Hertford Art Society 27th Members’ Show

Cowbridge Hall, Cowbridge, Hertford SG14 1PG
Friday 31st October - Sunday 2nd November 2025

The annual Members’ Show is always well attended and this year was no exception. Cowbridge Hall provides a light and airy venue which shows work at its best. All Members were invited to contribute to this show and this year 50 artists exhibited 200 works. The work included atmospheric landscapes, townscapes and seascapes, still life images, flower paintings, abstracts, engaging portraits and figures, and a lovely variety of animals including a small herd of horses.

White horses (Light, Dark and Sky) by Alona Kushnirenko; Chariot of Fire by Diane Warburton; White Knight and Royal White, portraits by Isabella Taylor.

There was work in a vast range of mediums - paintings in oils, acrylics and watercolours, delicate pencil images, prints, collages and artworks in other mediums including digital and mirrored images. A small piece of woodland with colourful fungi was represented in wood and clay.

Portraits were very much in evidence this year. They were so impressive that they merit a special place in this review:

   
Left: Kate by Chris Baker; Centre: Alice by Amanda House; Right: Stars in her by Anastasia Olarou

   
Left: Stare down by Bernadette Dunthorne; Centre: Man with Turban by Brian Skyes; Right: Chinese Lady by David Stowe

   
Left: Anonymous is a Woman by Bernadette Dunthorne; Centre: It's all in the eves by Kayla Wood; Right: Giulia Latino by David Stowe

   
Left: Narcissus by Anastasia Olarou; Centre: Lady with Turban by Brian Skyes; Right: A heady mixture by Jill Rolfe

   
Left: Finer than Wine by Bernadette Dunthorne; Centre: Oriental Lady by David Stowe; Right: Sir Mark Rylance as Oliver Cromwell by Chris Baker

The Violinist by Jill Elliot

   
Left: Movement of Jah People by Carolyn Cordery; Centre: Girl with lace collar by David Stowe; Right: Back to Black by Carolyn Cordery

   
Left: Bailaora by Jill Elliot; Centre: All the Jazz by Jill Elliot; Right: Autumnal breeze by Juni Hounslow

Visitors and Members were asked to vote for their favourite item. There was also a Raffle with an oil painting set included in the wide range of prizes. A quiz kept children (and their parents) engaged as they explored the hall for solutions. A wide range of colourful greetings cards produced by Members were also for sale.

Grateful thanks go to all the Members who worked hard to set up this 3 day show. It was a great success – 220 votes were cast for the Visitors’ Choice prize which this year is shared by joint winners, Mike Lawrence and Neringa Susinskienne. Congratulations to Neringa who also won the prize for the Most Intriguing Work with the same painting, Friendship.

There was something for everyone and the opportunity to chat with the artists and to relax with coffee, tea and homemade cake while admiring the artwork was appreciated by many.

Prizewinners

Marie Goldsmith Award for a Member with a high standard of work who has served the Art Society well without formal recognition.

• A Walk in the Woods by Peter Buck – Watercolour

Stephen Lowe Award for most intriguing work

• Friendship by Neringa Susinskienne – Acrylic

Visitors’ Choice Award – Joint Winners

• The Veteran by Mike Lawrence
• Friendship by Neringa Susinskienne – Acrylic

Members’ Choice Award

• Jazz Man by Jill Elliot – Oils

The Best Title

• Mislaid by Chris Jermain - Oils

A Walk in the Woods by Peter Buck – Watercolour

Friendship by Neringa Susinskienne – Acrylic

The Veteran by Mike Lawrence

Jazz Man by Jill Elliot – Oils

Mislaid by Chris Jermain - Oils

Click here for more images. - 27th Members Show October 2025 - 41 images

Hertford Art Society 72nd Open Exhibition

Saturday 3rd to Saturday 10th May 2025

“Excellent collection – fascinating variety of styles and media”

“Magnificent display of work”   “Very skilled and innovative work on show”

“How wonderfully talented you are! A privilege to enjoy. Thank you.

“Fabulous display”   “A lovely mix of work – as always it doesn’t disappoint”

“Amazing art by amazing artists. Thank you.”

These are just a few of the comments made by visitors during the course of this year’s Exhibition.

There was something for everyone in Cowbridge Hall, a light and airy venue which shows work at its best. There were atmospheric landscapes, townscapes and seascapes; intriguing abstracts; still life images including some gorgeous peaches which made your mouth water; delicate and dramatic flower paintings; engaging and varied portraits and figure paintings, and a lovely variety of animals (relaxed cats, a curious giraffe, two owls quietly resting on their perches, a large model wildcat about to pounce on a ceramic mouse to name but a few). There were dramatic monochrome images. Some works were colourful and bold, others subtle and elusive. There were oils, acrylics and watercolours; etchings, lino prints; pastel, pencil, charcoal and ink and collage. The 3D work included some gorgeous sculpture in clay, stone and wire, ceramic mosaics, decorated pots and a lovely orange bowl with a bee motif.

There was a record number of submissions this year – 450. Our judges selected 315 exhibits including 35 3D works. Thanks go to our Judges - Anne McCormack RI SWA, Greame Unwin and Abel Kestevan for selecting the work for this Exhibition form many fine entries. We are also very appreciative of our sponsors who so kindly contribute to the Society each year. It is a great honour and incentive to receive one of their donated awards.

A childrens’ quiz kept children (and their parents) engaged as they explored the hall for solutions to some very quirky questions. Two additional paintings were displayed at Sworders Auctioneers in St Andrews Street, Hertford.

Thanks go to all the people who contributed in making this, the 72nd Open Exhibition, such a success - it was another exciting and popular show.

Our Treasurer, Geoff Bennett has made a selection of his favourite works from this year’s show. These are:

• ‘Piddle Lane’ - Alison Wright
  
  Deplorably scatological, beautifully painted: a subtle background wash, convincing fencing that had seen better days, clever collaging, and scruffy dogs messing up the foreground. I voted it my favourite painting.
• ‘Only the river knew her name’ - Juni Hounslow
  
  A very black title, a very sombre subject, but only for we adults who know of Ophelia’s fate. I asked a 7- year old girl why she voted it her favourite picture and she said ‘because of the lovely colours and lovely flowers’. So two quite different responses. I prefer the one of innocence.
• Nymphs of the river - Mitiko Murata
  
  This painting starts off as a very vibrant but strongly organised Abstract. Then as you get close it becomes something quite different - a gathering of nymphs relaxing by a river. Sky and water reflect each other and harmonise perfectly with the middle area of dancing figures: ordered chaos. The visitors’ favourite, quite rightly.
• Willstone pond II - Andy Lee
  
  A totally credible summer’s day deep in the countryside. Several tones of green working beautifully together. And a beautifully dappled river gently leading the eye to a background of a field basking in the sun. Why don’t my plein air paintings end up as restful as this?
• Francesca - Kathy Burman
  
  Not a picture actually, but a piece of 3D. I loved this piece for its simplicity. The model is sitting around against a plain white background, completely relaxed, quite content (so I imagine), possibly oblivious of the frantic art all around her.

Many thanks, Geoff, for this personal view.

Award Winners

• The John Goss Prize for Best in Show – Kefalonia Walk by Chris Hewitt
• The Lady Laming Award for best Abstract – Abstract 3 by Geoff Bennett
• The Bill Dale Award for best Member’s work – Approaching Fire by Sarah Merry
• The Mayor's Award for the best 3D work sponsored by The Arts Society East Herts – Figs by Anne Gascoigne
• Best Watercolour sponsored by A S Handover Ltd Brush Manufacturers – Jug and Onions by Robert Sheffield

Open for 8 days the Exhibition attracted many visitors from a wide area. Hundreds of visitors cast their votes for their favourite exhibit.

• Visitors’ Choice Award:
  • Visitors choice: Nymphs of the River by Mitiko Murata
  • Visitors choice runner up: Hanging on by Martin Bushell
• Highly Commended:
  • Harbour Steps by Sally Steele – Watercolour
  • Life Journey by Ali Frewin – 3D

The John Goss Prize for Best in Show
Kefalonia Walk by Chris Hewitt

The Lady Laming Award for best Abstract
Abstract 3 by Geoff Bennett

The Bill Dale Award for best Member’s work
Approaching Fire by Sarah Merry

The Mayor's Award for the best 3D work sponsored by The Arts Society East Herts
Figs by Anne Gascoigne

Best Watercolour sponsored by A S Handover Ltd Brush Manufacturers
Jug and Onions by Robert Sheffield

Visitors choice: Nymphs of the River by Mitiko Murata

Visitors choice runner up: Hanging on by Martin Bushell

Highly Commended: Harbour Steps by Sally Steele – Watercolour

Highly Commended: Life Journey by Ali Frewin – 3D

The John Goss Prize for Best In Show - Chris Hewitt for Kefalonia Walk.

The Lady Laming Award for best abstract work - Geoff Bennett for Abstract 3

The Bill Dale Award to a Member - Sarah Merry for Approaching Fire

The Arts Society East Herts Award for best 3D work - Anne Gascoigne for Figs

The Brushes Award by A. S. Handover for best watercolour - Robert Sheffield for Jug and Onions