ART IN STRATHDEARN

Tomatin is the focus for the activity of the above Art Club which has been operating for eight years with a membership of twelve men and women.

Each Thursday afternoon we meet for two hours from 1.30pm in Strathdearn Hall, Tomatin with a tea/coffee break at half stage. There is no annual fee but £1.50/person is charged for each attendance. This defrays the cost of hall rental. Holidays tend to follow school breaks during summer and at Christmas, easter and October.

We arrange for tutors to provide workshops and talks on watercolour, pastel, acrylic and oil painting at different times of the year and the cost of these are generally funded by Highland Council. We have also had successful classes in pottery and sculpture.

New members are always welcome and in the first instance they should contact our President Mrs. Betty Watson e-mail: betty.watson@virgin.net

During August each year we hold an Art Exhibition in Strathdearn Hall, Tomatin. This gives our members an opportunity to display and sell their work and for members of the community to appreciate what goes on behind closed doors!

Art in Strathdearn is always looking forward, wanting to learn, interested in what other art clubs do and visit their exhibitions, wishing to try new things, form liaisons with others, work both indoors and outside, visit galleries and generally broaden our artistic experience. Join us, be part of an expanding enterprise.

Annual Report January 2008 The Art Club enjoyed a successful 2007, with the welcome addition of several new members, one from as far off as Newtonmore. Further new members will be very welcome as we begin to prepare our programme for 2008. Preparation of eight painted glass panels depicting local history and interests was one of the highlights of the year, and these have been mounted within the entranceway of the Strathdearn Hall. Highland Council sponsored this work together with our purchase of new display boards which we first used at our annual Exhibition in August. These display boards are stored at the Hall and are available to hire for any outside bodies. On 1st December we had a sales table at the local Craft Fair, which was a worthwhile occasion. A sumptuous Christmas lunch was enjoyed by sixteen in the Hall on 13th December, including three of our tutors and special guest Mrs Celia Mackintosh. In 2008 we plan to have further tutoring in watercolour and pastel work, and hope to get our hands dirty again throwing some pots! We are all learning as we go along, so if you feel like joining us please don't be nervous about starting from scratch. After a few weeks you will impress yourself (and your friends!)

DISPLAY BOARDS

Art in Strathdearn have for hire portable exhibition stands and fittings, suitable for art exhibitions, craft and trade fairs etc. Further information from our secretary Cliff Jones Tel. 01808 511295