Martin Webster
Chairman

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.

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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!

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Rose Duly
Treasurer

I work at a local firm of accountants.  I started to draw and sketch after mobility problems meant I could not keep up with my young family. I’ve only recently expanded into painting with acrylics / multimedia and I love the variety of mark making that this medium enables. I look forward to meeting like minded people with SGA.

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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.

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Terry Kemp
Vice Chairman and Newsletters

Terry is a self taught artist who has never been without a pen, pencil and brush in his hand.
After a modest success in selling his art in London where he worked, he moved with his family to Wiltshire to live and work by and on the Kennet and Avon Canal. This gave him the opportunity of living and working in the environment and countryside that inspires him.

Terry says ‘The big skies of Salisbury Plain and the abundance of wildlife that enjoy its environment are an inspiration. Wiltshire hares are a favourite subject. From my sketch books of hare drawings my paintings and sculptures are developed. I always do hope that the special individual characters of these animals come through and give everyone the same pleasure they gave me in portraying them.’

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Annie George
Workshops and Exhibitions Curator

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

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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.   

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