This year’s Annual Paintaway saw members returning to the popular Skelwith Bridge Hotel, scene of several previous Art Society visits. Arriving by car for a 4 night stay, some 20 members were soon installed in this comfortable and welcoming small hotel, situated at the foot of the dramatic Langdale Valley. The area within easy reach of the hotel is rich in attractive and challenging subjects for landscape painters who made the most of their stay, filling sketchbooks and gathering material for future studio paintings.
The glorious weather throughout the whole of our visit encouraged members to spend long days exploring near and far, honing their driving skills on some hairy mountain roads, and recording the splendid landscape, in work subsequently to be displayed at our usual last-night get- together. A highlight of our stay occurred on Thursday morning when our Chairman, Wilf Langford, provided a much appreciated demonstration of pastel painting at the ancient bridge on the river adjacent to the hotel.
On the final evening when we met, according to tradition to enjoy each other’s work, Wilf was thanked for his earlier demonstration, as was Alan for his organisation of the visit. It was unanimously agreed that it had been a very successful occasion, made memorable by the excellent weather. We all look forward to next year’s equivalent event. Location to be announced.
Our thanks go to the hotel staff for the very warm welcome and excellent food we enjoyed and of course to Anne Linton who has provided such a splendid photographic record of our stay.