Since joining the WNNA I have been grateful for the generosity of advice, spirit and friendship that I have found amongst members. I recently attended a webinar I found extremely useful and insightful and I hope by sharing its message, it may also benefit others here.

For those who don’t know me, despite studying art at university, I then went on to have a career as a chef and then developing properties. Both these left no time to pursue an interest or passion in art. Three years ago I drew a line and decided to get back to painting, bravely entered the spring exhibition at Norfolk Creative Arts, Grimston and sat around thinking ‘what on earth have I done?!’. Read more …

Master printmaker Naoji Ishiyama and Helen Breach next to The Babel Project

Back in January 2024, I posted a write-up in WNAA Update, about The Babel Project.

The idea of the project was to share the original image of the Breughal’s Tower of Babel in segments. The 335 participants remade their segments in their own ways using different printmaking techniques. Finally all the works were gathered as a new Tower. Each artist’s segment (chosen in a lottery) is 5″ x 7″ (13x17cm), and the completed image is around 2300 x 3200mm. Read more …

The Passage by Esther Boehm

There have been so many changes and challenges in my life over the past few months. My new studio is up and running. Yay! Our ‘Save the Old Dairy’ Coffee Morning was a great success. We also had a fabulous time at the Heacham Carnival.

On the artistic side, Michelle Louise Carter and I exhibited at Wighton 25 Site/Sight organised by the North Norfolk Exhibition Project. The NNEP was established in 2000 by a group of Norfolk artists. Read more …

For many years it was an annual tradition for me to meet up with my grandfather to visit the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. This continued until he was well into his 90s. He always wore his hat and waved his walking stick to point out features of interest in various works of art as people ducked out of the way and would proclaim his admiring or questioning opinions with conviction despite, in later years, his failing eyesight. His mind was always razor sharp and he had a lively curiosity about life, with an interest in art and architecture. Read more …

An Oil and Cold wax course in the wilds of Yorkshire

In addition to preparing for the Horizons exhibition, I also took time out recently to attend a 3 day advanced course in oil and cold wax in Bingley. I have used cold wax in my landscape painting for around 3 years, having been inspired by the moody landscapes of Paula Dunn. I use this method to create blended landscapes and moody clouds, but was ready to learn more. Read more …

Well…that’ll teach us to organise a paint out in June! The weather forecast looked grim and I feared no one would turn up. However, I had obviously underestimated the resilience of our members because, as I pulled into the car park, I was greeted by a sea of friendly faces. I couldn’t see the rest of their bodies because they were swathed in waterproofs Read more …