A brief History of the New Forest Art Society

The Past
When the New Forest Art Society reached its 25th year in 1989, it was decided to try to mark this special occasion. The secretary at the time, Helen Rudge, began diving into the archives. We owe her the credit for producing a history of the society

In 1950, or thereabouts, Mr Mahn, a local amateur artist died, leaving his studio and attached living quarters to his housekeeper, Miss Bartlett. She said to her doctor, also an amateur artist, "I do miss the smell of oil paints. Please come and paint here". The doctor, Dr Danby, invited his friends and regular painting sessions started. When the number of painters reached ten, a tutor, Mr Leon Talbot, was provided under the W.E.A. scheme and regular instruction started using professional models. The first exhibition was held at the Stag Hotel, Lyndhurst.

In the early 1960s, Cecil Landale, who bought Scott's sweet shop opposite the Crown Hotel, started to supply artists' materials in the corner of his shop. In 1964 he organised a group of his clients into a committee and the New Forest Art Society was born. Regular meetings were started and notice of these was sent to 'The Artist'. Fees were five shillings to join and 15 shillings for yearly membership. At each meeting members paid one shilling each to defray the cost of hiring the room. Committee meetings were held in a room belonging to a local solicitor. Today, members pay £10 for yearly membership.

Lyndhurst Community Centre opened in 1963 and it was decided to use the hall for the 1965 exhibition. This was to last a week. In this exhibition the society was fortunate to have some of Augustus Johns' paintings, which were hung on a screen as a memorial to the artist, who had recently died. Sven Berlin and David Cobb were guest artists at subsequent exhibitions. The annual exhibition has been held in the summer every year since then. The hanging fee in 1965 was 2s 6d and the profit was £9 14s 6d. The most expensive painting was 15 guineas.

Monthly meetings began with discussions on the use of various media, quizzes, slide shows of different artists' work, critique of members' work, talks and demonstrations by people who were willing to take the fees the society could afford. When the Society celebrated it's 25th Anniversary, we were very fortunate to have the late Sir Hugh Casson as our guest artist.

Today our lecturers include Peter Folkes, Mike Bernard, Dennis Hill and Dr Anna Barrington-Ward. We try to achieve variety and balance, with something to suit everyone.

The Present
It is fortunate that we have so many art colleges in the vicinity. We have benefited from visits and lectures by their former Principles, Peter Folkes, Michael Gough and Fred Sinkinson. There is a wonderful art gallery in the Civic Centre, Southampton and several very good regional galleries from which members can draw inspiration and enjoyment.

There are opportunities for attending workshops and day classes at the local art colleges and art galleries. Several members attend classes at these, or adult education art classes. In Lyndhurst Community Centre classes are tutored by our President, Fred Sinkinson. There are a large number of adult education art classes run through Brockenhurst College, which are held in various towns and villages within the forest. NFAS members Shaun Stevens, Marita Freeman and Jane Puckering are adult education art tutors.

Painting Weekends, Organised Trips and Painting Days
We hold at least two painting weekends a year. Tutors have included Peter Folkes and John Butterworth. These are very popular and worthwhile events. They give members the opportunity to try new styles and techniques in the company of other like-minded people. They run from 10am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday, usually at Emery Down Village Hall.

We try to organise two coach trips a year to London either to major exhibitions or to visit a gallery.

There are also painting days in various parts of the forest, on different days of the week, during the summer months.

Summer Exhibition
Although most of our members live in the New Forest, our exhibition is by no means limited to landscape painting. We have seascapes, still life, portraits and life drawing, animal studies and abstracts. Sometimes we have sculpture, woodcarving and ceramics, depending on the membership in any given year. At present we allow our members to hang three, also three miniatures, four unframed mounted pictures (portfolios). 3D work is also accepted. There is no hanging committee and we do not select. As long as pictures are entered according to the rules and space permits, then each member will have their pictures hung. The Exhibition Director has the final say.

Membership
From the first membership of 26 we have now grown to 140. We limit our membership to that number in order to hang our exhibition aesthetically.

Our membership, past and present, includes professional artists such as Harley Crossley, Barry Peckham, Alan Langford, Monica Coleman, Rachel Long, Peter Frost, Suzan Houching, Fred Sinkinson, Patricia Wales, Wendy Jelbert and Julia Noble.

Get Together
Another reason for limiting our membership is that we like to get to know one another. All our meetings have a social break. At the AGM business is limited to an hour and the remaining time is a social get together. We each bring a picture for a mini exhibition, with wine and snacks provided. Our former President and founder member, the late Len Payne, suggested this idea. The summer exhibition preview evening is one of the highlights of the year when members gather with friends and other invited guests to view the paintings on sale.

Donations
To celebrate the millennium, the Society donated two members' works, a painting and a sculpture, to the Fenwick Hospital in the hope that our work will give pleasure to patients and visitors for many years to come. Lyndhurst's former cottage hospital was officially reopened in June 2003 by Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mary Fagan, following an extensive refurbishment. The painting by Ken Youens and the sculpture of a mother and child by the late Diana Witney were officially received.

At our AGM in February 2003 the Society agreed to donate £300 to the charity World Share, specifically to support the art department of a new Christian school at Siyabuswa in rural South Africa. The school opened in January 2003 with 120 seven year olds, of whom 25% are orphans. Our Treasurer, Francis Regan, visited the school in July 2003, at his own expense and reported back to members. Currently the profits from our teas and coffees at monthly meetings are being donated to the art department.

The Future
We have our website www.nfasoc.co.uk which operates as a notice board for news and information about art events. We have a gallery of paintings which changes regularly and a diary. Garry Symes co-ordinates this for your benefit.

One of the aims of the society is to further the interests of artists in the area, so we trust that the New Forest Art Society will continue to provide its members with artistic pleasure into the future.

February 2006