whether guided by the proportions of sacred geometry, the disciplined abstraction of modernist masters, or the spontaneous marks of street and stencil art, he is interested in how structure and openness can coexist. For George, the most meaningful art is not only seen but also felt- an experience that invites participation, reflection, and connection, and which, ultimately, belongs to everyone who encounters it.

Insta: @gabrarts

George Ryan art
Acrylic, Oil and Spraypaint ar
Gulabi Thand
Acrylic on canvas

Saleel Zaman is an artist who creates extremely detailed fineliner pen drawings. He takes much of his inspiration from his rich cultural heritage, with links to Punjab, Pakistan, and the UK. He is very fond of his family’s history, which has deep historical connections to the Indian subcontinent, Britain, and the wider world due to his forefathers’ service in the British Indian Army.
Growing up, he was fascinated by stories shared within his family about their culture, traditions, and ancestral roots in the foothills of the Himalayas. They also shared spiritual ideas and activities connected to that region. He is deeply inspired by his heritage and creates art that reflects these influences, helping him feel more connected to his ancestors and the culture of his forefathers.

Acrylic on Canvas

Guest Blog:Reading College

Giving Our Students Hands-On Experience at Reading Bike Hub

We recently had the pleasure of sending one of our students to Reading Bike Hub for a work experience placement. During his time at the shop, the student gained valuable insight into the day-to-day running of a busy bike business, from helping customers to observing bike maintenance and repairs.

The placement provided an excellent opportunity to develop important workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, while also building confidence in a real-world setting. We are grateful to the team at Reading Bike Hub for providing such a welcoming and supportive environment and for helping our students explore potential career paths in the cycling industry.

Experiences like this are invaluable in preparing young people for the world of work, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Reading Bike Hub.

January

It’s been 4 and a bit months since we opened and I can’t quite believe everything that’s happened. We didn’t just build a bike hub, we built a community and a wonderful, chaotic and supportive community.

I was updating some documents this week, and since September we’ve grown from 20 to 60 volunteers, we’ve helped get over 100 bikes to people in our community and given over 40 bikes to children. We’ve swept, sluiced and painted more than I ever imagined, there’s been at least 4 floods we’ve mopped up!

We’ve just started supporting Duke of Edingburgh students, and I think our DofE dads quite like coming along with their kids 🙂 and this Monday we’re trialing a work experience placement with Reading College.

I expected January to be a quiet month, but we’ve already exceeded forecasts (£5k) by £3000. Jamie and I have both left our other jobs to pursue this full time, we’re putting everything we can into the hub over the next few months to see if we can make this viable.

We unintionally opened a skatepark, we’ve had our walls covered by some amazing graffiti, we have an art wall and refurbished guitars. Late Skates has made our basement into an actual destination people come to and we have resident artists. We held a repair cafe, and are constantly seranaded by Pete’s guitars.

But what I realised it’s not just about what we offer, it’s about the space we’re building. A home for our smaller wheeled friends in winter, a wall for local artists to try and share their art, a place for people who need a space to just come and be with friends.

My son has a community of people who will play with him, he was spotted at the Christmas party trailing an adult sitting on skateboard behind a small bike, he also convinced people to play rugby with a stuffed toy for at least two hours. The graf guys helped him learn his letters by teaching him to tag, the skateboarders will race him across the basement, the skaters strap him into skates and hold his hand. At his birthday party our resident musician offered to entertain the entire party with a music episode (it was epic). We talk about a village being needed to raise a child, the hub has become his (and my) village.

We’re on a peppercorn rent, so we’re not sure what the future holds, what we are sure about is that we want to do it together.

5 year old stands next to graffit
B learning his letters

FITS Funding

Foundation for Integrated Transport Logo

We’re beyond excited to share that the Foundation for Integrated Transport have generously awarded us a grant to cover our insurance costs for the first year and some of our digital and print advertising!

This incredible organisation works to help promote sustainable and transformable transport by providing small grants.

For small organisations like ours  that are just starting out this funding will cover the very sexy costs like insurance. 

We are so incredibly grateful to have their support at the start of our journey. 

opening

Opening 7 Sept

Reading Bike Hub is a community space centred around active travel, family and repairs.

  • affordable bike repairs – what it says on the tin, come down and get affordable bike repairs. We have suggested price, but having a bad week, month or year, let us know, no questions asked and we’ll do it a price you can afford.
  • refurbished bikes – refurbished bikes, sold at affordable prices
  • bike storage – don’t want to leave your bike in the town centre, lock it up with us for a donation of your choice
  • learn to ride classes
  • bike library – get long term loans of kids bikes, when they grow out if it, simply pop down and exchange it for a bike that fits.
  • bike hire – borrow a bike for a day, an hour or a week
  • tool hire – want to learn to fix your bike but don’t have the skills or tools. Come down and book a slot of with our mechanics to do it yourself
  • kid friendly space – need somewhere to breast feed, bottle feed or give a hangry toddler a snack? Please pop in and use our space, we’re working on the baby changing
  • more kid friendly space – balance bike courses at the rear of the shop where your little person can navigate a course while your bike gets fixed. Designed by our Head Mechanic, Blake, aged 4.
  • repair cafes – bring down that broken tool, necklace or toy and our expert volunteers will fix it rather than you throwing it away

Want to get involved?

  • have mechanic skills? then come and volunteer with us on Sundays
  • old bike you’ve not used in a while, donate it to the hub. Kids bikes would be especially useful to build up the bike library
  • old rags are really useful for cleaning bikes and touching all the greasy parts
  • come and help us clean, fundraise or more
  • get involved, if you have an idea that would make the space better than give us a message
  • Finally make a donation https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/reading-bike-hub

Email us readingbikehub@gmail.com

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