Education and the Arts

20 years of creating miniature wonders

When Roderick Richards retired, 20 years ago, he decided to go back to his first love of engineering and model making. With encouragement from his wife June, Roderick started making dolls houses for his nephews and nieces with June furnishing them down to miniature toilet rolls. His favourite dolls house was based on the ‘House that Moved' in Exeter*, which was made with such precision that only real oak was used in creating this 14th century Merchants House.

From dolls houses Roderick moved onto motor boats, radio controlled aeroplanes, and other models. At times Roderick has spent almost a year constructing his tugs, torpedo boats and dolls houses such is the fine detail and his meticulous approach.

Now approaching 83, and with a wife who needs more room at home, Roderick has decided to take part in Open Studios at Brixham for the first time.

Roderick hopes to sell some of the dozen dolls houses he has constructed as all his grandchildren are now grown. He will also be present to talk about his work and will have several boats on show that can be purchased. He also has rare model magazines from the 1920's and 30's that will stir interest in many new and old ‘modellers'.

The Brixham Adult & Community Learning Centre (entrance off Westover Close, Brixham, TQ5 9SP) is open from Monday September 5th until Friday 16th, from 9.30-3.30 daily and 6.30-8.30pm Monday to Wednesday.

Other artists taking part also offering free taster classes throughout the week of 12th -16th September are:

Petra Turner – textiles and recycling

Marta Killey – mixed media

Chrissy Elsworth – Mixed media with glitter and sweet papers etc

Gail Trezise - ceramics

Kate Packham – stained glass and jewellery

Vicky Porter - textiles

Barbara John – textiles, bags, boxes

Breda Holden – watercolour Flower paintings

Tessa Amies – mosaics, clay and crafts
David Ayres – photography     

Venue contact number: 01803 853302 or website www.southdevoncollege.ac.uk

*Number 16 Edmund Street, or Merchant House, was in the way of the new bypass in 1961, and so was scheduled for demolition. It dated from about 1500, although some thought it may be 14th century. Thanks to pressure from archaeologists, it was listed as an important building of architectural and historic significance and moved out of the way of the new road to West Street.