Portrait artist giving demonstration to Stoke Gabriel Art Group

By Bea Hutchings

Portrait artist Allan Shaw will painting both people and animals when he visits Stoke Gabriel Art Group next week for an art demonstration.

Check out Allan's work on Instagram@allanshaw-art

Stoke Gabriel Art Group was founded in 1960 by Hugh Goodson, of Waddeton Court. At the time, he was president of Devon Art Society, along with his wife and other enthusiastic artists from the village, including Cooney O‘Callaghan, Keith Peterson, Mrs Gilmore, Ron Dugmore and Nancy Sargent-Thomas, headmistress of the local primary school, came together to promote the ‘joys of art'.

Today, Stoke Gabriel Art Group, (SGAG) is still thriving - a friendly, welcoming bunch who regularly meet on the first Tuesday of the month.

These evenings are a meeting of like minds, whether new to painting or well-seasoned in the art world.

Meetings include demonstrations from professional artists, who always say how much they enjoy coming along, chatting with SGAG members, and demonstrating their art.

It is also an opportunity to study the demonstrators’ completed works, and often their preliminary sketch books. There are always plenty of tips and ideas to take away and apply to your own artwork in progress.

And that’s not all. There are painting sessions on Thursday mornings - just take along your own piece of art to work on, or engage in a ‘still life’ study, arranged to draw or paint, whatever you would like to do. It’s great way to pick up tips from fellow artists or ask them arty questions. Someone will always have an answer or point you in the right direction. The coffee and biscuits are good too!

Tuesday evenings: February to May and October to December, 7.30pm start

Painting sessions: January to May and September to December, 9.15am-midday

SGAG summer art exhibition: September 4 to September 11

Venue: The Village Hall, Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6QX.

New members are always welcome. For information, call Jackie Tucker, membership secretary, on 07564 227 250.