About Artist
Wendy Rover began working with henna as a hobby in 1999 after being introduced to it by Catherine Cartwright-Jones at a Women’s weekend at the Brushwood Folklore Center. As a long time lover of plants and paints, henna seemed like a natural means of expression for her. In 2006 she became certified under the ICNHA (an international peer/professional review body) and founded Rovinghorse Henna.
Rovinghorse Henna is particularly blessed to be able to join up with other regional artists several times a year to work parties and events together. We are pleased to have guest artist Karen Boyd in our booth frequently throughout the festival season.
 It is no secret that people, especially women, more often than not undervalue or negate their personal beauty. We do not say to ourselves in the mirror, “That is so beautiful”. We say instead, “I guess that will have to do”. Henna gives us an opportunity to gaze lovingly at our adorned selves, even if it is only our little finger, and say, “That is sooooo beautiful!” At Rovinghorse Henna, we believe that is good medicine, and it is our goal to provide an experience of adornment that encourages self-adoration.
Henna brings joy and delight to people, and Wendy is grateful to be able to facilitate that happiness by providing henna at weddings, sangeets, parties, events, fairs, festivals and for individual and small group appointments.
Art as a service is an idea that is hard to get used to. Rovinghorse Henna offers more than just body art. We hand henna drums, silk, wooden objects, textiles, pillows, tapestries and clothing, paper and paper wrapped glass votives. We also offer photographic prints of henna body art that are stand alone pieces. This gives people a chance to see and handle items that represent a historical and culturally significant art form.  Hennaed drums and textiles are still common among the nomadic people of North Africa, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Henna on objects is as permanent as the objects themselves. The dye never fades, but actually darkens on the objects over time providing an almost living, changing piece of artwork.
Henna is an art form that has deep and rich cultural meaning that goes beyond the carnival midway. Though henna as body art provides a temporary stain in beautiful patterns on the skin, it is the fact that it is ephemeral that adds to its special-ness. Henna reminds us that nothing is really permanent and teaches us to learn to admire beauty in all its phases from fresh to fading.
Wendy and all of us at Rovinghorse Henna would like to thank our friends Catherine Cartwright-Jones, Justine Howland-Goodwin, Neeta Sharma, the other dear Raindrop Gals, and the members of the forum at the Henna Page for the generous support, inspiration, guidance and friendship over the last few years. Without your encouragement and help, Rovinghorse Henna would not be what it is. Special thanks to Melinda Stanfield for being a great web-mistress and to Zoe Stuckless for her help in editing the zillions of photos we generate in a season. And especially special thanks to the illustrious Vargus Pike, mover of tents and Commissary King to the exhausted henna team. Also to Karen Boyd, our other fine artist and Anna Stuckless who is truly one fine Booth Babe.
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