How painting helped a Banbury area woman overcome the trauma of a vicious robbery

Seventeen months after the robbery an exhibition of her therapeutic paintings has been set up at a Banbury area coffee shop. The exhibition launched last weekend (Saturday August 1) at the Culworth Forge Coffee Shop in South Northamptonshire.

In March 2019 three masked robbers forced the staff at a South Northamptonshire village shop into a bathroom before stealing a large quantity of cash.

The thieves, one of whom was armed with a white baton-style weapon, entered the shop before stealing a large quantity of cash from the store’s safe.

The suspects all wore high visibility waistcoats on top of dark clothing and gloves with plain white face masks.

No arrests have been made, and Northamptonshire Police are still looking for information in the robbery.

Jackie Lonsdale was one of the staff. She was held by the neck before being force into a bathroom.

To cope with the stress of the emotional and psychological impact of this horrific experience Jackie decided to paint flowers. Having never painted before she enrolled in a painting course in her village and discovered, much to her surprise, a talent for watercolour painting.

Jackie said: “The stress relief, the satisfaction, the relaxation and pleasure I get from painting is beyond belief.”

The paintings created by Jackie in her new de-stressing pastime can be seen and bought at the Culworth Forge Coffee shop from the launch last weekend (Saturday August 1) to Saturday August 29. She will have 30 paintings on display and for sale at the coffee shop art exhibition.

The Culworth Forge Coffee Shop is located in the High Street of the village. The coffee shop is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday from 9am to 3pm.

She added: "I've literally been painting for six months. It's really sort of calmed me and helped me through the nasty incident. It takes your mind off things - art."

Jackie's friend Chris Behan organised the art exhibition for her after seeing one of her paintings.

He said: "I saw her first painting and said 'Wow there's talent. We've acquired the first painting.

"I just thought she was good and thought her art should be shared with the rest of the world."