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.

Suffolk painter Carol Foreman was born in Framlingham but has lived in Felixstowe for most of her life. Carol’s lively paintings are always popular at the Group’s Bent Hill Gallery and Annual Exhibitions held each year in August.

Having begun with watercolours over a decade ago, Carol’s recognisable works are now in oils and applied with the palette knife to give a unique texture and impression, perfectly evoking the Suffolk landscape that she loves. She has a tried-and-true method of organising each painting as she explains that she works from the top to the bottom of the canvas to ensure that her work remains fresh and unspoiled.

The Group’s evening program continues in March with Member only sessions: the annual drawing competition will take place at Broadway House on 8 March and there will be a life drawing evening on 22 March. It is also time to prepare for the annual catalogue cover and poster competition which will be held as part of the AGM on 26 April. Members should check the website for updates on events should Covid regulations change.

Felixstowe residents and visitors are warmly invited to look around the Bent Hill Gallery, 127 Undercliff Road West, IP11 7DG where exhibitions are regularly changed. Information about joining the Group can be found at the Gallery and on the website. www.felixstoweartgroup.org.

Springtime oil painting by Carol Foreman

Felixstowe Art Group’s twice monthly talks and art demonstrations begin again for Members on 8 March with the annual drawing competition, sponsored by and held in honour of the late Malcolm Laurie.

Fran Hicks has been a worthy winner of past competitions. A Registered Nurse and former Modern Matron of the Felixstowe Community Hospital, Fran began drawing as part of her hobby of pyrography. Changing to graphite and coloured pencil work when she decided that she ‘needed a little more colour’ in her life she began her meticulous studies of animals. She has now included pastels in her armoury and has also depicted landmarks such as the former gaol site opposite Cage Lane in Walton. We look forward to her contributions to this year’s competition topics which are Pots, Playtime and Pals.

The Group will also meet on 22 March for a life drawing class while Thursday painting sessions continue at the Conservative Club and the Bent Hill Gallery is open to local patrons and visitors throughout the year.

Study in pastel pencil by Fran Hicks

Felixstowe Art Group’s webmaster, Marian Lishman, has always enjoyed painting and began working as an artist in 2005 when living in Dubai where she sold paintings to interior designers and hotels before returning to the UK where she lives in Ipswich.

A member of the Group for over ten years, Marian loves the organic nature of liquid acrylic paints and is clearly influenced by the sea. Her ‘wave paintings’ are often exhibited and available for sale at the Bent Hill Gallery on Felixstowe’s seafront.

Despite recent Covid restrictions, the Gallery has remained open through January with appropriate safety measures in place although some of the Group’s planned evening events have had to be cancelled.

Tuesday evening sessions are planned to resume with an illustrated talk on Minsmere given by Val and Alan Bourne on 8 February. On 22 February, Carole Massey will be demonstrating how pastels can be used over acrylic work.

Members of the public are invited to come along to these meetings that begin at 7.30pm at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DD. There is a small charge of £2 for non-Members.

It is advisable to check details on the website which will be updated should any changes to plans be required as current information is always posted on www.felixstoweartgroup.org.

Fractured Wave by Marian Lishman – acrylic and resin on canvas

Ipswich resident Caroline Burgess joined the Felixstowe Art Group in 2017. Her creative background in hairdressing and floristry is evident in her mixed media and collage work which can be seen at the Bent Hill Gallery on the Felixstowe sea front.

Caroline says that she is excited by all sorts of subjects, “birds, animals or portrait. I find a whole story can be told by an expression or pose,” she says and has demonstrated capably in her popular paintings.

The Felixstowe Art Group strides bravely into our 70^th anniversary year with regular Thursday painting sessions although burgeoning Omicron cases throughout the country meant cancellation of our New Year party.

It is hoped that February meetings can go ahead as all necessary safety provisions will be in place. On 8 February Val and Alan Bourne will give an illustrated talk on Minsmere and on 22 February Carole Massey will demonstrate “Pastels over Acrylic”. Both those 7.30pm sessions are free to Members and open to the public at a nominal charge of £2.

During these uncertain times, please check on the website for any updates before attending those meetings at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe. IP11 7DD.

The Pheasant paper collage by Caroline Burgess

2022 is a significant year for the Felixstowe Art Group as it heralds our 70^th anniversary. Originally known as the Deben Art Group we now have 150 Members, a renowned Annual Exhibition, active art program and our own Bent Hill Gallery.

After the New Year’s celebration together the Group will host a talk given by Member Chris Cushing entitled ‘Understanding The Art World’.

Chris left Felixstowe at the age of 18 to join the RAF and returned 12 years later to work for BT in HR with responsibility for recruitment and career development. On retirement he took up painting and a degree in Art History at UAE. He works in oils depicting an impressionist version of the beauty of East Anglian land, sea and skyscapes in bright and broken colour. He regularly exhibits at the Bent Hill Gallery where his paintings are always popular.

Members of the public are welcome to join us to hear Chris demystify some of the jargon associated with the art world at 7.30pm on 25 January at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe IP11 7DD for a nominal charge of £2.

Walberswick. Oil painting by Chris Cushing.