Workshop- Printing with Tetra Packs with  Penny Davis                    Members Only

Penny is a local artist and art technician.

Tetra Pak printmaking is a creative and eco-friendly way to repurpose Tetra Pak cartons into unique prints. The process combines elements of drypoint, intaglio and collagraph printmaking techniques, allowing artists to explore various textures and effects. 

Members only

Please book: abingdonartists.programme@gmail.com

Anne Griffiths. Talk -Botanical textiles in the 18th Centuary

Anne’s talk is based on her PhD research project, which investigates elite women's relationships with botany in the eighteenth-century and how that reflected their place in the social hierarchy.  Anne will show her embroidered coverlet and bedlinen, including nearly 20 pillowcases with floral symbolism and text from the era. 

Ronnie Ireland - Talk, Vienna 1900, Sex, death and design

A survey of the dramatic social and artistic changes during this turbulent period covering c1890 - 1918 A crucial period in the development of Modernism and new ways of trying to understand the world.

4" May 2026               Workshop in Oils                           Members Only

*Workshop - Portrait in Oils
This workshop is aimed at members who have some experience of using oils already. There will be reduced numbers to accommodate the activity and working from a model.
Robin Danely is an American artist who has been living and working in the UK since 2014. She will focus on understanding value (or tone) to build up the head and features in paint, using a limited Zorn palette.
Members only
Please book: abingdonartists.programme@gmail.com
 

Workshop- Landscape with foreground interest- Cathryn Jeffs

Cathryn will lead us through planning and creating a landscape in acrylics. She will cover composition, focal points, colour and fine detail.

Members only

Please book: abingdonartists.programme@gmail.com

James Ort - Demonstration -Wire animals

Please note this demonstration will be held at The Trinity Church Hall, Conduit Road, Abingdon, OX14 1DB, at 7.30 - 9.30. Not at the Northcourt Centre

A wildlife artist, James specialises in making both ceramic and wire scilptures, often combining the two mediums to better capture his subjects. James will show attendees the joys of wire sculptures. He will also talk about his background, the role of the Phoenix Studio and using his art to aid conservation.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Learn quick and easy ways of recording using very simple mark making techniques on a large scale. Explore ways to bring movement, texture and atmosphere to your drawings.

Members only: Book with Caroline Ritson

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Christmas Sip and Paint

Everyone is invited to bring a dish to share and a bottle of something to sip, whilst painting or drawing a Christmas-themed still-life. Do bring something Christmassy to add to the group still life. And you will need to bring your own materials.

Steve Street is a practising amateur 'AI Artist' retired from many years working at IBM and Occasional Lecturer at Universities and elsewhere on 'AI and Digital'. He will talk about how artists have always experienced and adjusted to the evolution of technology and the status of AI in the Art World today. He will also look at approaches to doing 'AI Art' yourself including some of the considerations for a 'practising  Artist', closing with some thoughts about how AI and AI art may evolve in the future.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Colin is a very experienced tutor and will take the group through using pen and wash for an architectural image. For more information see Colin's website: ColinPalmer-illustration.co.uk

Members only: Book with Caroline Ritson

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Vienna 1900. Sex, Death and Design: A Fascinating Period. For more information see Ronnie's website: ronnieirelandart.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Francis will talk about his experience of painting Oxford and catching its character across the seasons. He is a painter based in the UK and works between studios in Oxfordshire and Italy. For more information see Francis' website: francishamel.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

In this digital photography workshop Etain will share simple techniques to improve your images and get to grips with using your phone for taking photographs. Bring a piece of your own artwork to photograph (and your phone). For more information see Etain's website: etaino.co.uk

Members only: Book with Caroline Ritson

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Unfortunately this Demonstration has been cancelled

Lizzie Wheeler is an Oxford based printmaker whose work is stylised, colourful and is heavily inspired by the natural world. Lizzie will talk about her own practice as a printmaker and what inspires her - from rewilding projects to poetry. She will explain the range of printmaking processes that she uses with the aid of example prints, plates from which she prints and printmaking tools. Lizzie will give a short demonstration of the process of carving and printing a black and white linocut by hand. For more information on Lizzie's practice see her website https://www.lizziewheeler.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Susan has spent two years in collaboration with Wytham Woods capturing the strength and fragility of trees. Susan will demonstrate some of the skills she uses to create her watercolours of trees.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

A chance to experiment with the process of abstraction in a playful way inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian, Hilma af Klimt and Kandinsky. Participants will create their own abstract piece on board or canvas.

Members only: book with Caroline Ritson

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occurring on the premises.

Abingdon Artists' Annual General Meeting (AGM) chaired by the President,  Councillor Alison Rooke (TBC).

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Kevin Scully explores the techniques for the best use of  a variety of water soluble pencils and pens.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Details to be confirmed.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5. 

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Travels recorded in usually home made concertina sketch books are then worked in mixed media including textiles to develop a final piece.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Abingdon Artists Autumn Exhibition 2024:

29 October - 2 November at Christchurch Barn, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1PL

Martin Beek works in digital illustration, iPad art, photography and ceramic tiles and will be giving useful tips for the casual and less frequent user.

This will be a presentation to present the Practical side of iPad for Artists giving tips and pathways for those who may have some experience, but also for the curious, and those who have not tried drawing on their iPads.

 People may wish to bring their iPads with Procreate App, this is what Martin will be talking about (as well as iPad for artists in general.) Nonetheless, everyone is welcome, whether they bring an iPad or not the presentation is a mixture of concepts and practical tips.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

This year's workshop is a Life Drawing workshop (with a female model) on Sunday 6th October run by Charlotte Houlihan (www.charlottehoulihan.com). The workshop runs from 10.30 - 3.30 and will be held at the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS.

The workshop is for members only and the fee is £20. Members wishing to attend need to email Caroline Ritson in order to book a place.

Some works of art come and go but some continue to have enduring appeal, inspiring and moving people for centuries. This talk investigates what makes the difference. 

Jeffery Courtney trained at Hornsey College of Art and then as a Postgraduate at the Royal Academy in London in 1971. Since then he has worked full time as a professional artist working entirely in the figurative tradition. A meticulous craftsman, he has made an extensive study of painting techniques, in particular the methods of the Old Masters.

Jeffery Courtney's website is at www.courtneyart.net

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

A presentation of this unusual technique of monoprint combined with collage.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5: please contact Abingdon Artists to reserve a place.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Come and enjoy the freedom of working with ink, collage and acrylic paint with a variety of mark making tools.

Jessica Parker's website is at www.JessicaParkerArtist.com

Materials required will be advised. This workshop is for Abingdon Artist Members only.

Members need to book ASAP with Caroline Ritson

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

This talk covers the career of Jenny Saville from her breakthrough graduate show at the Glasgow School of Art to her current work, always creating highly powerful images.

Ronnie Ireland's website is at www.ronnieirelandart.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5: please contact Abingdon Artists to reserve a place.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

This workshop relates to the powerful paintings of Royal Academician Norman Ackroyd, who is inspired by the Western Isles of Britain and Ireland.

The materials which are required will be advised. This workshop is for Abingdon Artist Members only.

Abingdon Artist Members need to book ASAP with Caroline Ritson

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

The Vanity of Small Differences is a series of six large tapestries from 2012, exploring the English class system and social mobility.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £5: please contact Abingdon Artists to reserve a place.

Abingdon Artists will not accept liability for any accident occuring on the premises.

Annual General Meeting

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Joel will demonstrate painting a street scene in acrylics showing how to paint sunlight and how to successfully add figures to the scene.

Joel’s practice is focussed on body language and the interaction of people within urban environments. Paintings are made from sketches and photographs taken on location and created out of a desire to translate an atmosphere within the painted image. Paint is used as a way to get closer to an actual experience of a place, a vehicle for transferring emotions that a photograph might not give you.

https://fcsaonline.org.uk/joel-wareing-write-up/

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

A fun evening with the band JAM, a Picture Quiz and a Raffle with proceeds to 'Marren's Muscles Matter'.

Bring your own drinks (alcoholic allowed) and glasses.

Members are asked to bring a plate of food to share.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Jonathan will be using watercolour, white paint such as gouache, and white ink to paint a winter landscape. Techniques will include wet on wet, using small brushes to paint winter trees, how to paint snow and paint with a limited palette of colours.

https://www.jonathannewey.com/

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

A talk on Women Artists Frida Kahlo and Artemisia Gentileschi.

Frida and Artemesia were artists who defied culture expectations. Both women overcame traumatic events to produce groundbreaking art and used their art to communicate powerful messages about issues of chronic pain and biblical narratives. Cathy will compare how these two formidable artists used their talents to tell their stories with their art that challenged the cultures they inhabited.

(This lecture replaces Alice Foster's talk on Grayson Perry's tapestries)

Christina will teach us the difference between a tint and a shade and 20 other terms every artist should know. This workshop is relevant to watercolourists and oil and acrylic painters alike, but any practical examples will be using watercolour.

Workshop attendees please bring /share paints and paper.

See her website: www.Christinas-art-classes.co.uk 

To book a place email: CarolineRitson11@gmail.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

A study in the style of Cortès of a Parisian street scene, using the ebauche,  a type of underpainting using muted colours. The ébauche method is not widely taught, but it will transform the work of anyone who tries it. Paul generously provided a handout.

www.paulminter.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Workshop painting animal portraits using soft pastels and watercolour. Catherine trained in Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art.

To book a place email:   carolineritson11@gmail.com

https://cathylandellmills.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

A Workshop 'winter storm', watercolour and inks, teaching members how to capture the wild energy and vitality of a winter storm, Kieran will explore exciting mark making techniques in watercolour, ink and gouache. www.kieranstiles.com 

Organiser's Comments

This was a wonderful and inspiring evening for the group when Kieran Stiles came to give us a woerkshop on painting an expressive stormy sea. He generously shared his techniques.

We looked at different mark making; drybrushing, sponging, flicking using a toothbrush, dabbing with tissue, scoring and using pen lines.

Everybody produced great results and artists were inspired to develop their own work. As Kieran said ‘ I was thrilled by the creative response everyone had to the theme in such a short time too. So many very exciting painters you have there.’ We look forward to inviting him back.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

This month we welcome Gabriella Bailey who graduated last year (2022) from New College, Oxford, where she read English Literature and  specialised in the medieval period, which continues to fascinate her and has a huge influence on her own work as an artist. She will be giving us a  talk on Pre-Raphaelite Art and Medievalism, in which she  explores how these artists reacted to the effects of the industrial revolution by returning to an idealised Middle Ages. 

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Korky Paul studied Fine Arts, Film, Animation at CalArts, California. He is an award-winning illustrator of children's books, among many, Winnie & Wilbur series. Korky visits schools promoting his passion for drawing.

www.korkypaul.com/bio.html

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Max studied for a degree in Fine Art under Ken Howard RA at Harrow School of Art. He then worked as an illustrator in a London studio. He will give an interactive talk using flip charts and sketches on the use of abstraction  and sketching techniques to create better art. See the website: www.maxhaleart.co.uk/biography

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Live music - Jam, a local Abingdon band, will be performing a mixture of popular songs. 

A Quiz  - we will be handing out a quiz at the start of the evening, organise yourselves in teams of up to 5 people .There will be a prize for the winning team.

Raffle - Lots of lovely prizes to be won.

Food - please bring some food to share if you can, Tea and coffee will be available but bring any drinks you may want.

Members are welcome to bring a friend or partner.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Roger Jones worked initially as a BBC Natural History producer and then became a professional artist in water colour and oils. See the website: www.lechladeartsociety.co.uk

Please note: This meeting will start at 7.45 pm.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Francesca has designed and facilitated projects across Oxfordshire. She has worked at the Ruskin and the Ashmolean Museum. See the website: www.francescashakespeare.com

Francesca Shakespeare has worked with the Ashmolean for more than 15 years, designing and running projects with the Education Department that have culminated in installations in various  galleries and public spaces within the museum.

   She will be talking about how the exploration of ancient techniques and materials brings artefacts to life, and connects us with our ancestors. Installing participatory artworks in the hallowed spaces of the museum creates a sense of ownership and shared space.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Linn Kerr's demonstration on the versatility of oil paints will include glazing, impasto, transferring textures and adding real gold or metal. See her website: www.linkerrdesign.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated. Please note the later than usual start time for this meeting of  7.45pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Diana is an internationally known artist and sculptor, and has carried out many commissions. She will talk about her experiences in the creation of participatory art.

Diana specializes in creating work in the public domain in non-gallery situations. The public are invited to participate in the making of the work and therefore become both creator and audience. 

See the website: www.DianaBell.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non-members is £4.

Timothy will talk about various watercolour artists from John Sell Cotman, Russell Flint and Laura Knight. See the website: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Russell_Flint

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Alice will talk about the work of Alfred Wallis, a naive painter who lived and worked in St Ives in the early 20th Century. See the website: artuk.org/discover/artists/wallis-alfred-18551942

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Jude will talk about Art and Antiquity at the Ashmolean Museum, where she is Learning Officer. She will give us a virtual tour through antiquity, looking at the development of art and skills in many different forms. See the Ashmolean's website: www.ashmolean.org

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Roger was born in 1957 and studied at the Royal Academy Schools. He is recognised as a religious painter in the English tradition. See his website: www.rogerwagner.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

AGM

The 2022 AGM will be held on Zoom and start at 7.30 pm. It will be chaired by our President Alison Rooke. 

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

Clova Stuart-Hamilton. 'Mixing it up'. An evening with Clova, past tutor at Radley College and now a tutor at the Ruskin and the Sunningwell School of Art.  Clova will present a workshop exploring rapid and appealing mixed media techniques favoured by the 20th century British artists Henry Moore and John Piper. See: www.clova-stuart-hamilton.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.
*** Members Only ***

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

Costume Model. Drawing a costume model, a drag queen dressed as a famous lady celebrity. The drawing session is followed by a Christmas party and raffle.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.

Members Only
 

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

Chris Christoforou, an international artist selling his work at Christie's and Southeby's, talks on the subject of  'The Beauty in Our Own Back Yard'.

See: https://www.artistsinfo.co.uk/artist/chris-christoforou/

 Chris will show members what potential there is for great art in our own immediate surrondings.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 
Members only

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

Jessica Parker gives a demonstration of how mixed media can be used. See Jessica's website for more information about the artist.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. Please be there by 7.20 for the 7.30 start.  Members Only.

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. Places for workshops are limited and when open to non-members must be booked in advance. Members will have priority. 

Wendy Hughes talks about her textile art. See: www.wendyhughestextiles.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. Members only. Pre-booking required.
 

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19 restrictions. 

Jeffrey Courtney  gives a demonstration and tuition on how to master the art of portrait painting in oils. 

Jeffrey is a professional artist working entirely in the figurative tradition. A meticulous craftsman, he has made an extensive study of painting techniques, in particular the methods of the Old Masters.

Take a look at his web site: www.courtneyart.net

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. Fee for non-members is £4.
Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. Places for workshops are limited and when open to non-members must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Jessica Rose gives a print making demonstration on how to carve, ink up and print a lino block. See: www,jessiacaroseartist.co.uk

Thursday evening meetings will be by zoom, not face to face, until further notice.  And for members only until further notice.

Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

Anthony Turner holds a workshop on life drawing with an unclothed male model compered by our co-chairman John Stephen. See: www.malelifemodel.co.uk

This meeting will be held on ZOOM and will start at 7.30pm
Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. Places for workshops are limited and when open to non-members must be booked in advance. Members will have priority. 

Jean Turton gives a demonstration and workshop on Chinese Brush Techniques. For information on the Oxfordshire Chinese Brush Painting Group see: https://www.artweeks.org/artist-profiles/2021/oxfordshire-chinese-brush-painting-group

This meeting will be held on ZOOM and start at 7.30pm.
Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

Curtis Tappenden gives a slide demo of Henri Matisse's life and drawing with scissors.

This is a slide show and workshop about Matisse's cut-outs. See his website: www.curtistappenden.com

Materials required:

• Coloured / textured papers (bold colours, e.g. old wrapping paper, magazines, newspaper?) 
• White or tinted paper to work directly onto. Cartridge paper is good- recommended minimum size A4, suggested size, A3 
• Simple mark makers – such as pencil, pen 
• Scissors or craft knife 
• Glue, adhesive tape 
• Optional- coloured drawing or painting media- coloured pencils, watercolour, marker pens etc  

This meeting will be held on ZOOM and start at 7.30 pm. 
Please be aware that the programme and activities may be subject to change at any time due to Covid 19. 

The Abingdon Artists' Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The relevant files are available under the Documents tab.

The 31st Abingdon Artists AGM will be held on Thursday 11th Febuary 2021 on ZOOM at 7.30pm. It will be chaired by Councillor Alison Rooke.

John Earwicker knows Urbino and the surrounding area of Italy very well and he will offer an insight into what it offers people who love art.

This talk will be held on ZOOM and starts at 7.30 pm.  

Mr Douglas Simpson will be Master of Ceremonies for a Fun Quiz followed by Bring and Share refreshments

Sadly, this meeting is cancelled due to the COVID19 lockdown.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Alice Foster gives an illustrated talk on the life of the artist, writer and broadcaster Grayson Perry

This meeting is cancelled due to the COVID19 lockdown.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  

Ronnie Ireland gives an illustrated talk on Picasso entitled 'Success and Scandal'

For more information on the speaker see www.ronnieirelandart.com

This meeting is only open to Abingdon Artists members who pre-book. For meeting arrangements under COVID19 click here.

All on-site meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Melissa Westbrook, who is the founder of Neo-Outsider Art, will give an illustrated talk on Outsider Art

This meeting has been cancelled

Charlotte Houlihan runs a life drawing workshop with an unclothed model.

For further information about the artist see her website www.charlottehoulihan.com

Please note that this workshop is for members only

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  

Ron Freeborn gives a talk about his work and then does an oil painting demonstration

For further information see his website www.ronfreeborn.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Li Jing gives a demonstration on using Chinese brush techniques followed by a chance to try the ideas shown.

Please note that this workshop is for members only

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  

The internationally known artist Diana Bell gives an illustrated talk on her life as an artist and the questions she is trying to answer.

For further information see her website www.dianabell.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Catherine Beale leads a watercolour workshop using loose, expressive watercolours. For more information see her website www.catherinebeale.com

Please note that this workshop is for members only

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm. 

Please note that there will be no access to the Northcourt Centre from the Oxford Road from 3 March 2020 for an inspecified period.

The Abingdon Artists' AGM. Please note that annual subscriptions are payable at this meeting.

The AGM will be followed by a chalk pastel demonstration by Claire Cross. 

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Caroline Ritson will lead a workshop making a small clay head. These will be fired and returned later. For more information about the artist see www.carolineritson.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

Two images from this meeting are available in the Meetings Gallery on this website.

Mr Dougie Simpson MC will be Master of Ceremonies for a fun art quiz followed by bring and share refreshments.

• Please bring some Christmas finger food to share: a glass of something will be provided. 

Please note that this meeting will be held in the Lounge Room at Christ Church Northcourt, Abingdon OX14 1NS  and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Please also note that, because of SGN Works,  access to Christ Church will be from the Oxford Road only. See the OCC Notice and the Map.

What is sure to be a fascinating talk on ‘Towards Abstraction’.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Christine joins us to give a demonstration on how to make your own paints with a chance to try afterwards.

Christine has asked that we come prepared with watercolour kit if we have it – paper, brushes, two waterpots, watercolours, kitchen paper.  Christine will have some supplies for those of you who do not or who forget!

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

We are happy to welcome back this excellent speaker to give a talk about Leonardo da Vinci, in the year of the 500th  anniversary of his death.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

George Boyter will talk about and demonstrate Tonal Values and Cross Hatching techniques.  He will introduce the subject with a screen presentation on Tonal Values in general with references to great artists, in particular Rembrandt and Caravaggio.  Following this he will demonstrate the rendering of tonal values with particular reference to the technique of Cross Hatching and then we will have a short workshop session. 

Please bring with you a few pencils such as 2B, 4B, 6B plus sharpener and putty rubber and/or electric rubber (if you have one);  Cartridge paper.  If you have them please bring Waterproof pens (Black or Sepia) with 0.3 or 0.4 nibs, but if you don’t pencils are sufficient.

This is an open talk and workshop, members don’t need to book.

For further information on the speaker see www.georgeboyterartist.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited: Visitors must book in advance. Members will have priority.

A workshop painting trees in watercolour, focusing on gaining confidence and using expressive colours. For more information see www.isacarmona-art.com

Images of work produced at this meeting, on painting a tree in the four seasons, are available in the Meetings Gallery

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. For this particular workshop only 15 places are available. Members will have priority.

 A demonstration of a figure drawn in charcoal from a clothed model.

For more information see www.peterkeegan.com. 

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

A talk on ‘The Human Presence' in the art of Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. A welcome return of this excellent and most entertaining speaker. For further information see www.ronnieirelandart.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

An entertaining demonstration on the art of creating a cartoon followed by a workshop where everyone can try out the ideas shown. Please bring at least 10 sheets of regular A4 paper and a pencil and eraser.  Tables will be set up but if you prefer please bring a pad/board or some sort of support to work on.

For further information on the artist see www.peterbellinghamillustration.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Places for workshops are limited and must be booked in advance. Members will have priority.

The AGM will be chaired by our Honorary President, Counsellor Alison Rooke. The revised Constitution and the possibility of Charitable Donations will be topics on the Agenda. For further details see the Documents menu tab.

It will be followed  by a demonstration on how to stretch a canvas by Peter Dearlove.

 We will also enjoy homemade cakes, courtesy of the committee, and tea/coffee.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

This will be a fun watercolour workshop with Caroline Ritson – you only need to bring watercolours, brushes and water pot, and if you have it masking fluid with a separate brush. Everything else will be provided.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

This will be a social evening with some drawing thrown in for good measure!  Please bring a small plate of Christmassy snack food to share – tangerines, chocolates, mince pies, nibbles   - really anything that would be fun to draw before we share.  We’ll lay on some juice and wine – it would be great if you can pop a glass in your bag, along with some simple art materials, to save the planet from yet more plastic though there will be some emergency supplies on hand so you won’t go dry!

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

The pioneering work done at the turn of the C20 at the Glasgow School of Art by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Margaret & Frances McDonald and Herbert McNair.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Max Hale’s demonstration of the use of a palette knife for acrylic painting.  It promises to be an interesting evening and even if you don’t work in acrylic there is always something to take away from seeing how another artist works.  If you have time do take a look at his website  www.maxhaleart.co.uk 

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

Click here for a list of the materials required. 

You might also like to explore the Van Gogh Museum's extensive website In preparation for this workshop.

Among other things Clova has asked us to bring a selection of clear landscape photographs, preferably our own, on which to base our drawings using the techniques explained.  While you are out and about over the summer you may like to give some thought to this.  If you are not able to bring your own images, then a suitable calendar image would work.

* It is important the image has the potential for expressing a wide range of textures e.g. water, stone, gravel, tiles, masonry, sand, variety of foliage, grass

*  Also has fore, middle and background

A)  A rural scene - cottages, farm buildings, fields etc.

B)  Garden, trees, shrubs, garden buildings, paths, flower beds

C)  A not too complex street scene

D)  Harbour/port scene with boats, groynes, water etc.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

A fascinating talk on Chiaroscuro.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30pm. Fee for non-members is £4.

Demonstration of using graphite pencil to create beautiful animal drawings.  For more information  see www.andrewforkner.co.uk

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

A workshop on using expanded polystyrene as a printing plate. 

You don’t need to bring any materials but an apron or painting shirt would be a good idea!

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

A talk on the art of partying by this popular speaker. The celebration in the visual from medieval to modern:  biblical feasts, peasant weddings, America’s sailors ashore in 1930s, Russian propaganda art, dancing and music.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

An entertaining and inspiring demonstration of encaustic art. For more information see www.philmadley.com

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

All meetings are held in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS unless otherwise stated and start at 7.30 pm.  Fee for non members is £4.

A fun Experimental Drawing Workshop led by  Caroline Ritson.  Please come equipped with A4 paper, a pencil, 2B or softer, and an eraser.

Short talks by members about their own work, followed by social time and shared food.

The exhibition is open on Tuesday 10th October 12.30 - 4.30 and on Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th October from 10 - 4.30.

Preview: Monday 9th October 6.30 - 8.30

 Christina will give an illustrated talk on Painting like Turner in watercolour, and then in the second half we will have a workshop to practise some of his techniques.  Please bring your regular watercolour materials – paper, paint and brushes together with a water pot – or you can put your rinsed drink cup to a second use!

Local artist and milliner Wendy Hughes is currently working on a textile commission for St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It consists of a processional banner and cope. The lettering design for both textiles was based upon the word ‘holy’ in five languages English, Latin, Russian, Greek and Hebrew. Wendy was inspired by the work of Pat  Russell, a church embroiderer and lettering artist of renown. The banner design was based upon the C15th Russian Icon of the Trinity by Andrei Rubley.

Wendy has an MA in Textile Design from the Winchester School of Art.

Do have a look at her glorious creations on her website: www.wendyhughestextiles.co.uk

The first part of the meeting will be a demonstration on how to use masking fluid to paint a variegated ivy leaf. This will be follwed by a workshop in which participants can make a simple illustration.

Please bring watercolours, water pots, a palette, brushes, a dip pen and watercolour paper. Small cards to paint on and masking fluid will be provided, but if you have your own please bring them.

Having gained a degree in Scientific Illustration, Valerie has worked as a freelance Botanical Illustrator and teacher. Her work has appeared in publications by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; The Royal Horticultural Society; Collins; Dorling Kindersley; Quarto; Conran Octopus and many others. She has taken part in exhibitions in London and America. She is currently teaching at venues in Oxfordshire. Her work is available for commission. You can see Valerie's work at: https://salon.io/valeriecprice

The image is of Stanley Spencer painting 'The Crucifixion' (1958). The photograph is shown courtesy of the Stanley Spencer Gallery, Cookham.

Inspiration for Rod's paintings comes from his passion for architecture, landscape and the elements - he creates atmospheric pieces rather than representational studies. He is currently working in Indian ink and watercolour. Rod lives and works in Oxfordshire.

Do visit his website: http://www.rodcraig.com 

The Meet the Artist evening is on Wednesday 5th April

Kitchen sink lithography is a traditional method of relief printing from a metal plate or stone, based on the antipathy of oil and water.

The group will learn about the basic technique using aluminium foil and cola.

There is a committee position, for Membership, that we must fill, as well as help needed in other areas, particularly publicity. Please do give some thought about whether you might be able to offer help. As a committee we enjoy working together to bring you a good programme of speakers etc and to organise the two exhibitions a year, but there is quite a lot to do and we would welcome your participation.

Please think about whether you might be able to lend a hand in some way eg setting up the room for our Thursday meetings, helping with publicity, particularly for the exhibitions - you don’t have to be a committee member to help.

A new challenge for everybody!

Our 12th January meeting will be an untutored drawing workshop (though doubtless there will be advice on hand).  Caroline has secured a flying visit from a group of five mounted birds, on loan from the Oxford Natural History Museum store, which will include a woodpecker, a bird of prey and a goose!   Please bring your own choice of materials.   It is planned to hold them until the following week when they can be drawn again at the Tuesday afternoon group on 17th January.

Images from this meeting are available in the Meetings Gallery.

An Auction of art materials, equipment, frames, art books and magazines combined with a bring and share supper. What could be more fun?

Please bring a small plate of finger food to share: tea and coffee will be provided.

If you are not able to come please do drop off any items on Thursday or on a Tuesday afternoon – they do not have to be new, but preferably in a reasonable used condition. This is a good opportunity to clear some space, especially if you are anticipating art materials gifts at Christmas or have items that you just can’t get along with or no longer need. 

There will be about half an hour to view the auction lots before the hammer goes into action.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the charity Oxfordshire MIND, the local mental health charity.

Thanks to John Stephen as a very capable and enthusiastic auctioneer. He persuaded us all to part with our cash for this very good cause and the total raised was £120!

John Somerscales will be a welcome return to us and he will be doing a much demanded workshop on Drawing Techniques including perspective.  The image shows his skills.

He has sent us the following materials list, but as a basic minimum please bring pencil and paper.

Pencils B 2B 4B; Biro; Black felt tip pen; eraser; ruler; set square; A4 sketchpad/cartridge paper

We will need to know numbers so that John can prepare handouts and so that we can set up sufficient places in the hall. Could you please let Diana know as soon as possible if you are planning to join us. Visitors are asked to book their place by Friday 4th November.

This Meeting will be held at the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS and will start at 7.30pm. Non-Members are welcome to attend for a small fee.

The dates of the Autumn Exhibition for 2016 will be 17 - 23rd October.  It will be held in St Nicolas Church as usual.  Set up will be on Sunday,16th October, and the set-up time will be announced  as we get closer to the date.

Kieran Stiles will lead the workshop  - on the use of the palette knife in oils - that unfortunately was cancelled in December 2015.  Here you see Kieran hard at work!

Kieran will do a demo in oils on the subject of 'Light on water in a landscape'. Please bring your own oils, palette knife and a suitable support if you have them and photographs to work from and to get ideas. He will have some spare knives and paint available if you don't work in oils yet - it would be helpful if you could let us know if you will need them so we have an idea of numbers.

This Meeting will be held at the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS and will start at 7.30pm. Non-Members are welcome to attend for a small fee.

We are lucky to have persuaded the well known Art  Historian, Mary Acton, to talk to Abingdon Artists.  Have you read her books on "Learning to Look" at art?

This Meeting will be held at the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS and will start at 7.30pm. Non-Members are welcome to attend for a small fee.

A much asked for return to Abingdon Artists by this talented artist.  The photograph is of one of Sonia's portraits.

See more of her inspiring work at:

http://www.artprofile.co.uk/artist.asp?artist=Sonia%20Bacchus&

This Meeting will be held at the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS and will start at 7.30pm. Non-Members are welcome to attend for a small fee.

Caroline Ritson comments on the meeting: We had an excellent evening this month with a demonstration by Sonia Bacchus. She gave a lively demonstration of painting a portrait. Her technique was to use acrylics thinly as a base for the painting and then build up in thicker layers of oil paint on top. The effect was a very vibrant portrait.

Images from this meeting are available in the Meetings Gallery.

Anthony Slinn (www.slinnfoundation.com) is both a full time painter and a lecturer giving nearly 200 lectures a year. He studied at Liverpool College of Art at the time of the Beatles, and came to study painting at London University's Slade School where his History of Art tutor was the great Sir E.H. Gombrich. He has spent thirty years teaching at various art colleges.

His lectures have been described as riveting, original and pure magic!

This talk will be a winner we are sure - Members are invited to bring a friend for free - and introduce them to Abingdon Artists in the hope that they will be interested in joining.

This Meeting will be held at the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS and will start at 7.30pm.

We shall enjoy a talk and demonstration by Tony Jackson who will draw for us a still life using pastels. Tony studied painting at Bath Academy of Art and then taught art in secondary schools for 30 years and was Head of Expressive Arts at a school in Hemel Hempstead. He now paints and exhibits, mostly in acrylics and pastels. Do come along, even if it is not your choice of medium - there is always something you can take away to experiment with in your own work, whatever the medium.

Tony Jackson's pastels are inspiring and the image shows one of them.

Images from this meeting are available in the Meetings Gallery.

Laura Boswell makes her first appearance on the Abingdon Artists' programme, and will talk about the process of woodcuts and linocuts.  Laura is a wonderful artist who had had residencies in Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government to practise and learn from Japanese masters.  Do have a look at the gorgeous images on her website: www.lauraboswell.co.uk

We are delighted to welcome her!

Monday 14th– Saturday 19th March 2016, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.  Set up Sunday 13th March - time to be advised.

Meet the Artists, Wednesday 16th March, 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm

Ken Messer is very well known in this area and he will be doing a demo of his great watercolour skills

Jane Strother is a well known teacher in Oxfordshire. She  will be giving a demontration of how to use oil pastels in our January meeting, and this may be an introduction to this flexible medium for many members.  The photograph is one of her oil pastels.

Northcourt Centre, Abingdon at 7.30 pm

A very popular guest, Kieran Styles, will return to address us in December on the use of the pallette knife in Oil Painting.

Unfortunately Kieran was not able to make this evening, but has been invited again in 2016.

John Sommerscales, an experienced Oxfordshire artist, will give us a talk and demonstration on wet-in-wet techniques in watercolour.

Roibert Newcombe will explore the skills of watercolour in this meeting.

Bring your materials for a lively workshop on the skills of Still Life using the style of the Italian recluse, Georgio Morandi.,

Jenny Whalley does a lot of wild life and plein air painting.  She will share her skills and techniques with us in a variey of media.

Sonya Bacchus will give a demonstration in oils in the style of the Old Masters.

Caroline Harben talks about the process and importance of  using a sketch book.