Our outing to Benthall Hall (nationaltrust.org.uk/benthall-hall) on 22nd May was for intrepid enthusiasts. A blustery, cold wind made for challenging conditions, but there was so much to draw! Some photos by Alison Williamson give a flavour of the day.
We hope to see you at a future Sketch Club day out, the next will be on Thursday 13th June at Wen Williamson’s Studio, The Hayloft, Meeson.
The afternoon of Monday 13th May saw 32 Shropshire Art Society members arriving for our annual Paintaway holiday at the very comfortable and welcoming Skelwith Bridge Hotel, situated a few miles out of Ambleside in the Lake District.
Again lucky with the weather (as we seem to be every year!), members found excellent sketching and painting opportunities around the hotel, in the adjacent stunning Langdale Valley, and further afield, travelling on foot, in shared cars or on the local bus, which passes the hotel. Sketchbooks and paintings on show at our now traditional informal last-night get-together demonstrated the wealth of subject matter in the area as well as the energy and skill of our members. Our stay was enjoyed by all and by popular request a provisional booking has been made for a return visit during the same week in 2014.
We would like to say a big thank you to Alan Townsend, our Gallery Trip and Paintaway Coordinator, for his hard work in organising this wonderful holiday for us all. We hope to see as many members as possible on next year’s Shropshire Art Society Paintaway at the Skelwith Bridge Hotel.
The first of these ‘demo by a visiting artist’ events, new to the Shropshire Art Society calendar, was held on Friday 10th May at the excellent Trinity Centre. This demonstration was given by the regular contributor the ‘The Artist’ magazine and current President of the RBSA, John Scott Martin. His paintings, in various media, are often of ships and boats, with a particular focus on the light on sky and water. Our recently acquired camera equipment enabled us all to have a close up view of the work in progress. We enjoyed an excellent insight into the working methods of this artist, complemented by tea and homemade cakes in the interval. There was a draw for one of the demonstration paintings by John, and it was won by Shirley Charman, pictured below with the painting.
We are now looking forward to receiving the artist Carole Baker in July. Thanks go to Rob Leckey for organising the event, and to Angela Kidd and Anne Linton for the super photos (above) that captured the occasion perfectly.
Our April outing (the first of the Shropshire Art Society Summer Sketch Club season) to the Hundred House Hotel (www.hundredhouse.co.uk) and Norton village was a successful event. The weather in the morning was overcast, with a blustery, cold wind, brightening up later in the day. There were plenty of interesting views to draw, including old brick & timber buildings, thatched roofs, a quirky flower and herb garden, and inside the Hundred House Hotel, a cornucopia of objects and furniture in several rooms. It was a most enjoyable and productive day out.
Report and photographs with thanks to Alison Williamson. We hope to see you on a sketch day soon!
On Friday 15th March, 46 of our members and friends set out on our twelfth Annual Gallery Weekend, this time to Bristol and Bath.
Showers did not dampen our spirits, and we enjoyed our first day, exploring the National Trust village of Lacock and its magnificent Abbey and ancient inns. The delights of Bristol, with its museums and galleries, Brunel’s SS Great Britain, attractive waterfront, excellent covered market and niche shops, kept us busy through Saturday and Sunday morning. Then on Sunday afternoon, the stunning National Trust owned Tyntesfield House beckoned, with its original contents, including a centrally heated billiard table, largely preserved intact through its occupancy. Finally, Monday allowed us plenty of time for us to savour the attractions of Bath, both architectural and gourmet, before heading for an 8pm return to Shrewsbury. Our very comfortable and welcoming hotel and the good spirits of our party ensured that an excellent weekend was enjoyed by all.
Plans are already being hatched for a return London Gallery Weekend in March 2014. Watch this space!
