ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2024 REPORT

Frimley & Camberley Society of Arts Annual Exhibition 2024 was opened by the Mayor of Surrey Heath, Councillor Sarbie Kang at the Reception Evening held on Thursday 12th September in High Cross Church. The Mayor was very impressed with the standard and variety of the artwork on display and was very happy to assist in handing out the prizes that were on offer for the different categories of paintings.

Every year there is a Themed Competition. Elaine Winter won this year for her bird caught in flight entitled “Puffin”. The theme is decided upon at the Annual General Meeting and this year the title was simply one word: “Action”.

The Graham Scandrett Memorial prize is awarded for the best oil/acrylic painting in the exhibition. This year it was won by Martin Singer for his painting “The path to Roseberry Topping”

The Valerie Brooks Pastel Trophy is given for the best pastel painting. It was won by Merle Hattersley for her portrait of a dog in pastel entitled “Give Me A Cuddle”.

For many years Mrs. Leonie McGuigan has very generously given a £100 to the winner of the Winsland Award for the best watercolour/mixed media painting. This year the award was won by Alan Stoney for his subtle painting “Moorhen”.

Alan was one of the team of people who had worked hard during. the day installing the stands for the exhibition but he was not at the Reception Evening for the prize giving so the Chairman, Sue Whitehead, presented him with his prize the following day.

The judge has often found it very difficult to choose the prize winners from among a large number of potential winners. The judge this year was Melanie Paice, an artist, lecturer and teacher who has worked for the Tate galleries. She agreed to give rosettes to paintings that she considered for the prizes and were worthy of recognition. The following people were awarded these rosettes.

Sue Whitehead “Summertime”

 

Liliya Zinchenko “Morning Coffee”

Lesley Kilner “Coral”

Simon Kidd “Memories: City Breakfast”

Tracey Allen “Llama”

Patti Dutton “Grey Cat”

Lesley Kilner “Thoughtful”

Maureen Hayward “Feeding Time”

Vicky Harte “Chasing Bubbles”

Olga L Salgado “Breaking Boundaries”

Special thanks must go to Greg Ward who provided and transport and some of the manpower required alongside Craig Whitehead and our team of volunteers who worked so hard to install and dismantle all the display boards for the exhibition. Greg is seen here with his wife and one of his sunflower paintings.

Thanks go to Jane Disney and Patti Dutton for their hostess skills in preparing and distributing the complimentary Pimms and orange juice which everyone is offered at the start of the evening.

Over the course of the exhibition visitors are asked to vote for their favourite painting. This year when all the votes had been counted the winning painting was “Thoughtful” by Lesley Kilner. She wins The Seward Memorial Trophy for the second time since she also won it last year. The People’s Choice as this trophy has come to be known is traditionally presented at the society’s AGM in February.

Thanks must go to Alan Meeks of the Windlesham & Camberley Photographic Club who has kindly taken photographs at the Reception evening of the Annual Exhibition for many years. Once again he has provided the majority of the photos used in this report.

Report by Carole Head