As many readers will already know, The Group have recently closed the door to Bent Hill Gallery for the final time as the property up for sale at some point.

However, there is good news ………….

Due to kindness of Hazel of the Yoga Studio at Beach Street, we have been offered use of the Studio on Saturday 3rd June 10.00am until 4.00pm. Along with two local artists Shaun Hinton and Rik Saggers, there will be a variety of work for sale by members of Felixstowe Art Group, including 3D work.

And there is more hope on the horizon ……..

Due to another kind community spirited person, Karen, proprietor of Suffolk Living, who is relocating to the premises opposite TSB, we have been offered to share at an extremely low fee, the downstairs space with a few items of stock Karen sells in her shop.

It is appreciated being downstairs may not suit everyone but no doubt you will agree, it is a great opportunity to have at least some gallery space to not only be a source of potential income to help with the running of the Group, but also let people know about the Group’s various activities plus members own exhibitions and workshops.

Once refurbishment is completed we will be given a date to move in which is anticipated some time in June and will trial up to and including Christmas.

A huge thank you to both Hazel and Karen, plus thank you to Group members Shaun Hinton and Helen Daniel for their time and help on this.

As well as the Group’s website giving details of activities, the library has kindly given space to place a display board informing people about various demonstrations, talks, workshops, exhibitions etc. Do take a look.

See you soon !

Yvonne Smart

Having closed the door to Bent Hill Gallery for the final time due to the property up for sale soon, our search for new premises continues.

We are not alone in our search and thank Spotlight and Flyer magazines, Kate of Felixstowe BID, plus Rob Dunger of Felixstowe Radio, Dominic of EADT, and several members toward getting the message across about our quest.

However, there is good news as Hazel of the Yoga Studio at Beach Street, keen to keep the Group in the public eye, has offered use of Studio on Saturday 3rd June. Along with two local artists Shaun Hinton and Rik Saggers, there will be a variety of work for sale by members of Felixstowe Art Group, including 3D work.

Buckets of thanks to Hazel, a very local community minded person indeed.

As well as the Group’s website giving details of activities, the library has kindly given space to place a display board informing people about demonstrations, talks, workshops, exhibitions etc. Do take a look.

Yvonne Smart

www.felixstoweartgroup.org

The Felixstowe Art Group’s Annual Exhibition once again gave the opportunity for members to showcase and offer their work for sale.

Thankfully it was pleasingly cool inside Trinity Methodist Church Hall so visitors, almost 700, who came through the doors over the five day exhibition could take their time viewing the eclectic mix of work, purchase and vote for their favourite artwork. This year Anthony Osler’s Magical Moment was the favourite with The Day’s End, also by marine artist Anthony, second favourite. Joint third was Kiss of light by Janet Woodard and Fishing boat, Dahouet, Brittany by Carole Massey.

Anthony will be presented with the Mary Tuffley perpetual trophy which he may keep for one year plus a small gift. Mary, a long time member of the Group, left a bequest to the Group in her will and this is one way her name and generosity is remembered.

Being the Group’s 70th Anniversary this year, as a thank you to sponsors and supporters we invited them to an informal meeting with soft drinks and nibbles at the church hall. We also welcomed Sharon Harkin, Felixstowe Mayor. A very pleasant evening and good to catch up with various people.

September Tuesday evening meetings resume at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe with the first one being 13th September when not only will Anthony be presented with his trophy we also welcome Anne Plummer who will be demonstrating A fresh approach to mixed medium. An interesting evening for sure which commences at 7.30pm. Visitors (£2) are most welcome.

Geoff Christian came to Felixstowe via Preston as a young man already certified as a Chief Engineer with experience in maritime life. As a child he drew and painted shipping and his painting style typically includes land and seascapes, often with studies of boats still prevalent in his watercolour and ink paintings which are simple, skilful and always popular with patrons of the Group’s Bent Hill Gallery.

Geoff served for many years as Secretary of the Felixstowe Art Group, Manager of the weekly painting meetings that are held at the Conservative Club while he also assisted at the Gallery in setting up the regular exhibitions held there. These days he remains an active Member of the Group with more time to enjoy his art.

The Group is looking forward to an illustrated talk by Diana Grace and Lucy Skellorn on Cedric Morris including an update on the refurbishments at Benton End, a former artists’ colony at Hadleigh. This will take place at Broadway House, 7.30pm on 14 June and will be followed on 28 June with a demonstration on Still Life in Acrylics given by Ed Cooper. Both sessions will be open to members of the public at a nominal charge of £2.

Martello Tower from Bawdsey Beach in watercolour by Geoff Christian

Pauline Maidlow has been a Member of the Felixstowe Art Group for the 20 years she has lived in Suffolk. Pauline’s favourite medium is oil painting and she is a ‘dab hand’ as her Martlesham Heath work shows. She also enjoys the Group’s Thursday painting get-togethers where she paints in watercolour, leaving the larger oil paintings at home. Her favourite subjects are seascapes and flowers.

Pauline exhibits at the Group’s Bent Hill Gallery, the Annual Exhibition and also at the Suffolk Show. Her interests also include knitting, sewing, dressmaking and her family so she is really looking forward to the visit by her daughter and granddaughter from Melbourne in June.

Martlesham Heath – oil painting by Pauline Maidlow

There will be two evening meetings this month. The first, on 14 June, will be an illustrated talk on the work of Cedric Morris including an update on the extensive refurbishments at Benton End. On 28 June, Ed Cooper will demonstrate Still Life in Acrylics. Everyone is welcome: both sessions, starting at 7.30pm, will be at Broadway House.

A nominal charge of £2 applies to non-Members.

The Felixstowe Art Group is now officially 70 years old, having passed its 28 April birthday and is going as strong as ever with 150 Members. There will be a number of celebratory events to come however a top priority is to host a fundraising event for the people of Ukraine. To that end the Group will exhibit and sell unframed paintings in the Felixstowe Library on Saturday 14 May.

On 10 May Tania Harrington will give an illustrated talk on “Flower Power- The History of Plants in Art”. Members of the public are invited to attend at a cost of £2. Sue Edmunds will lead an evening for Members on 24 May creating art with coloured pencils. Members can bring and use their own materials for this workshop.

Member Stella Burgess’ father, Lawrence Travers, was a professional artist in Ipswich where she was born. After a career that has taken her abroad, she has been drawn to the sea at Felixstowe where she is busy as a charity Support Worker and a painter of “fish, birds or interiors” as well as seaside scenes. “Fishes” is a splendid example of her popular style.

“Fishes” acrylic painting by Stella Burgess

Helen Daniel is the Secretary of the Felixstowe Art Group and is looking forward to the events that are planned to mark the Group’s 70^th anniversary since it was formed on 28 April 1952.

Helen, a proud Yorkshire woman, found great pleasure in painting and drawing as a child. One of her favourite subjects was the Chinese Tang Horse in the Sheffield Museum and she has maintained interest in an eclectic range of subjects including beach scenes now that she lives in Felixstowe.

But there was a hiatus from art of some 30 years when athletics took all her time and effort, including representing Team GB in Commonwealth Games over a period of ten years, then bringing up her two children and working as a teacher. Helen now delights in practising her art in acrylics, watercolours and oils and exhibits regularly at the Bent Hill Gallery.

“Squirrel” painted in acrylics by Helen Daniel

On 10 May Tania Harrington will give an illustrated talk on “Flower Power-The History of Plants in Art” and on the 14 May, the Group will hold a fundraising sale in support of Ukraine in a sale of unframed paintings in the Felixstowe Library. The evening event on 24 May will be led by Sue Edmunds on working with coloured pencils. More details can be found on the website. www.felixstoweartgroup.org.

Geoff Christian came to Felixstowe via Preston as a young man already certified as a Chief Engineer with experience in maritime life. As a child he drew and painted shipping and his painting style typically includes land and seascapes, often with studies of boats still prevalent in his watercolour and ink paintings which are simple, skilful and always popular with patrons of the Group’s Bent Hill Gallery.

Geoff served for many years as Secretary of the Felixstowe Art Group, Manager of the weekly painting meetings that are held at the Conservative Club while he also assisted at the Gallery in setting up the regular exhibitions held there. These days he remains an active Member of the Group with more time to enjoy his art.

Members of the public interested in painting techniques are invited to join the Group at 7.30pm on Tuesday 12 April at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe IP11 7DD at a cost of £2 when Jane Cochrane will be demonstrating ‘The Wonders of Negative Painting’.

The Group’s Annual General Meeting for all Members is on 26 April and will include the annual competition that is held to choose a winning poster and catalogue cover for the seventieth anniversary Annual Exhibition in August. Members should check with our regular newsletters available on the website for the outline of requirements for the competition.

Martello Tower from Bawdsey Beach in watercolour by Geoff Christian

HAPPY 70^TH BIRTHDAY FELIXSTOWE ART GROUP!

The Felixstowe Art Group was formed on 28 April 1952 by an invited group of local artists initially under the name of the Deben Art Group. On our 70^th birthday we have 150 Members who continue to develop the range and interests of local artists with our own Bent Hill Gallery, weekly painting sessions, fortnightly talks and art demonstrations, outings, and celebration get-togethers.

March 2022 began with the annual drawing competition, the topics this year were Pots, Playtime and Pets and will be followed on 22 March with a Members only life drawing evening. The fortnightly program will continue in April with a talk on the 12^th by Jane Cochrane on the Wonders of Negative Painting.

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on April 26. Members are encouraged to attend as it will be an opportunity to mark our 70^th birthday as well as incorporating the catalogue cover and poster competition: the winning entry will be used for the 70^th Annual Exhibition publications.

On May 10, Tania Harrington will speak on the History of Plants in Art and follow on 24 May with a demonstration on painting flowers. In June, there will be an illustrated talk on The Garden Museum and plans for Benton End which is to be revived as an inspiration to artists as was its original purpose.

Just as the founders of the Felixstowe Art Group intended to support and inspire artists working throughout the year, the Group is keeping the spirit of art alive and well in its 70^th anniversary year.

Ken Cuthbert, one of the original Members of the Group was still exhibiting his work in August 2021 at the Annual Exhibition.

High-flyer Ruby Moss landed in Felixstowe when her father’s RAF post brought the family back to the UK after serving in the Middle East. During her career as a businesswoman, Ruby also made it her business to learn how to fly and perhaps that is one reason why she so often depicts birdlife as well as animals in her pastel art works.

Ruby joined the Felixstowe Art Group ten years ago and often exhibits her work in the Bent Hill Gallery and the Annual Exhibition.

Thursday painting sessions continue weekly for members to work at social distance but enjoying the company of fellow artists. Twice monthly evening demonstrations and meetings will include a demonstration on “The Wonders of Negative Painting” given by Jane Cochrane on 12 April. Anyone interested in learning new painting techniques or to find out more about the Group’s activities is invited to join the meeting. Details can be found on the website.

Group Members are reminded that the Annual General Meeting will be held at Broadway House at 7.30pm on 26 April and will include the annual competition to find a design for the posters and catalogue cover for this year’s important 70^th Anniversary Annual Exhibition. Details of the competition will be included in your Membership Newsletter.

Golden Eagle in pastel by Ruby Moss will be available for sale at the Felixstowe Art Group’s Annual Exhibition in August.