The 20th Members’ Art Show and Sale

27th - 29th October 2017

This was the 20th Members' Show and the third to be held at The Cowbridge Hall in Hertford. It was open over three days from 27-29th October (with a preview on the 26th) and showed work by 64 artists. Twenty two framed works were sold, also 11 unframed and 110 cards.

This is a show which is always a joy to visit, as our visitors regularly tell us. There is such a wide variety of subject matter and painting styles and the standard of work is high. So much to see - so difficult to choose a favourite (the Visitors' Choice voting box held over 225 votes!). The tea stall (offering home made cakes) at the back of the hall was a good place to sit and admire the paintings. There were portraits, like Anthony Parke's masterly 'Edward Lucie-Smith' and Sharon Wright's gentle and delightful portrait of an elderly person, 'Blue'. Glorious landscapes such as Rosemary Tinney's ' Burnham Overy Staithe' with its luminous sky, and Linda Radford's glowing watercolour scenes (she sold out!). Animal paintings, like Malini Croxson's extraordinary red and white zebras, 'Tangled' and Margo Ward's colourful and lively 'Hens in the Snow'. There was finely painted work such as Paul Swinge's 'Goldfinch and Pot' and Christine Flintham's 'Rosehips' and more expressionist work which describes the scene in a few expert brush strokes and colours such as David Quantrill's 'Carlton Marshes'. June Pickard's sculpture 'What on Earth' used an abstract form to describe the many textures and features found on the planet - fascinating: I wish we had more sculptors exhibiting! An unusual entry this year was a 3D miniature train layout with the countryside depicted (by Gillian Harman) in the style and colours of David Hockney, which created a lot of interest. At this stage I have to stop and apologise to all those artists who remain unnamed here. Their work was certainly appreciated.

Our prizewinners were as follows:

The May Bennett Annual Award for the best still life:
'Stella's Pots' by Sandra Edney Lynch.
A still life with harmonious colours and a rich surface.

The Most Intriguing Work Award, selected by Mark Ely:
'Abstract' by Maureen Emerton.
Another very rich surface which drew you in to explore the shapes and colours.

The Visitors' Choice Award:
'The Quiet before the Storm' by Alyson Sharpe.
A little girl on the beach, her back to us - a lovely image, beautifully painted.

The Members' Choice Award:
'Tabletop with Mosaic Vase' by Kathy Burman.
Kathy is a master of the mosaic-like collage and this was a lovely example.

The Marie Goldsmith Annual Award:
for a Member with a consistently high standard of work who has served the Art Society well without formal recognition of their work or service: 'Tunnel at Stapleford' by Geoff Bennett.
This strong and colourful image graced our posters this year.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the help of so many Members of the Society, who worked long and hard to make the show a success. If you missed the show this year, make a note in your 2018 diary. We will be back again for the last weekend of October.

Frances Stevenson
Members' Show Co-ordinator

Member's Show Awards

We are grateful to our Sponsors for the following Awards.

Each year the following prizes are awarded:

1. The John Godden Award for the best in Show chosen by the Members, donated by the Godden family.
2. The Visitors' Choice Award supported by Hertford's Art Shop, Hertfordshire Graphics.
3. The May Bennett Award for the best Still Life, donated by the Bennett family.
4. The Most Intriguing/Innovative Artwork - from 2010, the additional prize is a free website design & hosting for 1 year, donated by Mark Ely of SG7.biz.