Exhibitions

Keswick Society
of Art

This picture was the people’s choice of winner for the prize of publication in the “Leisure Painter”.

Congratulations to Jacquie!

“Hidden Memories”

mixed media by Jacquie Cowan

The Spring Exhibition was a particularly happy event, beginning with a well attended preview when the exhibition was opened by Haydn Morris, former chairman of the Penrith Art Club. Haydn encouraged artists to paint what excited them and not to focus on market forces. This approach struck a chord with our members but in the event a good number of our pictures appealed so much to our visitors that our sales board was impressive.

At the preview we ran a “best in show” ballot with the prize of publication in the “Leisure Painter” going to “Newlands Church” by Howcroft Walton. Congratulations to Howcroft .

For the duration of the exhibition we ran a second ballot to give our visitors the opportunity to vote for their favourites. There seemed to be more people than ever going round perhaps because we coincided with both the Jazz and the Mountain Festival. There was a real buzz as visitors discussed the paintings and chatted to the stewards. A record number of pictures were on display and styles were very varied, helped by the growing membership of the society. As the exhibition drew to a close, Alan Rutherford’s “Little Langdale” took the prize for the visitors’ choice of “best in show”. Congratulations to Alan

The voting for ‘The Best in show’ was a great success. The two pictures with the highest votes at the Preview were ‘Great Grandma’s shawl’ by Doreen Richardson, painted in pastels, and Tom Price’s ‘In Borrowdale’, painted in oils.

The ‘visitors’ who voted during the period of the whole exhibition, gave two pictures the same number of votes –Doreen’s ‘Great Grandma’s shawl’ and Alan Rutherford’s pastel on watercolour - ‘ Great End from Styhead Ghyll’ (below - with apologies for the reflection in the glass!). They each received a certificate and a bottle of wine.

Last September’s exhibition proved very successful. The quality of the work continues to rise and the variety of styles is increasing with the contributions of new members. Long standing members are also developing and changing their approach. The number of visitors was high and the chance to vote for a favourite picture gave rise to an atmosphere of involvement. There was a splendid

opportunity for stewards to discuss art with our own members, with artists from other clubs in this country and abroad, and with non-practicing enthusiasts.

Chairman Jane Holt on the left with the opener of the exhibition, Fliss Watts on the right, talking to prize winner Emily Cooke about her portfolio and future plans. Fliss Watts is a local artist well known for her 3D portraits and now concentrating on drawings and linocuts. Some members have studied with her in workshops and at Higham Hall. Emily won the award for the best young artist at school in Keswick. She is looking forward to taking up her University place to study Architecture next year.

‘However many times you look round the exhibition you see something new.’, was a frequently repeated comment, and that was before items were sold and replaced by reserves.