Our annual Shropshire Art Society Autumn Exhibition is currently being held at the Bear Steps Gallery, Shrewsbury. The Exhibition Social event was well attended by our members and their guests on Saturday 8th October and was a fantastic opportunity for us all to get together and enjoy the exhibition.
Phil Hadley, our Chair, welcomed everyone to the event. Then Wilfred Langford, our President, spoke of the exceptional quality and variety of the art works submitted, and thanks were given to John Willets, our Exhibition Secretary, and his team of volunteer members who helped him with the organisation and hanging of the exhibition this year.
Wilf introduced Phil Langstaff, Chair and a Trustee of VAN (Visual Art Network) and Co-Organiser of the Shrewsbury Arts Trail. Phil told us he was delighted to adjudicate the exhibition competition and award the R. Harrison and H. Walker Prize for the artwork that “best represents the Shropshire countryside”.
The winning painting by Val is titled, “Harvest Moon”
The R. Harrison and H. Walker prize of a Silver Salver was first presented in 1985, in memory of two former members of the Society, and is traditionally awarded at each Shropshire Art Society Autumn Exhibition. This year, the Silver Salver and prize money were awarded to Val Littlehales for her pastel painting “Harvest Moon”. Phil explained that he had chosen this work as the winner for its composition, the beautiful use of light and how the work spoke strongly of Shropshire and its wildlife. He had been drawn to the painting and felt it truly fulfilled the award brief of reflecting the Shropshire countryside.
Charlotte Tenneson’s lino-reduction print “Herbal echinacea” was mentioned as highly commended, as was the work by Jane Beesley, “Timeless land”.
As well as thanking Phil for being our adjudicator this year, we must thank Margaret Rowson for organising the refreshments at the Social event, and also the Bear Steps Gallery for hosting our exhibition. Thank you too to Tamara Hackett and Anne Linton for some of the lovely images and words included here.
The exhibition continues at the Bear Steps Gallery, Shrewsbury until lunchtime on Saturday 15th October. Do visit and see our members’ work!