QN SUMMER 23 FINAL

DIARY 2023 DATES & VENUES
FROM THE CHAIR
Andrew Latham GAvA
QN EDITORS
Robert Calow GAvA
David Calow GAvA
Welcome to your Summer QN
Stunningly warm Summer days over a June
weekend saw the Guild celebrate the 50th
Annual Exhibition and our first ‘live’ one in
four years. Everyone involved in the Annual,
held for the first time at IWM Duxford, should
be congratulated and it all bodes well for a
continuing relationship in the future. It really
was a joint effort by so many people giving
of their time and all helping not only with
the exhibition but also to promote the Guild
at such a high-profile aviation event.
Andrew has now put us all on ‘standby’ for
the 2024 Annual and also the ever popular
‘A5 Surprise!’, which will be happening
again before Christmas. (see Andrew’s
From the Chair).
Our occasional series on major Guild artists,
looks at one of the society’s true stalwarts
and supporters, Patricia Forrest VPGAvA.
We also feature articles on two other
‘Ladies of the Guild’; portrait artist Jane
French GAvA and newcomer and Annual
prize winner Friend Member Victoria West.
We also review a new book on the history
of Second World War by renown military
author James Holland which includes a
stunning collection of work by the Guild’s
very own graphic artist Keith Burns GAvA.
There are some personal thoughts by
Midland Region Organiser Phil Hadley on
becoming a new Full Member and we
would also like to wish Richard Wheatland
GAvA well after stepping down from South
East Region duties. It has always been a
pleasure to work with Richard recording
local events in that region.
Finally, ‘The Back Page’ for this issue shows
that you can find the most surprising – but
very rewarding - items in book shops!
Best wishes to all - and we will now be getting
down to finding suitable A5 subjects….
Robert and David
Midland Region Meetings
Sat 23rd September
Sat 14th October
Sat 25th November
West Region Meetings
Sat 9th September
Sat 7th October
South East Region Meeting
Sat 2nd September
Statfold Barn, Tamworth
Leicestershire Aero Club
RAF Museum Midlands, RAF Cosford
Aerospace Bristol, Filton
Beaulieu Motor Museum, Hampshire
Gatwick Aviation Museum
GAvA Committee Provisional Zoom Meeting Dates
Mondays - 11th Sept / 20th Nov
Cartoon Corner
A classic Clyde cartoon montage from the archives...
by
...and HS2 is STILL a hot topic
for discussion!
Thanks again from the Eds to Clyde Anderson AGAvA for all his contributions!
Annual Exhibition
It seems a distant memory now and
came on one of the warmest days of this
‘summer’ – our first Annual Exhibition
in real terms for four years and one that
truly celebrated 50 Years. Opened by our
President, Michael Turner FGAvA, in tribute
to his dedication across that time.
While figures are not yet finalised, the 2023
exhibition at IWM Duxford gained much
positive feedback. While we might always
wish for more, sales were good, visitor
numbers and positive comments very
encouraging, organisation, artist support
and helpers involvement all went as well as
could be expected for a new venture.
All thanks are due to Chris French for the
inspiration and getting the ball rolling,
the team from the general committee
including Richard Thorne and Steve Chard
at the centre of organising and all those
who turned up and gave of their time during
the exhibition, including Rob Hames and
Dianne as welcoming party, and Martin and
Janet on sales and those who promoted the
Guild by painting inside and out, particularly
Paul Couper, David Young, Chris Draper,
John Wynne Hopkins, Graham Cooke, David
Scrutton and Ruth Lewis. Thanks also to Phil
Hadley for organising the name badges which
gave a smart ‘corporate’ look to proceedings.
Some have wondered why it was just three
days. The answer is that the cost of hire
is by the day; day one (Opening Day) was
for invited guests, including many previous
buyers, and Martin worked extremely hard
to fill the room. We realised late on that we
needed to provide all our own refreshments
and are very grateful to Janet and Gina
for organising and collecting them on
the day; days two and three covered the
flying weekend, where footfall through the
exhibition hall was far greater than we ever
had previously. There was interest in the
works on display and in the Guild and some
sales to airshow participants and visitors.
This gained us unprecedented exposure to
a public keen on aviation and indeed some
new members.
This leads us to think of something similar
in 2024. As yet we do not know definite
dates as it will depend on Duxford’s flying
programme. So, artists are encouraged to
get ready in case, for instance, selection
has to happen even earlier than this year.
A5 Surprise!
We will need to supplement income so as to
sustain the finances, so we are proposing
to run the A5 Surprise! again prior to
Christmas. We are indebted to the late Sir
Freddie Sowrey for the idea, and I am sure
with your support it will be a great success.
Details will follow shortly.
However, as a reminder, artists are asked
to draw or paint a small work to fit an
A5 envelope or similar. Participation is
voluntary, the work being donated, and it
does not necessarily need to be mounted.
We will need an image of the work with
title and medium for publicity and so we
know how many to sell. Sales will be online
and once all are sold, the works will be
allocated to the buyers by a random number
generator, so the work they get will be a
surprise! Details of the purchaser will be
sent to the artist for them to despatch their
chosen work at the artists’ expense for UK
sales. We will need the details by the end
of October, so that sales can happen in
November.
Please do not send any works to the Guild.
Producing pictures that size is not so easy,
although it can be a fun exercise. Last time
we attempted this we made almost £4k,
which just about filled the shortfall from
running the live exhibition.
Thank you in advance.
Sketch days
Sketch days have continued throughout the
Summer as you will see later in the QN, and
I’d like to thank all the Regional Organisers
for keeping programmes going when there
are many other activities including holidays
to attract members. In particular, thanks to
Richard Wheatland who is standing down
from the SE role. We’re actively working on
finding someone to step into his shoes and
I’m sure there will be an announcement
shortly.
Winners
Congratulations to all winners of prizes and
trophies from the 2023 exhibition; those
presented on opening day and those judged
during and after the show by a selection of
Full and Associate members. You’ll see all
the results on pages 10 & 11. The Guild
awards and trophies are presented at the
AGM in 2024.
I was very pleased to introduce a new Trophy,
donated by the late Charles Pettit, former
Trustee. It is to recognise imagination and
creativity. An obituary for Charles will appear
in the next edition of the QN.
I wish you all a productive and enjoyable
Autumn.
Andrew Latham GAvA
Chairman
2 GUILD OF AVIATION ARTISTS QUARTERLY NEWS SUMMER 2023
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