Chair’s report 2024
The club has had another good year. We have returned to a kind of normal after the Covid
pandemic, taking up some of the activities which had been paused, and beginning a few
new ones. We have welcomed new members, we have some terrific talents and I think we
are as vibrant as we have ever been!
Our annual Trophy exhibition was held on 19 June last year; most of us entered pictures, the
standard was high as always. In addition, most members showed more work on tables
around the room.
What an impressive range of subjects, styles and media, and what a lot of talent. We had
intricate pencil drawings of aviation subjects, animals in a variety of interpretations, flowers,
exotic scenes in watercolour and pen, semi abstracts, sketchbook, and even Mother Teresa!
The Trophy winner was Bridget with ‘Moncler’, a wonderfully crafted portrait in pastel.
Runner-up was Marie, with her picture of ‘Salford Quays’.
The Visitors’ Choice was again Bridget, with Jackie the runner-up with ‘Frosty morning’.
Congratulations to the winners!
It was good to welcome a few visitors, including John Lound from Amber painting group.
At the beginning of September we decided to go for an art and craft weekend to coincide
with the Allestree Scarecrow trail. We were able to book the Memorial Hall for the whole of
the festival weekend, at a very reasonable rate. It was a pretty successful event, plenty of
visitors came on the trail, and ‘scarecrow HQ’ was the Red Cow, just along the road. We also
had our own scarecrow thanks to the scarecrow team, Tracey, Jackie, Marie, Lynda and
Julie.
‘Vincent’ (that’s van Gogh, with Lynda’s lovely Sunflowers painting), sitting outside the door
in his yellow chair, was popular with the visitors! He was accompanied by a ‘war veteran’
reclining on the bench.
Seven of us had craft tables, and several members showed pictures. We benefitted from
good weather both days. If the trail is happening this year I’ll try to book the hall again.
Again we were invited to show pictures in Allestree library at Park Farm, for two weeks in
October. Sixteen club members exhibited, together with six members of Allestree
Watercolour Workshop. Special thanks go to Jannice for doing the lion’s share of the
organisation for this, and to Richard for producing a catalogue. We used the library’s new
floor-standing exhibition boards, which worked very well, thanks to the willing helpers who
set up the boards and took them down. As last year, we had an official opening by our local
councillors.
Once again we put on an impressive display, 45 pictures in all, and there were good
comments from visitors during the two weeks. And again visitors were invited to choose
their favourite. The result was a tie between two winning paintings – ‘Zebo’ by Bridget and
‘Cool tiger’ by Neil. Well done both.
In return for having the use of the boards we offered to varnish the wood frames. Thanks to
the volunteers who stayed on at the end to do the varnishing, in remarkably quick time.
As a new venture, as we had enough funds at last, we decided to have a demonstration by a
professional, something the club hasn’t had for many years. On 23 rd October, watercolour
artist Stephen Coates gave us a demonstration of a landscape with water, with an amazing
tutorial on ‘reflections’. It was a revelation for us and we had a wonderful morning. At the
end Stephen donated the painting to the club. We hope to hold more demonstrations in the
future. Several members of other art groups joined us, (and we even acquired a new
member, Denise!). We charged a small entry fee for the event, which meant club funds
weren’t stretched too much.
Our annual Christmas fuddle was reinstated and held on 11 th December. Plenty of good food
was brought and it was a pleasant occasion before our Christmas break. We held a raffle for
the painting Stephen Coates had donated; the name drawn was Bill’s, which was nice as he
and his wife were, and still are, having a rough time health wise.
Following last year’s AGM, Tracey and her husband took on the website; they managed to
get it up and running, and it is being kept up to date, once again. Big thank you to you both.
I’m happy to say the club is flourishing, as a result of gaining new members we are currently
in the position of having a waiting list! Sadly, as well as Bill, our Reverend Tom Green is also
having a tough time with health problems and our thoughts are with him and Bill (and their
families) and we hope they will make it back to the club again soon.
Lastly, thanks are due as always to our excellent secretary and treasurer Carol, to
Jannice our vice Chair, to Daphne for tea-making (we miss you when you’re not
here; one week Alan had to do the tea honours!) and to Christine our ‘official’
photographer. And, of course, to the movers of tables every week, and all our
members who keep the group going in our different ways.
The club has had another good year. We have returned to a kind of normal after the Covid
pandemic, taking up some of the activities which had been paused, and beginning a few
new ones. We have welcomed new members, we have some terrific talents and I think we
are as vibrant as we have ever been!
Our annual Trophy exhibition was held on 19 June last year; most of us entered pictures, the
standard was high as always. In addition, most members showed more work on tables
around the room.
What an impressive range of subjects, styles and media, and what a lot of talent. We had
intricate pencil drawings of aviation subjects, animals in a variety of interpretations, flowers,
exotic scenes in watercolour and pen, semi abstracts, sketchbook, and even Mother Teresa!
The Trophy winner was Bridget with ‘Moncler’, a wonderfully crafted portrait in pastel.
Runner-up was Marie, with her picture of ‘Salford Quays’.
The Visitors’ Choice was again Bridget, with Jackie the runner-up with ‘Frosty morning’.
Congratulations to the winners!
It was good to welcome a few visitors, including John Lound from Amber painting group.
At the beginning of September we decided to go for an art and craft weekend to coincide
with the Allestree Scarecrow trail. We were able to book the Memorial Hall for the whole of
the festival weekend, at a very reasonable rate. It was a pretty successful event, plenty of
visitors came on the trail, and ‘scarecrow HQ’ was the Red Cow, just along the road. We also
had our own scarecrow thanks to the scarecrow team, Tracey, Jackie, Marie, Lynda and
Julie.
‘Vincent’ (that’s van Gogh, with Lynda’s lovely Sunflowers painting), sitting outside the door
in his yellow chair, was popular with the visitors! He was accompanied by a ‘war veteran’
reclining on the bench.
Seven of us had craft tables, and several members showed pictures. We benefitted from
good weather both days. If the trail is happening this year I’ll try to book the hall again.
Again we were invited to show pictures in Allestree library at Park Farm, for two weeks in
October. Sixteen club members exhibited, together with six members of Allestree
Watercolour Workshop. Special thanks go to Jannice for doing the lion’s share of the
organisation for this, and to Richard for producing a catalogue. We used the library’s new
floor-standing exhibition boards, which worked very well, thanks to the willing helpers who
set up the boards and took them down. As last year, we had an official opening by our local
councillors.
Once again we put on an impressive display, 45 pictures in all, and there were good
comments from visitors during the two weeks. And again visitors were invited to choose
their favourite. The result was a tie between two winning paintings – ‘Zebo’ by Bridget and
‘Cool tiger’ by Neil. Well done both.
In return for having the use of the boards we offered to varnish the wood frames. Thanks to
the volunteers who stayed on at the end to do the varnishing, in remarkably quick time.
As a new venture, as we had enough funds at last, we decided to have a demonstration by a
professional, something the club hasn’t had for many years. On 23 rd October, watercolour
artist Stephen Coates gave us a demonstration of a landscape with water, with an amazing
tutorial on ‘reflections’. It was a revelation for us and we had a wonderful morning. At the
end Stephen donated the painting to the club. We hope to hold more demonstrations in the
future. Several members of other art groups joined us, (and we even acquired a new
member, Denise!). We charged a small entry fee for the event, which meant club funds
weren’t stretched too much.
Our annual Christmas fuddle was reinstated and held on 11 th December. Plenty of good food
was brought and it was a pleasant occasion before our Christmas break. We held a raffle for
the painting Stephen Coates had donated; the name drawn was Bill’s, which was nice as he
and his wife were, and still are, having a rough time health wise.
Following last year’s AGM, Tracey and her husband took on the website; they managed to
get it up and running, and it is being kept up to date, once again. Big thank you to you both.
I’m happy to say the club is flourishing, as a result of gaining new members we are currently
in the position of having a waiting list! Sadly, as well as Bill, our Reverend Tom Green is also
having a tough time with health problems and our thoughts are with him and Bill (and their
families) and we hope they will make it back to the club again soon.
Lastly, thanks are due as always to our excellent secretary and treasurer Carol, to
Jannice our vice Chair, to Daphne for tea-making (we miss you when you’re not
here; one week Alan had to do the tea honours!) and to Christine our ‘official’
photographer. And, of course, to the movers of tables every week, and all our
members who keep the group going in our different ways.