Lawrence Art Society’s annual exhibition at Devizes Town Hall

Impressive, in a word, is the Lawrence Art Society’s annual exhibition at Devizes Town Hall this year, in both quality and quantity; you’ll be amazed at how many talented artists there are locally….

It runs up till Saturday, drop in even if you’ve only a passing interest in art. For there’s a good range of styles and movements depicted, from the best part of fifty local artists, one founder member of the society, Elizabeth Allen, posthumous exhibits in tribute and honour. There’s some abstract, in both paintings and copper wire and stone sculptures, yet perhaps as a whole leaning heavier towards fine art, the traditional landscapes and portraits; it’s all very Devizes!

Named after Devizes’ most famous artist, Sir Thomas Lawrence, a child prodigy whose early career began here when his parents owned the Bear Hotel, in association, the Lawrence Art Society has been running since his time, but was formally established in Devizes in 1953. Annual Membership is £20, £6 for students, they have monthly meetings and live art shows at the Conservative Club; but this is their annual showstopper, and it’s free to windowshop!

There’s a few names I’m aware of, such as Simon Bishop and Jenny Pape, but more new to me than I could possibly list, you’ll just have to pay it a visit! But I give mention not only to the lovely gentleman I chewed the ears off about Hogarth, Gillary, and Victorian Children’s illustrators, and was so wrapped up in our chat I didn’t get his name! But also David Lewis for breaking the running theme with some abstract futurism, Joy Tickell for wonderful acrylic collages, Marilyn Silvester for some colourful Chagall-eske depictions of Devizes during the market, Susan Thompson for her colourful Escher-type designs, and Helen Stanfield for that, wow, monochrome oil of a Yorkshire terrier, so cute, and I don’t care for terriers much!  

Browse the vast selection of near-on 260 pieces of artwork, with a chance to purchase, vote for your favourite, buy some greetings card prints, and gamble with a raffle ticket or two. I took a snap or two as a teaser, pay a visit to see for yourself. Devizes Town Hall is open from 9:30am-5:30pm on Friday, but the show will finish half hour earlier on Saturday, at 5pm. 

I asked the ladies on the front desk if many younger artists join the Society, to mixed responses. While even I know of a few, such as Bryony Cox of the White Chalk Gallery, with her fantastic Turner-fashioned seascapes and clouds, there’s always a risk of losing such a founded group in the future should younger artists preconceive the group as not age appropriate for them. All I can say on this is don’t overlook the experience of learned artists as they can and will help you. I myself feel rather inspired after browsing the Town Hall today, be warned!!

What else is happening?!

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward “E”) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes…

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