Art - Lewes Art Club

Lewes Art Club’s latest exhibition will be ceremoniously opened by Mayor Merlin at the Castle’s educational resource centre, I learn from founder and chairperson Anna Johnston. Anna set up the club twelve years ago. Fifteen members signed up straight away but now the number has risen to around twenty-eight. “It’s the only art club in Lewes”, she tells me proudly. “There are other organisations that meet to paint and draw together but we are the only group with a regular meeting place (Southover Grange) meeting time and committee. Anna has recently delegated the running of the exhibitions to fellow member Beryl Bartter. Over the phone, I ask Beryl about the forthcoming exhibition. “There will be a real range of styles and standards”, she tells me. “We don’t have a membership test for joining the group so some of our members are established artists whilst others are relative beginners.” The philosophy of the group is about establishing a support outlet and also providing educational resources. “We have a lot of outings and workshops and also we organise speakers and talks”.

So what can we expect to stand out in the exhibition then? “Well, how can I say it without getting myself into trouble? Look out for works by Anna Johnston of course ( she does botanical illustrations), Peter Waller, Sid Richards and Dennis Dean”. She pauses. “You’d better put ‘etc’ after them, they’re all interesting in different ways”, she finishes loyally. ER