Martin Webster
Chairman and Newsletters

When I retired some seven years ago, I decided I needed to join an art group to
progress my painting. My painting before that had been on the odd day off and was
progressing slowly.
After moving a chance encounter led to a kind member taking me to a Friday
afternoon social painting session - and I was off!
Such a warm and encouraging welcome, Friday afternoons are now a mustn’t miss
occasion. Then joining in some workshops and sketching opportunities, having
helpful conversations, exhibiting with the Group, has meant that my art has
progressed in leaps and bounds.
Somehow, I have ended up as Chairman, it is a delight and joy to work with such a
friendly and broadly based art group, with some 200 plus members drawn from
Salisbury and surrounding villages.
If you would like to know more about the art group, please do contact me or the
membership secretary.

m.webster609@btinternet.com
For Newsletter items: newsletter@salisburygroupofartists.com

Growing up Annie was torn between Music and Art. After school she studied music and enjoyed a career teaching music, singing and conducting choirs across Hampshire Schools and for Hampshire Music Service. She continues to conduct a choir in Romsey.

Moving to Wiltshire ten years ago she found herself with more time to explore her interest in the visual arts and in painting. Taking classes for three years she particularly enjoyed working on seascapes. ‘I am constantly fascinated by the play of light on water and how the sea state can change so often and so rapidly before your eyes! My landscapes also tend to be mostly about light on water in the landscape!” Annie has recently enjoyed working on abstraction  with Karen Welsh.

Annie enjoys leading the curating of SGA’s major exhibitions, which she also done for Fordindbridge Art Club and The Arts Society Romsey.

annie.george2308@gmail.com

Beverley Singleton
Treasurer and Workshops Coordinator 

What SGA means to me

Friday Art is a safe space for me to play amongst real artists and now friends. I use different mediums, from acrylics, water colour and pastels to needle felting. Everything is an experiment and if I produce something ok that’s good, but I enjoy the process and company more. And we get tea and cake! An cheese and biscuits sometimes too.

Having joined SGA, I have attended most workshopslearning new techniques and buying more tools. I can recommend an acrylic Fineliner and stencils! I personally found Jenny Muncaster from the Colour Factory in Winchester a real inspiration this year. Annie has artists lined up for the rest of the year and I am looking forward to sourcing for next year.  If you feel you have techniques to share and could run a workshop get in touch! There is interest in acrylic pouring so if you know anyone let me know.

Unfortunately, due to family commitments Salisbury Sketchers is proving rather elusive. My goal is to paint a building, a rural scene, coastal scene, a person … and something in front of me and that isn’t out of my head! Since writing this a couple of year have passed and I am still painting from my head!

Having returned to the committee to run Workshops I am now also the Treasurer. These two roles fit nicely and I will be able to see who has booked and paid! There is a lot of money in a savings account and I am looking forward to working out how to spend it to benefit all members. If you have any ideas – let me know! The committee all have the Group’s interests at heart and there are no egos. It’s a privilege to belong to a warm and welcoming group.

beverleysingleton@rocketmail.com

Paul Ryder
Memberships

I actively started painting following retirement from a busy international job which kept me away from the palette for 35 years. I now paint every day if I can. I specialise in detailed architectural paintings but also feel equally happy painting landscapes, seascapes and occasionally portraits. I use both acrylic and oils depending on the subject, always acrylic for the detailed work.

My inspiration comes from a broad spectrum of sources including the expressive works of Renaissance artists, the boldness of Van Gogh, fascinating buildings seen on my travels, and the endless variety of powerful subjects nature provides.

I’ve just started experimenting with with a more open style to broaden my portfolio range. I’m finding this more impressionist approach exciting because the end point is less clearly defined.

I see art and painting as a project for life where you can forever be absorbed by the mysteries of creativity, challenge and achievement.

paulryder164@gmail.com

Jill Tomalin
Exhibitions Team Coordinator

I moved to Salisbury with my husband Mike in 2019, following the arrival of our first grandchild here. Mike is a pastellist, and joined the SGA soon after – though Covid was to prove an unwelcome interruption! In the following years, we saw how welcoming the group is, and I decided to offer help with running the SGA exhibitions, a role I had done for three years in Totnes for the Art Society there.

I now find myself as the new exhibition co-ordinator, working with Annie George (who will continue to curate the exhibitions) and a team of lovely volunteers.

Although not an artist myself, I console myself that I can at least appreciate art and admire the creative process that members demonstrate so ably.   

tomalinmandj@hotmail.com

Jane Hanbidge
Minutes Secretary

When not painting, a lot of my time is spent volunteering for The Salisbury Museum, working on finds brought in by members of the public, and researching for the new galleries amongst other things. This is retirement from thirty years of teaching and ten years as a PA . The latter is the only excuse for anyone thinking I can do minutes!

jane.hanbidge@icloud.com

Becky Aymes
Website and Social Media 

I joined SGA a few years ago with a view to exhibit my acrylic paintings.  I'd never done it before but wanted to push myself.  What I discovered was a very friendly, welcoming group who gave me such encouragement, I was hooked!
Since then, I've joined the exhibition team and enjoy appreciating everyone else's talent and like to encourage others to exhibit too!

I seem to have fallen into the role of updating our website and social media.  I am no expert, but I try to keep my finger on the pulse of what's going on and enjoy promoting our fabulous group.

becaymes@yahoo.co.uk

Mark Elling
Committee Member

markelling29@gmail.com

Pauline Oliver
Committee Member

My working background was in legal finance (for over 50 years) and I worked all over the South of England. 
On my retirement in 2014 I returned to live in Salisbury, together with my daughter, son in law and their three children.
I am looking forward to becoming more involved with the SGA. 

paoliver.kelly@gmail.com