QN SUMMER 22

DIARY 2022
DATES &VENUES
FROM THE CHAIR
Andrew Latham GAvA
QN EDITORS
Robert Calow GAvA
David Calow GAvA
Welcome to the bumper Summer QN!
A record breaking 40-page issue reports on 12
Regional Meetings, a sure sign that we are all
getting back to normality. Your Eds views are
well known about the importance of these get
togethers for the health of the Guild. Meeting
fellow artists socially has to be a good thing
and we should thank and support the hard
work that our Region leaders are putting into
organising them.
What a summer we are all having! It’s either
record breaking high temperatures or now
as we get the QN ready for press, heavy
rainstorms!
As Chairman Andrew states in his ‘From the
Chair’, this has also been a very busy period
for the Committee who have been working
hard to find a solution to holding the Annual
Exhibition at a new venue. IWM Duxford will
be our first new venture next summer and,
in the meantime, there will be a Web-based
virtual exhibition during November. Please see
Andrew’s message to us all.
Our cover painting shows two Phantoms in
flight by Chris Draper GAvA. A lifelong passion
by Chris resulted in the article in this issue and
will make us look at this famous iconic aircraft
in a new light.
Another artist with a passion this time for
Harley Davidson bikes, women and modes
of transport is the subject of The Back Page.
Phil Hadley AGAvA suggested that we should
have a look at American artist David Uhl and
we weren’t disappointed with the strong light
and shadows making the paintings so striking
and dynamic.
Wide ranging articles include a metal model
plane with strong family connections, a
RAF Squadron reunion through art and
a cautionary tale about accepting a
commission.
Sadly, we also report on the loss of Mike
Gunnell, John Milsom, past Guild member
John Bryce and Wilf Hardy’s widow Barbara,
all good friends to many of us. As we were
going to press, we also heard of the passing of
Les’s widow, Else Irwin.
Region Meetings
Midland Region Meetings
Sat 20th August
Sat 24th September
Weds 26th October
Sat 26th November
East Anglian Region Meeting
Sat 13th August
Northern Region Meeting
Sat 1st October
Newark Air Museum
East Midlands Aeropark
RAF Cosford Main Base
RAF Museum, Cosford
IWM Duxford
East Fortune
GAvA Committee Provisional Zoom Meeting Dates
(Mondays) 12th Sept / 21st Nov
Cartoon Corner
Three of Clyde’s classic hot Summer cartoons.
What were you doing when it was 40 degrees?
by
Petrol prices rise again.....
I am writing this with a feeling of some
relief that the heatwave is over (for now at
least). It may not have been the same for
all of you, however, when the temperature
is over 30 degrees for such a long duration
it does deter many routine activities
without a careful amount of planning and
early starts.
The last few months have been exceptionally
busy from a personal point of view and I
am indebted to Chris French and others on
the committee for trying to get the annual
organised. We came very close to being
able to hold one in mid September.
The experience has given a good deal
of confidence to proceed with an event
that coincides with the summer Air Show
weekend at Duxford in June next year. We
are now waiting for them to confirm dates.
We have also made a number of useful
contacts in other places keen on having us,
which gives more possibilities for the future.
I was pleased to make the trip to IWM
Duxford on Saturday 13th August where
conditions were just bearable both inside
some of the cooler hangars and outside in
the shade with a usual airfield breeze.
It was good to meet other Guild members
and enjoy the interest of the public,
particularly the youngsters present. Much
good work was achieved, and as ever a
variety of views, styles and media show the
artistic possibilities of our craft. There was
a good mix of flying taking place, from the
aerobatic practice on arrival to the pleasure
flights in Tiger Moth, Dragon Rapide and
several Spitfires; the number of these
seems to increase as if it were wartime!
Thanks to Phil Jackson for organising. A
record numbers of meetings are reported
later in the QN.
It is sad to report the passing of Else Irwin,
who helped her late husband, Les with the
Northern Region for many years. They were
a great team and Else did a tremendous
amount to foster the social side of meetings
and sketching days.
In the last QN I mentioned the need for
more helpers. We will certainly need to
strengthen the team for organising the
Annual and regional events. If there’s any
way you feel you could help, please get in
touch with me, the Region Organisers or
someone you know who is already involved.
It does not need to be onerous and can suit
your availability.
Very Best Wishes,
Andrew visited RAF Benson with the
Midland Region in April and more
recently IWM Duxford with the East
Anglian Region and produced two
very different sketches.
A loose ‘trademark’ watercolour
sketch of a Benson Puma contrasts
with the very creative crayon on
coloured paper rendition of the
Duxford Fox Moth. Note the subtle
use of contasting colours which
are enhanced by the choice of
the green background. (Your Eds
think Andrew is really enjoying
this different style and producing
some excellent results!)
Our thoughts go to family and friends.
Best Wishes to all,
Robert and David
...and as a drought is on
the horizon water usage
will be restricted!
Thanks again from the Eds to Clyde Anderson AGAvA for all his contributions!
Andrew Latham GAvA
Chairman
2 GUILD OF AVIATION ARTISTS QUARTERLY NEWS SUMMER 2022
GUILD OF AVIATION ARTISTS QUARTERLY NEWS SUMMER 2022 3