Wow, what an incredible fortnight! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our 66th Annual Summer Exhibition at King Edward VI School. From August 12th to 23rd, the energy in the room was absolutely buzzing, and we couldn't be prouder of how everything came together.

This year, our brilliant members truly outdid themselves, bringing a staggering 730 original pieces to life. Walking through the gallery felt like a joyful celebration of local talent. There was so much to look at - from stunning oil paintings and delicate watercolours to gorgeous glassware, tactile ceramics, modern resin pieces, and beautifully crafted woodwork. It was a real feast for the eyes!

A massive congratulations goes out to Joanne Makin, who won this year's prestigious Gold Award for her wonderful oil painting. Our guest judge, Michelle Leake (the lovely property curator from Upton House and Gardens), had the tough job of picking a winner from so many fantastic entries, but Joanne’s piece truly captured everyone's imagination.

One of our absolute favourite parts of the week was our "Artists in Residence" programme. It was wonderful to have our talented painters working right there in the gallery. Seeing them bring their canvases to life in real time gave everyone a fascinating peek into their creative process, and it was lovely to see so many visitors stopping by for a friendly chat about their work.

Now that the doors have closed and the bunting is packed away, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to our hardworking volunteers, our passionate artists, and every single person who dropped by to support us. You make our local art community what it is, and we can't wait to see you all again next year!