Local art teacher is third time lucky

Horsham art teacher, Rosalyn Sprey (Mina) never envisaged that she would be unlocking such a pool of talent in the Horsham area when she started art classes of a different kind for adults five years ago.

Ms Sprey, who started teaching adults at Farlington School as a response to the lack of courses available in the local area outside the normal working day, is very proud of her intake saying “It is a pleasure to teach the students and to see their creative development and confidence evolve - the results of which we invite you to view in our third annual exhibition at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham.”

Many of the artists have been successful as a direct result of the classes, selling work and holding their own individual exhibitions, as well as taking commissions - some from famous names such as actor Simon Russell Beale.

Ms Sprey continues “the standard of the group that I have been teaching for the last five years is so high I feel it has to be shared with others. Their work is so varied and unique to each individual. It makes a compelling exhibition for the people of Horsham to see”.

Painting as a hobby has been popularised by both Sky TV and the BBC's recent The Big Painting Challenge presented by Richard Bacon and Una Stubbs which sees amateur artists battle through rounds of landscapes, portraits, sketching and still-life to be crowned the winner. “We have a mix of artists in our group ranging from full-time career professionals to retirees, I think it is this mix of age and experience which helps create such exciting ideas and creativity – every one of them is a winner as, week in week out, they produce extraordinary works of art” said Ms Sprey.

The main categories are landscape and portrait. From expressive abstraction to controlled realism, the works reflect the dedication and skill of the students.

The Farlington Painting Group Art Exhibition runs from 7^th July to 9^th August at the Capitol Theatre Gallery, Horsham. Entry is free with selected paintings for sale and commissions available.

Contacts:

For interviews visit Rosayln Sprey’s website www.rosalyn-mina.co.uk or email minaroz1@aol.com

Supporters:

With thanks to Nicholas Gentle Framers, Washington and J R Print, Horsham.

Artists Exhibiting:

Pam Clarke, Heather Shopland, Vanessa Tym, Rupert Senior, Jeremy Bridle, Shirley Parker Smith, Neil Chapman, Jill Wicking, Zita Gubb, Nicola Bridgman, Oliver Woolford, Heather Shopland, Margaret Cornwell, Cherry Parsons, Trevor Boud, Francis Robinson, Robert Eifion, Rachel Piggott, Laurence Korpez, Ingrid Duncan

Actor Simon Russell Beale in his dressing room at the National Theatre, 2014 preparing for his role as King Lear (Acrylic on Board) by Rupert Senior. 

Richard (Oil on Board) by Jeremy Bridle

Vivienne Westwood (Mixed Media) by Vanessa Tym

Local painting group plans second exhibition at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham, throughout April and May 2014

Last year's inaugural exhibition by 16 amateur artists, who are all students of Farlington School Evening Class, attracted nearly 300 invited guests for a private view. This year the exhibition is back with more artists and a greater body of work.

Curator of the exhibition, and the group's tutor, Rosalyn Sprey (Mina) said “This is our second exhibition at the Capitol with the Farlington School Evening Class offering another exciting collection of paintings. The main categories are landscape and portrait and we also have some delightful semi-abstract pieces based on Natural Forms. From expressive abstraction to controlled realism, the works reflect the dedication and skill of the students, some of whom have been with the class since its beginning 4 years ago.”

The private view will take place on Friday 25^th April between 6.00pm and 9.00pm and is expected to create similar levels of interest to last year. Ms Sprey, who started teaching adults at Farlington School as a response to the lack of courses available in the local area, outside the normal working day, continued “It is a pleasure to teach the students and to see their creative development and confidence evolve - the results of which we invite you to view.”

Many of the artists have been successful in taking commissions following last year’s exhibition and the group continues to grow with 24 artists showing their work this year.

The Farlington Painting Group Art Exhibition is on display until Sunday 25 May at the Capitol Theatre Gallery, Horsham. Entry is free with selected paintings for sale and commissions available.

Exhibiting Artists:

Harriett and Imogen (Acrylic on Canvas) by Rupert Senior

Evening Class Teacher Rosalyn Mina

Working as a painter, stained glass designer and teacher for over 25 years, Ros's work continues to evolve and she is presently working on a more experiemntal approach which allows for many surprising elements to surface. It is also a very exciting and more playful way to create.

To find out more about Ros and the courses she runs click the link:

http://www.rosalyn-mina.co.uk/

Arran Blue By Rosalyn Mina

Floodgate by Rosalyn Mina

Private View Attracts Over 200 People

Friday night's private view of the Farlington Painting Group attracted well over 200 people who enjoyed seeing a wide selection of work from the 16 artists included. The exhibition is free to visit and will be there until the end of February. Full details of all paintings for sale and details of artists for commissions is available at the Capitol Theatre. For any information on specific paintings, please contact Rosalyn Sprey at minaroz1@aol.com

A selection of portraits from the exhibition at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham, West Sussex

Farlington Painting Group Exhibition January 2013

The Farlington Painters are a group of mature students learning experimental landscape and portrait painting under the tutorage of Rosalyn Sprey (Mina).

Together for just over three years, the group will be exhibiting for the first time, in January 2013, at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham, West Sussex.

All artists featured in this blog will be exhibiting along with Laurie Korpez and Margaret Cornwell.

Seascape by Jez Bridle featuring in the 2013 exhibition.

Jez Bridle

I took up painting around 15 months ago after years of thinking about it… I wish I’d done it sooner.

Joining the class has allowed me to explore many different techniques and given me the confidence to paint portraits. My work is of a loose and expressive nature and relatively large scale.

Exhibiting:                                          

Seascape – Acrylic on board

Girl no.3 – Oil on canvas

Katie Christopherson

This time last year I was persuaded by my daughter Emma, who is studying Art at A Level with Rosalyn, to join the landscape class. Although I am creative and work with fabrics, I hadn't painted for about 30 years since leaving school. Between them, Rosalyn and Emma have given me the confidence to try something new. I now really enjoy going to the classes and painting at home with Emma. I am now looking forward to trying portraits in the New Year.

Exhibiting:                                                                      

Path through the garden - Ink, acrylic and oil pastel

Seascape - Oil