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.

Looking at Art and Demonstrations 2026

The Life and Work of Edward Hornel

Hornel as a young artist was closely associated with the Glasgow Boys. This group of artists concentrated on capturing naturalistic light effects especially in their distinctive paintings of figures in landscapes. Hornel's interest in strong colour applied with a palette knife resulted in densely patterned networks of strokes which became a feature of his later work. He collaborated on several decorative paintings with his friend George Henry which reflected their interest in folklore. The two artists also travelled to Japan in 1893. Hornel returned to his adopted home Kirkcudbright and concentrated on commercially successful paintings of children in the Galloway countryside.

Paul Weaver: Water Mixable Oils : Summer Landscapes

Paul Weaver is a full-time artist, tutor and demonstrator, based in Bristol, UK. His primary inspirations

are light and atmospheric effects. Townscapes, markets and the bustle of the city are favourite subjects,

as well as landscape, marine and coastal scenes. He currently specialises in watercolour, but also

enjoys working in oil, acrylic and line and wash.

PAINTING PARADISE: THE ART OF THE GARDEN

The garden has inspired artists and craftsmen for centuries. Claude Monet referred to his garden at Giverny as ‘my most beautiful masterpiece’ and for Peter Paul Rubens, his own garden was a canvas to refresh his mind.  Throughout history, artists, gardeners and landscape designers have envisioned green spaces that reflect their own view of paradise. Intrepid plant hunters, remarkable botanical artists, avid merchants, and colonial agents turned flora into profitable business opportunities – all dramatically transforming the world we live in.  In the 17^th century, two most notable gardeners and plant collectors John Tradescant the Elder and his son, John Tradescant the Younger, transformed Britain’s horticultural landscape. Today, artists look at nature’s fragility and create ideas for resetting our relationship with the natural world. 

The talk is an introduction for the Art Appreciation trip to the In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford on Sunday, 12^th July 2026.

16th May Workshop:

Richard Crabtree: Pen and Wash Crabtree

10am – 4pm

At Shottery Memorial Hall Art Studio.

CV37 9BL

£37

This workshop will cover the various options open to the artist with regard to materials, style and process using some landscape and wildlife images as subjects.

Richard will demonstrate the way in which he uses pen and wash to sketch and familiarise himself with a subject and explain how different results can be achieved using various inks, pens and watercolour.

 A professional artist, Richard has lived and worked in Worcestershire for many years. After studying at Bournville College of Art he had a career within the commercial graphic design industry until 2004 when he committed to becoming a full-time, professional artist and tutor. He holds regular weekly drawing and painting classes as well as teaching privately and demonstrating to art societies around the country. Although he teaches a wide range of subjects and mediums his passion is, and always has been, to draw and paint pictures of local wildlife and its environment in watercolour and oil paint. He is a member of various societies including the Birmingham Watercolour Society,The SAA and TWASI (The wildlife Art Society International).Through his art he hopes promote awareness of the beauty and fragility of nature and the importance of conservation now and for future generations.

Material List for Pen and Wash Workshop

Paper:Any sketchbook or general cartridge paper of any preferred size( I use A5, A4 and A3)

Pencil :Any, e.g. HB, 2B, 3B ( Personal preference for drawing )

Putty rubber

Ink:permanent and/or water-based ink ( Black or Brown)Pens_You could get by with a black biro but any or all of the following can be used:Biro (black). Black or brown permanent pen of various sizes, Dip pen

Any basic set of watercolours and brushes

Water pot and kitchen towel

23rd May Workshop:

Andrew Barrowman ARBSA PS: Oil Landscapes

10am – 4pm

At Shottery Memorial Hall Art Studio.

CV37 9BL

£42
  We will use the ‘alla prima’ technique where the painting is done wet into wet in one session - ‘first time’. We will cover the use of different materials, techniques, composition and some colour mixing. 

All abilities welcome 

Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught 

● We will discuss different surfaces to paint onto and their different properties. 

● Simplified composition. 

● How to layout your oil painting palette. 

● Which oil painting mediums to use - and when to use them (or not!). 

● Different types of oil painting brushes and their uses.. 

● Split primary palette - warm and cool versions of the primary colours. 

● Alla prima painting techniques. 

Materials Required 

●  A landscape image to work from – urban, coastal or rural, bring several if you’re not sure. Andrew often uses a tablet to paint from, which enables him to enlarge areas easily. 

● Apron or old clothing – to protect your clothes and, importantly, several large cotton rags for wiping brushes. 

● Low odour turps (Zest It or Gamsol are good) and a painting medium such as linseed oil. A large sized jam jar with screw lid for transportation – you will need about half of a jam jar for this workshop. 

● Any oil paint, palette knives, brushes etc that you currently use. 

● Note: I will bring some palette knives for you to try if you don’t have your own and also will bring some basic paint colours in case you forget a tube or two but please bring any you already have. 

● A palette for mixing your oil paint – Andrew uses glass but primed plywood is good or disposable tear offpaper is ok. 

● 2 small to medium sized primed canvases or boards (remember you have to take it home whilst wet - Andrew has a good method for this which he will show you!). The surface can be white or primed with a ground colour such as burnt sienna or yellow ochre. 

● Don’t forget you will need to transport your wet painting back with you so bring something that you can carry it in, or put it on if travelling by car. Clean pizza delivery boxes are good! A plastic bag is  fine for transporting a wet palette home. 

27th June Workshop:

PASTELS PLEIN-AIR Workshop with Charli

10am – 4pm

At Luddington Village Hall.

CV37 9BL

£45

Pastels in Nature
Explore colour and atmosphere through blending, drawing and painting with soft pastels.

Join contemporary landscape painter Charli Farquharson for a plein-air pastel workshop. You will work from the natural surroundings near Luddington Village Hall, including a short walk to the river. In the case of wet weather, you will work in the village hall.

This workshop focuses on observing and responding to the landscape through composition, values, and colour. We’ll look at how to simplify what we see, build layers with soft pastels, and capture a sense of atmosphere on location.

While there will be practical guidance and demonstrations, the emphasis is on developing confidence and a more intuitive, responsive approach. We’ll move away from overworking and perfectionism, and instead explore how play, experimentation, and mark-making can lead to stronger, more expressive work.

This is a teaching-focused workshop rather than a “finished piece” session. You’ll come away with studies, ideas, and a deeper understanding of how to approach working outdoors.

Suitable for those with some prior drawing or painting experience who are comfortable working independently with their own materials. As we’ll be working outdoors, a willingness to adapt and experiment is important.

Please bring your own soft pastels and surfaces. A small selection of paper will be available to purchase on the day.

Charli Farquharson is a Worcestershire-based painter whose work explores atmosphere, memory, and the emotional language of landscape through layered colour and texture. Alongside her studio practice, she teaches workshops that balance technical understanding with creative exploration.

Materials List

Essential (please bring these items)

• Soft pastels - a selection of colours you’re comfortable working with
• Pastel paper (e.g. Pastelmat or similar sanded paper) - suitable for layering and blending
• Drawing board - to support your paper while working outdoors
• Masking tape - for securing your paper to the board
• Portable chair or stool - as we’ll be working on location without seating provided

Recommended (will make the experience easier and more comfortable)

• Cloths or rags (2–3) - for cleaning hands and managing excess pigment
• Bulldog clips or pegs - helpful for keeping paper secure in breezy conditions
• Notebook and pen/pencil - for quick sketches, notes, or planning compositions
• Suitable clothing for the weather - layers are advisable, as conditions can change
• Suncream and hat - if warm and sunny

For Wet Weather (backup plan)

• A reference photo - in case we need to work indoors

Optional / Experimental

• Small water pot and brush - for those who’d like to explore using water with pastels
• Water bottle - for personal use and/or painting

18th July Workshop:

Paul Weaver: Water Mixable Oils: Summer Landscapes

10am-4pm

Shottery Memorial Hall, CV37 9BL

£49

Following on from his recent demonstration in June, Paul will focus on techniques for capturing an impression of the scene directly and quickly, a process often known as 'Alla Prima’. Perfect for working out doors, it allows you to finish a painting in one session while managing the slow drying time of the paint, keeping brushwork lively and colours clean.

Water Mixable Oils have all the qualities of traditional, spirit based oils, but are easier for washing up and without the smell, ideal for studio group practice. If you would rather use traditional spirit base oils, please ensure your thinners are odourless.

Equipment List:

Summer Landscapes in Water-Mixable Oils

Water Mixable Oils have all the qualities of traditional, spirit based oils, but easier for washing up and without the smell, ideal for studio group practice. Paul will focus on the essentials of painting skies, trees, foliage and water, while managing the slow drying time of the paint and keeping colours clean.

DRAWING EQUIPMENT A4 Cartridge sketch pad and 4b pencil or charcoal Oil Paints Paul will be using W&N Artisan water mixable oils, but Cobra is another reputable brand. The Art Society will have a set of paints available for you to use so you can try them or use any colours you do not have yourself.

Paul’s Essentials: French Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Yellow Ochre, Naples Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Burnt Sienna and Titanium White. If you have other colours you would like to try, then please bring them along.

Palette To mix your paints on - Tear-off Paper palettes are very good, 12” x 16” is a useful size.

Brushes Short Flat brushes (synthetic hair, designed for acrylic and Water Soluble Oils) - Size 12 or larger for blocking in and an 8 and 4 for the rest. A size 4 round nylon brush with a good point is handy for final details.

Support I recommend working on board. Primed Canvas boards are available from all good art suppliers. I recommend the primed Loxley boards from Bromleys, Cass Art or Jacksons. Alternatively, mount board, MDF or thick card is also excellent, but will require a few coats of White Acrylic Gesso before painting on. Allow for 2 studies, 10” x 14” is ideal when learning.

Easel You will need something to hold your board firmly while painting - a table top easel or Pochade Box if you have one and prefer to sit, or a standing easel. Note: there are plenty of standing easels in the studio.

REFERENCE Some reference will be available, but please feel free to bring photos of simple summer landscape subjects. Trees, distance, a farm track or simple barn, a river, sunlight and shadows if you have them.

Useful Extras

A large water pot for final washing of brushes. Low tack masking tape. Plenty of old rag &kitchen towel to wipe brushes on and take paint off with if required. Overalls or apron -remember that oils can get messy, so please protect your clothes!

Getting your work home

Oil paint can stay wet for up to a week if applied thickly, so plan how you will travel home. Wet panel carriers are an option, search online for these, or it might be easier to put an old sheet or newspaper over the back seat or boot of the car.

© Paul Weaver 2026

International Watercolour Masters Elite Art Exhibition 17th May Lilleshall Shropshire

 
Staged at the beautiful Lilleshall Hall the show is a unique event, bringing together the best Watercolour Artists from across the globe. This is the only watercolour event of its kind, in the UK. Not only will it be possible to view the exhibition but there are also 3 demonstrations a day.

The Art Market, run by Bromley, will be stocked with quality art supplies throughout the event. All live demonstrations are included with your day ticket.

There are on-site restaurants, cafes, Italian gardens, nature trails, disabled access, and free parking, it’s a fantastic day out.

Demonstrations on the day

David Bellamy – 11AM

Michael Solovyev - 12:30PM

Nicolas Lopez - 2PM

Cost £30 Entry tickets included in the price

Depart Henley 8. 15 am                                          Return Lilleshall 4.00

Rother St., 8.45 am                                               

Holy Trinity School 9.00 am                                    Arrive Holy Trinity School 6.00

Arrive Lilleshall 11.00

In BLOOM, How plants changed our world

Ashmolean Museum Oxford. Sunday 12th July

What do we really know about the plants and flowers in our gardens and window boxes?

Beyond their beauty, many have hidden histories – tales of exploration, obsession, and knowledge.

This major new exhibition takes visitors on a journey from Oxford to the farthest corners of the world and back, uncovering the global stories behind some of Britain’s most beloved blooms – from roses and tulips to camellias and peonies.

Featuring over 100 artworks and objects, including drawings, paintings, rare prints, and ceramics, In Bloom explores our changing relationship with the natural world.

From the fascinating stories of curiosity and ingenuity of early plant explorers to the networks that shaped global trade, this exhibition reveals how the pursuit of exotic plants transformed landscapes, economies, and cultures, leaving a legacy that still shapes our world today.

Cost £45 Entry ticket included in the price

Depart Henley 8.45 am           

Rother St., 9.15 am                                              Holy Trinity C of E Primary School 9.30 am

Arrive Ashmolean 11.00am

Return from Ashmolean 4.00pm 

Arrive Trinity School 6.00pm

Tapas Social Evening

25th July 6.30pm

Stratford Oaks Golf Club CV37 OEZ

Between Bearly and Snitterfield

Menu

Potatas Bravas

Tortilla

Potato Croquettes and dips

Pollo al Ajillo ( chicken wings)

Chorizo in red wine

Albondigas (meatballs)

Paella

Tampo sala

Strawberries and cream

£17.50 per person

Sunday 2^nd August Zurbaran

at the National Gallery

Enter the spellbinding world of visionary Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán.

Spend time with his paintings, celebrated for their vivid naturalism and deep emotional power.

Move between soaring altarpieces and exquisite still lifes in the first major UK exhibition of this great artist from Baroque Seville.

A peer of Murillo and Velázquez, Zurbarán stands out for his drama, mystery and vision. From the rind of a lemon to the timeless gaze of a saint, he finds an intensity in the ordinary. Strong light and deep shadow bring real faces, soft fabrics, fresh fruit and flowers to life. His paintings unite stillness, focus and faith.

The exhibition brings together works from major galleries across Europe and the US that span Zurbarán’s career from his first religious commissions to paintings made for private devotion. Stand in front of monumental works that can still move and inspire us today.

Cost Coach £25 entry to the exhibition £20

Depart Henley 8. 15 am      Return Tate Modern 4.00

Rother St., 8.45 am                       

Trinity School 9.00 am               Arrive Trinity School 7.00

Arrive Tate Modern 12.00

Tate Modern Sunday 11^th Oct Frida Kahlo ‘The making of an icon’

Also Renoir and Love at the National Gallery.

Step into the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo: revolutionary artist and global icon

Discover the extraordinary story of how Frida Kahlo became one of the most influential artists of all time, a cultural phenomenon, and an internationally recognised commercial icon.

Frida: The Making of an Icon will showcase over 30 of Kahlo’s most iconic works that introduce her ‘many selves’ – the dedicated wife, the intellectual, the modern artist, and the political activist. Alongside treasured garments, jewellery, photographs and memorabilia, there are over 200 works by her contemporaries and the artists she inspired from later generations, celebrating her lasting impact on those who continue to reimagine and reclaim her remarkable story.

The show will culminate by exploring ‘Fridamania’. Kahlo’s transformation into a global brand will feature more than 200 commercial objects that encompass her art, image, style and persona.

Encounter a journey entirely unique to this fearless, revolutionary artist, one that offers a fascinating insight into the transformative power of Frida’s life and work, the intriguing notion of fandom and the diversity of communities who claim her as their own.

Cost Coach £25 entry to the exhibition £25

Depart Henley 8. 15 am      Return Tate Modern 4.00

Rother St., 8.45 am                       

Trinity School 9.00 am               Arrive Trinity School 7.00

Arrive Tate Modern 12.00