Meet the nine-year-old local making waves in the art world
Plus: New shows, wine tastings and more
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone had a lovely Easter. I’ve been living off lamb leftovers since Sunday. I can’t complain; the lamb was delicious.
This week we’ve got a rather special piece about Cerys San Martin-Davies. Cerys is a local nine-year-old girl who was just awarded runner-up in the Mini Maestro Awards. Her work has also been presented at the Royal Academy of Arts Young Artists’ Summer Show, and she previously received a special commendation from the Royal Society of Biology at age six for her depiction of the Great Barrier Reef. In short, Cerys is making waves in the art world — and she’s not even 10 yet! Scroll down to read about when I met the San Martin-Davies family.
We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a beautiful property of the week and some post-Easter recommendations to keep you going as the weather gets lovelier.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞
🗳 The local elections are being held on Thursday 7 May. Merton’s voting history has been interesting over the years. The borough switched between Conservative and Labour in the 1960s and early 1970s. It was then controlled by the Tories from 1974–1990, where it then switched back to Labour. It was under no overall control from 2006–2014 but has been Labour-controlled since then. Of course, it’s incredibly hard to accurately predict elections, but the BBC has put together a rather informative profile on Merton which you can read here. Click the link to learn about Merton’s electoral history, population size and more.
↗️ After receiving funding from Merton Council, Love Wimbledon started the refresh of Hartfield Walk (the space next to Robert Dyas). The work started on Monday 30 March and will last for several weeks. It will include rebuilding the entrance arch, renovating the kiosks and removing rotten seating. Once the seating has been removed, the team will survey the site to establish what remedial works are needed before planters are added and they install new seating. Click here to read more.
🎉 This year, Merton Park Bowls Club reached a significant milestone: its centenary year. For 100 years, this club has been a quiet but enduring presence in the heart of Merton. Founded in 1926, the club began modestly, originally playing on a green near what was then little more than a car park. Like many bowls clubs of its era, Merton Park initially reflected the social norms of early 20th-century Britain, operating as a men’s club only. However, a significant moment of progress came in 1962 with the formation of a women’s section. The club will be holding an open day on Saturday 9 May to allow local members of the public to visit, try their hand at bowls and get a feel for the club. In addition, they run regular introductory sessions on Monday evenings from 6pm until dusk, starting on Monday 4 May, 2026. Find out more from their website: www.mertonparkbowls.com. Also, check out our piece with the club from last year.
This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️
The Masters kicks off today. What better way to spend the tournament than at Caddi Club in Wimbledon Quarter? There will be speciality cocktails, food aplenty and competitions to win drivers, lessons and golf balls. Plus, Caddi has a fully stocked bar and a cracking food menu, so they’ve got you covered for replenishments.
Property of the week 🏡
It’s incredible how property prices change over such short distances. This three-bedroom brick-fronted Apostle house is in great condition. It’s even got a modern loft extension. But it’s half the price of a property in Wimbledon’s centre. This particular home will set you back £900,000. I’m not saying that it’s cheap, but it’s certainly better than your average property in SW19. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
🎭 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Separate from Polka’s Easter workshops, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt returns to Wimbledon after a hugely successful spring run in 2022. Little Angel Theatre brings Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in this puppetry production. Directed by Peter Glanville, it features music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr. Book your tickets here.
Where: Polka Theatre
When: Wednesday 25 March – Sunday 12 April
💃 Easter dance camp: The holidays are coming to an end, but we’ve still got a few days to go. If you’re wondering what to do with your little ones, look no further. These two days of dancing fun are suitable for children aged 3–12 years old. The camp costs £132 per child (so not the cheapest of Easter activities), but it promises to create some great memories, both for kids and relieved parents who can pack them off for a 48 hour stretch! Book here.
Where: St Mary’s Church Garden Hall
When: Thursday 9 – Friday 10 April, 10am – 4pm
🇮🇹 ‘Unsung Italy’ wine tasting: Italy produces some of the world’s finest wines (and I’m not talking about the paint-stripper Chianti you get at your local pizzeria). Every region of Italy produces fascinating and distinctive wines, many of which fly under the radar. This tasting focuses on the lesser-known appellations: Umbria, Campania and Friuli. The team will also provide nibbles. Tickets are £35 and can be bought here.
Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 10 April, 6–7.30pm
🎻 Bach to Baby: The critically acclaimed concert for babies, toddlers and their parents or guardians comes to Wimbledon this Easter. Enjoy outstanding musicians and performances designed for the whole family. Tickets are £17.70 and can be bought here.
Where: Trinity United Reformed Church
When: Saturday 16 April, 3–3.45pm
🎨 Worple Art Group Spring Exhibition: Head to St Mark’s Church for a showcase of over 200 original paintings and drawings by 17 local artists. Admission is free, so bring whoever you want. Click here to read more.
Where: St Mark’s Church, Wimbledon
When: Friday 17 (3–7pm) — Saturday 18 April (10am – 5.30pm)
🥕 MasterChef: The Professionals Six Hands Supper Club: Orion’s Chef Patron Alex Webb is joined in Wimbledon by his fellow MasterChef: The Professionals finalists Bart and Philli. Three chefs. One menu. A celebration of the finest culinary skills. Book a table here.
Where: Saturday 18 April, 12.15–1.45pm
Meet the Wimbledon nine-year-old making waves in the art world 🖼
It’s one of the nicest days of the year as I make my way from Wimbledon South to Merton Park. I’m heading to the San Martin-Davies household to meet Cerys and her family. Cerys is a nine-year-old artist who is having something of a moment in the art world right now. Just two weeks ago, her life-size painting was awarded runner-up at the Hari Hotel Mini Maestro Awards. But this isn’t Cerys’s first taste of success. At age seven, her work was presented at the Royal Academy of Arts Young Artists’ Summer Show. She also previously received a special commendation from the Royal Society of Biology at age six for her depiction of the Great Barrier Reef. In short, Cerys has racked up a huge list of achievements, and all before the age of 10. When her father Gonzalo got in touch with The Wimble, I decided to pay the family a visit and see Cerys’s art first-hand.
Gonzalo and his wife Julia greet me at the door. Behind them stands Cerys and her twin brother Rhys, who has just got back from playing touch rugby and fancies a go on his electric guitar. Julia tells me that they only moved into this house at Christmas. “It took a lot of work,” she says. It has evidently paid off: the converted space at the back of the house pools with natural light, and the table covered in art supplies gives it the feel of a painter’s studio. And, in essence, it is. When the four of us sit down at the table, Cerys’s piece “Maths Blanket” leans against the wall beside me. “She was six when she made that… seven when it went up,” says Gonzalo. “We realised then that it wasn’t just us seeing Cerys’s talent.”
“I had some help,” chimes Cerys. “But the ideas are always mine.” Gonzalo and Julia laugh. Cerys has been creating since she was a toddler. Gonzalo explains she has always had an incredible command of colour. “She would tell us that these colours actually meant something. Even when she was tiny, she would say things like ‘that’s a house’ and ‘that’s a mountain’.” At first, Julia and Gonzalo thought it was just a cute hobby. Their backgrounds are in science and, by their own admission, not creative. When Cerys had her work accepted into the Royal Academy, her parents thought it was a one-time thing. But then the art kept on coming.
I ask Cerys why she decided to make that first tapestry. Rhys, who has now finished playing guitar and joined us, is the mathematician out of the two of them. “Rhys likes maths. I like art and joining things together,” Cerys tells me. It would seem “Maths Blanket” was, for Cerys, a way of bridging the art and science world. Gonzalo then brings out a scrappy piece of paper. On it is a small, delicate drawing of a vase and flowers. “I find this astonishing,” says Gonzalo. “Cerys was just doodling this. We thought nothing of it. We were about to throw it away when she said, ‘Wait, I might do something with that.’ Then a few weeks ago she did this.” Gonzalo and Julia show me a canvas with a flower assembled through textiles. Cerys had used the fabrics from when the family were picking material for their new sofa, and it’s striking how meticulous her colour choices are.
But what’s it like to be the parents of a rising star? What advice would Julia and Gonzalo give others who are just realising that their little one has a knack for a particular field? “I think it’s about paying attention,” says Julia. “We didn’t to begin with. Cerys has been drawing, painting and asking for art equipment since she was teeny. As important as school is, children are capable of doing a lot more than you think they are. I think unless you’re artists or creatives yourself, you’re in danger of minimising it because you don’t understand.”
Gonzalo nods. “And let them lead a little bit,” he adds. “It’s easy for parents to over-schedule their children and, by accident, tell their kids what it is that they should focus on. Some things you can’t avoid. We all need to reach a certain baseline at maths and English to get on in this world. But beyond that, let them lead a little bit and see where their passion takes them, not your passion.”
I say my goodbyes to Cerys and Rhys (who has also shown me some of his awesome drawings of beasts from video games) and make my way back to Wimbledon South in unusually sunny weather. As I walk, I reflect on the fact that we often forget how capable children are at creating their own work and how important it is to nourish talent from an early age. Meeting the San Martin-Davies family was more than just the highlight of my week; it was a reminder to champion all of the talented members in our community, whether they’re nine or 90.
Check out Cerys’s art Instagram here (run by her parents).
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you what the name of the Roman road that passed through Colliers Wood to Chichester was called. The answer: Stane Street.
Q: Which of these stars from The Crown was born in Wimbledon?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our spotlight on Cerys San Martin-Davies. Do send in local success stories for your chance to be featured: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.