Demonstrations are free for members   and they may bring along a guest for a fee of £5. Workshops and Trips are worked out at cost, to members and guests can attend trips if requests are made to The Programme Manager via the Society's email.

Special Ticketed Events for Members and their guests:  We run several extra social events during the year, which are ticketed and charged at a subsidised rate. During 2025 we had a BBQ  and a Christmas Lunch in December.

Thursday 8th January Monthly Demonstration by Susan Watt: Collage

Creativity is at the heart of all that I do. I like to see the world in unexpected ways and enjoy nothing more than repurposing or recycling something ordinary into something extraordinary or surprising. My collages are full of hidden messages and images that trick the eye and amaze when viewed close up.

​ I love creating original works, exhibiting at local exhibitions and galleries and running workshops. Please contact me for the latest information on any of these. I am also very happy to speak with you about a commission.

Wednesday 14th January is a ZOOM demonstration in oils, by Vicki Norman.

Based in Newlyn, Cornwall, Vicki Norman received her BA in Fine Art in 2000 working initially as an illustrator and then a full time fine artist.

Inspired by both contemporary and past masters, Vicki’s paintings employ an historical skill set with a fresh, personal approach.

“My fondness for travelling and painting has naturally led me into the world of Plein Air painting. Working quickly on location to capture the essence of a time and place encourages a looser, more impressionist style of painting. This puts an emphasis on atmosphere rather than detail, and colour is the vehicle through which I seek to capture light.”

Thursday 12th February is a ZOOM demonstration in the style of Van Gogh, by Sarah Wimperis.

Sarah Wimperis is a traditional figurative artist who paints plein air in oils or watercolors. Larger studio paintings are completed using plein air references, either at home in a Cornish studio or while traveling in a mobile studio. Inspiration is drawn from travel and the experience of visiting new places. Wimperis is particularly drawn to domestic subject matter, including complex interiors, markets, and gardens, and is a dedicated sketchbook keeper.

Looking at Art 2026

Thursday 22^nd January

“Looking at Art” by Jane Hornby

The Art of Tea

The simple tea leaf has pervaded a wide range of subjects from history, politics, warfare, science, art, poetry, satire and ceramics to literature and beyond. The journey of this talk starts with tea’s origins in Asia to its adoption as Britain’s national drink. As tea’s popularity across the globe increased, so its transportation became more competitive, and trade routes expanded from East to West. Initially a very expensive commodity, only affordable by the rich, tea eventually became available for everyone. The manufacture of ceramic wares in England was a highly significant part of the industrial economy. This was particularly true of The Potteries – home to Wedgwood, Spode, Minton and Royal Doulton. Josiah Wedgwood had a strong impact on the history of ceramic tea wares. In about 1800 Josiah Spode perfected a revolutionary type of porcelain containing animal bone ash – bone china. Its affordability meant that even the rising middle classes could now afford a ‘proper’ tea service. 

Thursday 26^th February 7.00 pm start

“Looking at Art” by Michael Culverwell

The Life and Work of William York Macgregor

He was one of the leading artists in the group known as the Glasgow Boys, painting landscapes and contemporary scenes in a fresh, direct way, influenced by developments in French painting. With his school friend, James Paterson, a fellow Glasgow Boy, he often painted during summer expeditions out of the city. After studying at Glasgow School of Art and in a local artist's studio, Macgregor attended the Slade School in London under Alphonse Legros. On his return to Glasgow he ran a life class in his studio, which became the regular meeting place for the Glasgow Boys.

28th February 2026 Workshop

Popi Koutentaki: 'Try it' Oil Painting

10am-4pm

At The Memorial Hall Art Studio, Hathaway Lane, Shottery, CV37 9BL

£41

Members Only.

Discover the Joy of Oil Painting in a Day! Join our Taste of Oil Painting Workshop — a one-day immersive experience designed for absolute beginners and art enthusiasts alike. In this friendly, hands-on class, you’ll learn the essentials of oil painting, from mixing colors and blending techniques to creating texture and capturing light. Guided, step-by-step, by Popi Koutentaki, you’ll explore the magic of oils in a relaxed, supportive studio environment. No prior experience is needed — just bring your curiosity and creativity!

By the end of the day, you’ll leave not only with new skills and confidence but also your very own finished oil painting to proudly take home. Whether you’re looking to spark a new hobby, reconnect with your artistic side, or simply enjoy a day of creativity and relaxation, this workshop offers a perfect introduction to the timeless beauty of oil painting. All materials are provided — you just bring yourself and a willingness to get inspired!

Popi Koutentaki – Artist Biography

Born in Crete, Popi Koutentaki lives and works in the UK. Her paintings combine fluid lines and vibrant drops of color, freeing hidden forms within the canvas. When color is absent, black and white dominate—reflecting life’s contrasts. Her works are filled with symbols, both subtle and direct, expressing personal and universal life lessons.

Popi’s love for art began at age four; by ten, she was drawing portraits. She studied Art and Design at Akron University, training in portraiture with artist Bill Kufahl. In Crete, she continued her artistic journey, experimenting with diverse materials and techniques. While taking painting lessons from Greek artist George Thomas Georgiades, she learned loom weaving and metal embossing and began painting with encaustics—the ancient technique using wax, resin, and natural pigments.

Later, as a mature student at WCG Warwickshire College, she continued her Art and Design studies, exploring eco-printing and papermaking at Malvern College and Art Therapy with Jane Sheuer at Royal Leamington Spa College.

Popi has exhibited in Greece, the USA, France, Italy, and Cyprus and the UK. She has taught art extensively, organized workshops, created public and private murals, and illustrated 16 children’s books. She is currently developing a Mandala series and a children’s book promoting ocean conservation.

She has been awarded a stand by Warwickshire Open Studios for Plein Air Competition at Compton Verney to exhibit her paintings at the Leamington Art in the Park Festival in August 2026.

Turner and Constable Rivals and Originals

Sunday 22nd March

Two of Britain’s greatest painters, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable were also the greatest of rivals. Born within a year of each other – Turner in 1775, Constable in 1776 – the art critics of the day compared their paintings to a clash of ‘fire and water’.

Raised in the gritty heart of Georgian London, Turner quickly became a young star of the art world despite his humble beginnings. Meanwhile Constable, the son of a wealthy Suffolk merchant, was equally determined to forge his own path as an artist but faced a longer, more arduous rise to acclaim. Though from different worlds, both artists were united in their desire to transform landscape painting for the better.

With the two painters vying for success through very different but equally bold approaches, the scene was soon set for a heady rivalry within the competitive world of landscape art. Turner painted blazing sunsets and sublime scenes from his travels, while Constable often returned to depictions of a handful of beloved places, striving for freshness and authenticity in his portrayal of nature.

Marking 250 years since their births, this landmark exhibition explores Turner and Constable's intertwined lives and legacies. Discover unexpected sides to both artists alongside intimate insights seen through sketchbooks and personal items.

Experience many of the artists’ greatest works, with over 170 paintings and works on paper. Highlights include Turner’s momentous 1835 The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, not seen in Britain for over a century and The White Horse 1819, one of Constable’s greatest artistic achievements.

This is a one in a lifetime opportunity to explore the careers of the two greatest British landscape painters, seen – as they often were in their own time – side by side.

Cost £40

Depart Henley 8. 15 am                                          Return Tate Britain 4.00

Rother St., 8.45 am                                               

Stratford Race Course 9.00 am                              Arrive Race Course 7.00

Arrive Tate Britain 12.00