The Creative Couple
Fairfield Glade residents boast impressive skills in carving, writing and artwork
By KEITH WALTHER
Vista Publisher/Editor
To those among us whose idea of art comes in stick figure drawings; whose idea of carving has more to do with turkey or ham than wood, Frank and Nancy Akeroyd are truly a different breed.
Artistic, creative, multi-talented — that would well-describe the Fairfield Glade couple by way of Texas.
What is perhaps most interesting is the fact that their creative juices flow only for the fun of it. They do it because they love it, simple as that. Akeroyd
“I do some art work but I do it for fun and for my stories,” said Nancy, who has written several children’s stories in addition to paintings and poetry.
“I paint a picture once in a great while. I am not nearly as talented as most of the Glade artists. I am not anybody special. Just a person with a hobby that I like to share with others …”
Meanwhile, Frank, a retired lieutenant inthe the San Antonio (TX) police department, had dreams of being an architect in his younger years but found a way to use his innovative skills.
“Now my husband is an artist!,” said Nancy.
“ He is a very talented carver. He also designed a police car that won third place in a national design competition.”
Frank may be best known for his carving for the Eagles Bluff Country Club — a top-of-the-line course in Bullard, Tx. (see photos).
“I think that is his most beautiful carving,” Nancy noted. “We no longer have many of his commissions because people have always bought everything he did without his even trying to sell anything.”
Frank, who also cut a music record during his teenage years and formed a band with his brothers that won the Battle of the Bands competition one year in San Antonio, is compemplating carving a mural in the future of the Smoky Mountains, complete with all the critters that call it home.”
For her part, Nancy was encouraged by friends in the Glade to submit “A Christmas Story” that she wrote (see page 2) and has written other children’s works such as “The Reluctant German Shephard”, “Caroline’s Room” and “Cyberdaffy.”
Like her “soul mate” of 23 years, Nancy has a difficult time holding on her to works as folks quickly snatch them up.
“Most have been given as gifts or sold. The couple that bought our house in Texas wanted to buy most of my work so I let her do so because it meant less to fiddle with in moving to Tennesseee,” Nancy recalled. “I enjoy sharing my stories and art, but I am not accustomed to anybody really paying much attention.”
Nancy used to work between college years as a paste up artist in a newspaper advertising department and did some art work for an advertising agency. Majoring in pre-law, she became a paralegal and never tried to make a dime off her literary or art works.
Oh, I write not for publication but for friends and relatives,” she said. “In fact, I have had just one article published. But even that was not by submission. It was sitting in my husband’s office and a publisher saw and read it and asked if he could publish it.”
The couple, who reside on Motthaven Dr., do what they do for their enjoyment and to, uh, whittle away some extra time.
“We think,” Nancy summized, “it will be nice to have something special … for us to look back at and smile.”