Croydon Art Society have been named Art Club of the Year 2018 in this year's exhibition which runs at Patchings Art Centre until November 11

Artist and regular contributor to The Artist, Hazel Soan, judged the work of ten selected art clubs and societies in this year's Art Club of the Year competition and chose Croydon Art Society to be named Art Club of the Year.

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Croydon Art Society, Art Club of the Year 2018

Green Mountain Chorus, oil, (62x49cm) by Haruko Posford

Looking Out, Looking In, oil, (39x51cm) by Anthony Waldbaum

Pale Rider Still at Speed, watercolour, (54x65cm) by Roger Lewis

Panhead, watercolour, (35x40cm) by Russell Elliott

The Pig Farm, oil, (60x50cm) by Julia Nolan

Croydon Art Society is believed to be one of the oldest Art Societies in England, outside of London. For a few years prior to its foundation, the Society was called ‘The Watteau Society’, no doubt in honour of the great French artist.

As the group grew in size and importance the name was changed to establish its association with the Borough. Now, and indeed for some time past, the Society’s annual exhibition at the end of the year is regarded as a major art event in the Croydon ‘calendar’. Visitors to the exhibition are assured of seeing work of the highest standard.

The Society is justly proud to have included throughout its history many distinguished artists as members. Names from the past include Jack Merriott, Juliet Pannett, William Watkins, Wilfred Fryer, Hesketh Hubbard and Cicely Mary Barker of ‘Flower Fairy’ fame.

Discover more on their website, www.croydonartsociety.org.uk

Croydon Art Society win £500 worth of Jackson’s art materials vouchers, a sponsored demonstration at the selected club venue by a professional art tutor and a profile about the club published in our magazines.

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The following clubs were chosen by Hazel as runners-up:

Hallam Art Group

Elemental, acrylic, (30x30cm) by Myfanwy Williams

Gordes, Provence, pastel, (50x39cm) by Barrie Jervis

Julia, oil, (45x55cm) by Peter Wright

Night Owl, watercolour, (44x35cm) by Jo Gittins

Promise of Tomorrow, watercolour, (40x50cm) by Barbara Priest

Hallam Art Group was founded in 1974. Our aims are to provide local artists with mutual help and support and to promote visual art. This is achieved by weekly meetings, regular talks and demonstrations, still life and life drawing and other evenings dedicated to specific activities or media, a DVD viewing evening, sketching outings, occasional workshops and field trips, and holding at least two exhibitions annually. There is no selection process to join. All are welcome, whatever their artistic ability. An interest in art is the only requirement. Full membership is limited to 70, with a number of gold members who are unable to attend regularly, this number bearing witness to our success and enthusiasm.

There is no formal tuition, but members are very willing to share their skills if asked. Regular workshops are given for those wishing to develop their painting. A number of members are well established artists who are very willing to share their methods.

Current members come from all walks of life. They work in a range of media including oils, acrylics, water colour, pastels, conté crayon, charcoal, print, and mixed media including textiles.

We hold Spring and Autumn Exhibitions. We hire the Education Centre in the Sheffield Botanical Gardens for our Spring Exhibition where there is space for hanging about 120 paintings. This popular exhibition is open to the public for three days over the May Bank Holiday, coinciding with the first of the Open Art Sheffield weekends, when artists open their studios to the public. Admission is free and the exhibition includes a card and craft stand organised and staffed by Friends of the Botanical Gardens. Refreshments are also available. There is a trophy for the best picture. The Autumn exhibition is held in the Hallam Community Centre Hall where we can display approximately 200 paintings. Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite picture in the show for which the artist receives the Peggy Ibbotson Memorial Trophy. We also sell unframed works and cards at these exhibitions, and refreshments are available.

While there is no obligation for artists to exhibit paintings, our exhibitions are “Fund Raisers” both for the Hallam Community and Youth Association (our parent body) and selected local charities, and every encouragement is given to members who wish to participate. There is no “Selection” process. A sales commission of 15% is levied.

We also have two small permanent exhibitions, one in the Forge Dam Cafe; and one in The Three Merry Lads public house. Occasionally we hold additional exhibitions, e.g. in the Sheffield branch of John Lewis.

The Group has a comprehensive library of books, DVDs and videos which may be hired. We also subscribe to popular art magazines for perusal during working sessions.

In the library cupboards there are two straight-line mount cutters, an oval mount cutter, a rotary mountboard cutter, a hot laminator and a framing tab gun which may be used during meetings to prepare works for exhibition.

We have our own laptop and projector for use by speakers, for viewing the DVDs, and undertaking administrative tasks.

A short trip to Robin Hood’s Bay is arranged annually for group members and their spouses/ friends.

Coffee and tea is a regular feature of our meetings. A charge of 50p is made for a drink and a biscuit. All members are expected to take their turn in the servery.

See more on their website, hallamartgroup.wordpress.com

Tadworth Art Group

Admiralty Arch, watercolour, (47x54cm) by Brendan Smith

Ladies in Waiting, mixed media, (50x50cm) by Deborah Kreczmer

Seahorses, acrylic, (57x47cm) by Barry Sullivan

The Carrot Thieves, pen & wash, (73x52cm) by Judit Matthews

The Green Door, mixed media, (54x71cm) by Sue Hasler

Tadworth Art Group was formed in the early 1970s by professional artist Barry Watkin to encourage interested painters to meet regularly and develop their skills. Today the group continues to gather weekly in the local church hall where members produce an exciting range of paintings.

Our ethos is to evolve and change and to continue out personal development. A varied programme, changing annually, includes workshops, artist demonstrations, critiques and themed painting evenings. Dedicated, committed members with a good dose of healthy competition results in a good mixture of abstract, traditional, impressionist, botanical, landscape and much more.

A summer and winter exhibition, each displaying around 250 paintings, is always well attended by local followers as well as new visitors who are attracted by social media and publicity campaigns supported by local shops and businesses. Over the last five years Tadworth Art Group has raised over £6000 for local charities through raffles at our shows.

Successes by members include exhibiting at the Mall Galleries, producing written articles and demonstrations for Leisure Painter and The Artist, winners of Jackson's pastel competition 2017 and Surrey Life's landscape painter of the year 2017 as well as works that have appeared in the Richmond magazine and the Society of Women Artists competition.

This richness of experience ensures the celebrations and frustrations of creating original artworks are shared and appreciated by all 35 members.

See more on their website, tadworthartgroup.org.uk

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Both Hallam and Tadworth Art Groups win £250 worth of Jackson’s art materials vouchers.

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Below are the exhibited works from selected clubs in this year's competition

Bournemouth Bay Art Club

Across the Lake, acrylic, (74x53cm) by Diane O'Connor

Invitation, watercolour and pastel, (69x79cm) by Frances Shearing

Low Tide, Totnes, pastel, (46x56cm) by Sue Smith

Opera I, mixed media, (43x43cm) by Peter Greenwood

Pots, mixed media, (46x46cm) by Jan Wall

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Horncastle Art Group

Anderby Creek, oil, (45x60cm) by Dinah Ballantine

Hydrangeas, watercolour, (62x46cm) by Toni O'Neill

Moonlit Night, drypoint, (28x33cm) by Joanna Pass

Natasha, pastel, (30x46cm) by Patricia Rowberry

Thatched Cottage, oil, (31x23cm) by Hilary Waterfall

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Hornsea Art Society

Moment of Reflection, acrylic, (52x57cm) by Claude Hargreaves

Moonlit Garden, acrylic, (60x89cm) by Meg Burkill

Stillness in the Warm Morning Light, mixed media, (28x28cm) by Lynne Porter

The Keld, Little Driffield, watercolour, (29x42cm) by Pam Williams

Whitefriargate, oil, (76x61cm) by David Dawson

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Huddersfield Art Society

Floral Display, oil, (30x40cm) by Peter McGowan

J-32, mixed media, (61x76cm) by Jill Moynan

Secluded Woodland, oil, (67x57cm) by Carol Wood

Huddersfield Steelworks, mixed media, (60x40cm) by Glen Williams

Westmorland Landscape, oil, (40x60cm) by Kin Lee

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Menston Arts Club

Ahhh Freshly Baked Again!, acrylic, (60x60cm) by Angela Hammond

Hazy, Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer, pen & wash, (58x76cm) by Carole Gaunt

Reenactment Muskateer, watercolour, (14.5x20cm) by John Ridyard

Seedheads, mixed media, (34x34cm) by Susan Ridyard

Welcome to the Jungle, mixed media, (50x50cm) by Tracey Krupianka

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Pinner Art Club

Nikita in Pink, water-soluble oils, (40x45cm) by Margaret Morley

Bird's Eye View, oil, (50x80cm) by Ku Wijeratne

Poppies, mixed media, (45x40cm) by Sally Hyam

Southbank Construction, oil, (50x60cm) by Kalpna Saksena

Townhouse, mixed media, (80x80cm) by Priya Suneel

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Wareham Art Club

Boots, watercolour, (27x25cm) by David Cole

Crab Apples, mixed media, (75x55cm) by Roger Lockey

Pulpit Rock, Scilly Isles, watercolour, (60x45cm) by David Cole

Seedheads, mixed media, (55x75cm) by Roger Lockey

Vannes, Brittany, watercolour, (36x43cm) by Jon Wright

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See The Art Club of the Year exhibition in the Barn Gallery at Patchings Art Centre from October 13 to November 11, 2018

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