Dear Members,

Welcome back to our Autumn Lecture after the Summer break. I am pleased the months of very hot weather have at last given way to some rain, much needed by farmers and our own gardens.

This Month:         

• Lecture this Wednesday
• Special Interest Day in October
• Visit to Knole in Kent end of November
• New bursaries for Outside In artists
• Membership Renewal in October
• AGM in November

This Wednesday, 2nd September, our Lecture is The Making of Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation" TV series 1969 by Jonathon Conlin.This is the story of the landmark series of 1969, including live footage and interviews in the series inspired by David Attenborough, and which involved the latest in colour film from the 13 countries visited.

Our next Special Interest Day, Wednesday 14th October, Rogues in the Gallery: Theft and Forgery in the Art World by Tom Flynn.
Across two morning lectures, followed by Lunch. Tom offers a comprehensive overview of the most significant and notorious cases of art forgery over the last 150 years and focuses on the core motivations of art forgers. Bookings have gone well over the Summer so  remember to sign up with Nicky on Wednesday. 
 

Our Christmas themed Visit by coach to Knole (NT) in Sevenoaks, Kent
will be on Thursday 27th NovemberGet into the Christmas spirit by joining us on our forthcoming visit to Knole Estate and Park. The magnificent showrooms, Great Hall and Staircase, Ballroom, Reynolds Room, King’s Room and the Cartoon Gallery will all be dressed in their festive finery and looking fabulous.  Over a period of 600 years, this house was created to impress visitors.  From the early 1600s, the Sackville family began filling Knole with art, furniture and textiles creating spectacular showrooms.  Julie will take bookings on Wednesday.

I am delighted to announce that three new artists were awarded bursaries this Summer from The Andrew Edney Legacy Fund through OutsideIn. Our Member and Artist, Pat Wright, was part of the selection panel.  They are: 

Vicky Barber-Crimes
Lucy Stearman, and
Anna Heelas
Keep an eye on our website for photos and more news on their progress in the coming months.

Finally I just want to remind you that in addition to my October Newsletter, you will be receiving separate emails for Membership Renewal and Notice of our AGM in November early in October, so do please look out for those.  We are pleased to be able to keep membership at the same cost of £55.00 for 2026/27.

We really do need new Members to join the Committee.  Please, if you are interested, or you know someone who is, talk to me or any Member of the Committee, or email me chabrel@btinternet.com.  Nominations can be taken from now through to the end of October for election at the AGM.  As you know our Secretary had to stand down last year due to ill health and we will have a couple of other changes before November.  We can only run our successful Society with a full Committee, it is fun, I promise!

We all look forward to meeting up again on Wednesday.  Coffee and Tea will be served from 09.50 - 10.20. Please be seated by 10.30 for the Lecture to start at 10.45. Thankyou.

Very best wishes,

Paula Chabrel
Chair, on behalf of your Committee
 

www.theartssocietysouthdowns.or.uk
Please visit the website for information on future Lectures, Special Interest Days, visits, current news and booking forms.

We're delighted to share updates from three artists who are midway through their Dr Andrew Edney Bursary projects, each demonstrating remarkable creativity and professional development despite facing various challenges.

Jackie Eksi has been creating an ambitious labyrinth installation inspired by the 1986 film, working from her living room due to challenges in securing studio space in Southampton. She has completed numerous intricate elements including fabric backdrops, a tower incorporating film scenes, painted canvases, moving elements, and a doll's house. Jackie has found the project therapeutic, helping her understand why the labyrinth has become such an important symbol in her practice. While working without a dedicated studio has been isolating and placed pressure on her home life, she has been resourceful in using donated and waste materials. Jackie acknowledges this project as her "last hurrah" at this scale due to her declining capacity from health challenges and is seeking exhibition spaces for early 2026.

Milly Aburrow has used her bursary to undertake a beginner's stained glass course, developing foundational skills with adaptive techniques suited to her access needs. The project has exceeded her expectations, with the new medium integrating naturally into her existing artistic interests around British seaside culture. Milly has purchased equipment enabling her to continue developing skills independently, and is now working on a new body of work translating her research into stained glass pieces that explore nostalgia, artifice, and emotional memory. She plans to produce resolved artworks for her professional portfolio and future exhibition opportunities, describing the grant as "ginormous financial aid" that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

Sea Shucksmith has taken their project in an evolved direction from the original plan, creating and exhibiting a new large-scale artwork called Male Gaze that pushed them beyond their comfort zone. They have developed significant new printmaking skills and secured a flexible, affordable studio space (£25/day in a friend's basement) that accommodates their fluctuating energy levels. This has led to important reflections on what "bigger" means in their practice—shifting focus from physical scale to ambition, impact, and accessibility. Sea has secured two new workshop-leading opportunities with Disability Arts in Surrey and the British Psychological Society, attended Make Art Brighton for networking, and is planning to exhibit in Artists Open Houses while platforming five other local artists. They're exploring how to create work with larger impact that remains materially and economically accessible.

All three artists have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and thoughtful adaptation in the face of challenges, using their bursaries to develop both their technical skills and professional networks while staying true to their artistic visions

Some examples of work on the theme "Bird Creations" are posted in our Gallery

Three Outside In artists have been awarded this year’s Dr Andrew Edney bursary. Below are the three artists and what they plan to do with their bursary.

Jack Bull

Jack will use the bursary to work with a photographer to take professional, high quality images of his recent artwork. Jack will hire a studio space in Brighton which provides lighting, backdrops and technical support. Jack will work with photographer Chris O’Donovan who will take photographs of Jack’s work. The images will then document his artwork and be added to his website. This will help Jack with his professional practice.

Julia Oak

Julia is using the bursary to research and explore what happens to artwork after people die. She wants to take this opportunity to find homes for her work, to explore options which will help her and also help other artists and their families or carers in the future. It will aim to help future proof it’s life. Julia will use part of the bursary to work with a mentor, exhibition and printing/communication translation costs. Part of the bursary would be a hard copy version of the research that could be available to art groups and individuals that are non-digital.

Yasmin Crawford

Yasmin Crawford is a Fine Art Photographer, Visual Artist and multidisciplinary collaborator. She will use the bursary to support her with the creation of her art, printing on different materials such as chiffon, silk and cotton, framing, and travel for two exhibitions. The bursary will support her travel and the development of her artworks and networks. These types of events are wonderful, and creative, allowing her to show her artwork in different forms but most importantly support people with difficult health problems and support public education on relevant scientific topics.

To see examples of the artists' work, click HERE

We are proud to announce the opening of a new Arts Studio at Bury Primary School, decorated and refurbished by volunteers and supported with Society funds.

The Studio can be viewed during an Open Day between 9:30 - 11:30am.

The Andrew Edney Bursary

Our Society has entered into an exciting new partnership with the award-winning charity Outside In. Founded and based at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, but operating independently and nationally since 2017, Outside In provides a platform for artists who find it difficult to access the art world for reasons including health, disability, isolation or social circumstance. It does so through exhibitions, artist support and professional training programmes.

The Arts Society South Downs will deliver an annual bursary of £1500 to Outside In, which will be divided between eligible artists living and working in Sussex and Hampshire. It will enable at least three recipients each year to advance their skills by purchasing art materials, attending a course in their discipline or expanding their artistic horizons through travel. 

The bursary, which will run for a duration of ten years, was made possible through a legacy left to The Arts Society South Downs by our former member of many years, Dr. Andrew Edney, veterinarian, art lover and philanthropist. We hope it will pave the career paths of many artists who would not otherwise have found the support they deserve.

The first round of the Andrew Edney Bursary was launched in April, and applications are now open. For more details, see  https://www.outsidein.org.uk/news_and_events?item_id0=18309. 

The image reproduced here is 'Sugar-Glider vs Octopus' by Outside In artist Carlo Keshishian.