

WORKSHOPS, HOLIDAYS, PAINTING DAYS
Members receive regular newsletters and various activities and events take place throughout the year. These include studio workshops, art holidays in Cornwall (below, left) and France (below, middle), local Outdoor Drawing & Painting Days (below, right) and Day Trips to various painting locations throughout the Summer. Further information at www.maggieread.co.uk



OUTDOOR PAINTING DAYS
2022
Watch this space for details on Maggie's 2022 Outdoor Painting Days during July and August. Maybe the photo is a clue?

2021 - AUGUST
During August, Maggie held 3 Outdoor Painting Days, one in Pirbright, with the other two being nearby in Lightwater and Horsell. All 3 were held at lovely private houses and we owe great thanks to the owners for letting us paint there. Further details and actual pictures take on the days below.
CRAMOND HOUSE, PIRBRIGHT - A 1930s Tarrant-style house with stunning woodland gardens and adjoining fields with horses (including Maggie's own two!). There was lots of potential for painting the house, the grounds and adjoining fields.



COLVILLE HOUSE, LIGHTWATER - An imposing house, overlooking Lightwater Lake. Large covered terrace and stone balustrade. There were many shaded areas in the wooded gardens to sit and enjoy the peace! Fantastic painting subjects including water-fountains, ducks and swans. Pictures show views from the house and the end of session critique from Maggie.

BIRCH COTTAGES, HORSELL Charming Victorian house (originally two cottages) with long winding garden, specially designed to have many little ‘rooms’ and seating areas. Gorgeous plants and flowers, water-feature and statues. Pictures show views around the garden and the end of session critique by Maggie.



2020
Sadly, we were unable to hold our usual schedule of outdoor painting days in Summer 2020, due to the ongoing Covid restrictions. Some of us met together on the village green at Pirbright at the end of August for a sketch and catch-up session!
2019
August that year saw the start of our "plein air" painting season - the first one taking place on the very day when severe weather warnings were put in place for the whole country - a storm was heading our way! Somehow, though, we managed to avoid any bad weather for the whole session (a light rain shower at lunchtime soon cleared away) and in fact it was still and calm with warm sunshine in our corner of Pirbright - Older Lodge, Mill Lane. As soon as we had finished at 3 o'clock and reached home, the storm hit and it raged through the whole evening and that night!
On the second of our outdoor days - at Farnham Castle on Monday 12th August - we had a nice few hours drawing and painting in the grounds until about midday, by which time the clouds had rolled over and the rain started.
We quickly put up two gazebos and huddled underneath for the demonstration and struggled through till around 2pm, by which time everyone had started feeling a bit damp and chilly! We called it a day and hoped for better luck next time! More outdoor sessions are still to come before the end of August and photos will follow!



The remaining two painting days at Shere and Elm Farm were lovely and warm and all-in-all the outdoor days were enjoyed by all who took part.


PAINTING HOLIDAY 2019
Some of our members joined Maggie for a week's painting holiday in Cornwall in mid-2019. We returned to our special location near Mevagissey - Bodrugan Barton - and visited some of our old haunts as well as some stunning new painting locations. We had a fine week with no rain and some lovely sunshine, although Surrey was sweltering in 37C heat whilst we had temperatures at least 10C lower ........ much more comfortable for outdoor painting! Some scenes from the Cornwall holiday are shown below.







"MOST IMPROVED ARTIST" AWARD
Past winners of the award have been :
Year | Artist |
---|---|
2014 | Laney Randell |
2013 | Carol Norris |
2012 | Jane Morrison |
2011 | Frank Fuller |
2010 | Pat Perrin |
2009 | Jenny Griffiths |
2008 | Bill Clarke |
2007 | Sue Pallot |
2006 | Brian Ealden |
2005 | Joy Bates |
2004 | Gladys Reynolds |
ANNUAL SOCIAL
To celebrate the Club's 20th Anniversary, we held a well attended Social in December 2019 at Worplesdon Golf Club. Details of this event can be found on the Home page.
"PUBLIC VOTE for FAVOURITE PICTURE" AWARD
Each year the Club asks visitors to our Annual Exhibition to nominate their favourite picture in the exhibition. The winner of the award is announced by Maggie Read at the annual social.
Year | Winning Artist | Winning Painting | Medium |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Margaret McQuillan | The Lighthouse | Pastel |
2020 | No Exhibition | ||
2019 | Colin Wood | The Sky Fallen : Llyn Cradnant | Watercolour |
2018 | Margaret McQuillan | The Wolf | Pastel |
2017 | Sue Pallot | Brown Newfy | Pastel |
2016 | David Deamer | At Kingshouse, Rannoch Moor | Oil |
2015 | Sue Pallot / Bill Clarke | Cooling Down / Flatford Mill | Oil / Pen & Wash |
2014 | Frank Fuller | Sunset, Rhossili Bay, Gower | Pastel |
2013 | David Deamer | Winter Towpath | Oil |
The results of the Public Vote for Favourite Picture at the Annual Exhibition 2021 was won by Margaret McQuillan with her painting "The Lighthouse". Margaret's picture is shown below.
