Since 1986 when a small group of enthusiastic amateur artists, under the leadership of Tom Askwith, decided to create an art society in the town, the Lechlade Art Society soon attracted members and now some 38 years on, there are nearly 100 members together with an active working Committee. The Rt Hon Lord Faringdon has been the Society’s Patron for a number of years and continues to support the Society’s Annual Exhibition held each August.
Belonging to an art society where you can get actively involved in a varied programme of monthly talks and demonstrations from invited professional artists and speakers can be truly inspiring to those with a creative interest. Often it is by watching people use different techniques and mediums that you can get inspired to have a go yourself, trying something completely new. Non-members are welcome to come along and pay £4 per visit (up to two visits).
The monthly meetings are held on a Tuesday afternoon at the Pavilion at Lechlade’s Memorial Hall. The meeting on Tuesday 9th April 2024 from 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm will include a talk by Rachel Anders entitled “Wildlife with Colour Pencils”. Rachel is based in Didcot and specialises in creating beautiful colour pencil drawings of wildlife and birds, as well as pet portraits and floral commissions. Using high quality materials to guarantee archival standard work, her finished pictures are a sight to behold. (artweeks.org/v/rachael-anders)
The speaker for Tuesday 14th May is yet to be announced but Abigail Waddell will be talking to members on Tuesday 11th June from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Abigail lives in the Cotswolds, painting mainly landscapes inspired by scenery close to home. She also enjoys painting scenes for favourite places she has visited including North West Scotland, Wales, Devon and Cornwall. She favours using oils for her landscapes as clouds often demand an impressionistic approach.
Annual Membership offers a lot at just £25 per single adult or £40 for two people at the same address. The membership year runs from 1st July 2023 to 30 June 2024. Part-year membership from 1st January to 30th June 2024 is £12.50 (single) and £25 (double).
The Society’s workshops are run by talented, professional artists, often following on from a demonstration at a monthly meeting. Members are given the opportunity to work in the style of a well-known artist in a particular genre and workshop subjects are based on member’s interest to incorporate new methodology, materials and ideas. As the workshops are always extremely popular with numbers limited to around 12 participants per session, members need to book quickly to be included. Workshops are currently charged at £35, in addition to the annual membership fee.
Each week members can get together on a Thursday morning from 9.30 am until 12.30 pm, meeting at the Pavilion at the Lechlade Memorial Hall in Oak Street, GL7 3AY. Around twenty to thirty ‘regular’ members get together on the Thursday morning sessions to paint, draw, chat and exchange creative ideas, enjoying each other’s company in a sociable environment. Participation in the Thursday group get together has a nominal charge for members to cover refreshments and room hire and guests can come along at the same rate for two visits.
Painting Days are also arranged for several dates each year in the area around Lechlade. Venues are chosen that offer some indoor cover along with facilities to prepare drinks, have some lunch and socialise. Sometimes a café is available. The Painting Day starts at 10.00 am with artists often working until 4.00 pm, especially if the weather is good. Some of the favourite locations have included Buscot Park, Buscot village, Coleshill and member’s gardens which are inspiring to recreate in a picture. A charge of £5 per head is made, paid to the owner of the property and they are able to donate the money to a charity of their choice.
Each year members work hard to display their work in the Lechlade Arts Society Annual Exhibition held in the Memorial Hall. The 2024 Exhibition is from Saturday 26th to Tuesday 29th August with a preview evening for Society members and invited guests on Friday 25th August. Doors open for the general public to visit from 10am – 6pm Saturday to Monday and 10am – 3pm on Tuesday. Work in a wide range of media, both framed and unframed, is available to purchase along with ever popular greetings cards featuring prints of original work. The Society’s Patron Lord Faringdon has an extensive personal art collection. He comes to the preview evening to officially open the exhibition and also selects the winner of the Patron’s Award.
In recent years, the Society has held an extra exhibition of ‘Little Gems,’ which are 20 cm square works by members of the society, sold at £25 each in aid of Prospect House Hospice in Wroughton. The 2023 ‘Little Gems’ raised as impressive £1000 for the charity so the Lechlade Arts Society is hoping to exceed that amount at their 2024 Annual Exhibition. Along with affordable original art, visitors will receive a warm welcome from members and have the opportunity to relax with tea, coffee, juice and a slice of cake!
Members conclude each year with a traditional ‘bring and share’ Christmas lunch which is usually very well attended.
To find out more about becoming a member of this very friendly art society, contact them at lechladeartsociety@gmail.com
