In collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe Theatre, Chandler has crafted a series of rich character studies based on Shakespeare’s play "As You Like It." This play is set in Shropshire. The project was commissioned by Tim Ashton of Soulton Hall through the Soden Collection to celebrate Shakespeare's connection to the manor.

Chandler’s works are characterised by clean black-and-white portrayals, evoking the essence of Tudor England. 

The frames for these pieces were carefully sourced from the Shropshire Raby Estate with the kind permission of Lord Barnard. The Raby Estate is located in the ancient Forest of Arden, the very setting of the play and completes the art works’ story. These wooden frames feature coded plugs, which subtly reveal hidden details about the relationships of the characters depicted, adding a layer of depth and intrigue.

The inclusion of coded meaning is a nod to Roland Hill, the significant historical figure who built Soulton Hall and published the Geneva Bible in 1560. Hill, a prominent figure in England’s history, was also a cousin of Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden.

Careful scholarship led by James D. Wenn of the consultancy Byrga Geniht Ltd (with support from Christine Schmidle and the Ashton family) has firmly established the long-standing local tradition that Shakespeare's "As You Like It", is set in Shropshire, at Soulton Hall. 

Prices for original oil prints start from £950 - Click on the image for more details and to enquire