Category Archives: Talks

A unique and exciting opportunity not to be missed!

Talks

Talk & Demonstration “Adventure, travel and sculpting” with Mark Coreth

at Caryford Community Hall, Castle Cary on 17th October 2025 from 2.30 – 4.30pm

Mark is an internationally recognised master sculptor of wildlife, and is coming to Caryford Community Hall in Castle Cary – SOON – in fact on the 17th October 2025 from 2.30 – 4.30pm to give Bruton Art Society a Talk and Demonstration about his work and travels.

This talk was originally billed on the programme at Hadspen Village Hall, where we usually hold our workshops, but due to the unique opportunity of seeing and hearing an artist of such renown and standing, we decided to open the event up to all our members FREE OF CHARGE. 

We have therefore changed the venue to accommodate a larger audience. 

Members may bring guests, but we will ask them for a £5 entrance fee. 

Mark spent his childhood on a farm in Kenya where his passion for wildlife began. Over the past 30 years he has travelled the globe studying hundreds of creatures in their natural habitat, from Europe to Africa and Asia, to the Galapagos,the Himalayas in search of the elusive snow leopard to Eastern Europe to study bison on the Polish borders, to Romania for bears and dragons in the Czech Republic. He has highlighted and filmed many documentaries based on his journeys and projects and he will be showing some of these during his talk.

Mark’s working methods begin with modelling in clay directly from his subjects in the field, which he says allows him to capture the essence of their energy in their natural habitat. He then develops the final piece ready for casting back in his studio, usually in bronze. 

His work can be found in some of the most prestigious art collections in the world and if you would like to find out more before you come to listen to him in real life you can find him on  www.markcorethstudio.com  

We look forward to seeing you.    

The first lecture of 2025…

Talks

We started the new years activities for members on the 7th February with a lecture by Jenny Newman on ‘The Art of Snow and Ice’  at Caryford Community Hall in Castle Cary, with approximately 45 members and guests attending. Jenny was happy to be our ‘guinea pig’ as she was the first lecturer to present in this hall.

Well known to Bruton Art Society Jenny taught Art for 40 years, latterly as Head of Art at Sherborne  Girls’ School, from 1994 – 2016.

Trained in Fine Art, she has a broad knowledge of Art and Design, which she loves to share with others, often taking groups abroad and organising ‘Pop Up’ talks in the town. She is a member of the Sherborne Arts Society and on retiring she started two University of the Third Age (U3A) groups in Sherborne, for which she gives illustrated talks on current / forthcoming exhibitions  and collections.

During the lecture, Jenny showed us early examples of artists who made ice and snow a subject since at least the 15th century, when winter scenes began appearing in illuminated ‘books of  hours’. Our attention was drawn to the smallest of details in all these examples, particularly such well known paintings as ‘Hunters in the Snow’ by Pieter Breughel (the Elder), the much loved Skating Minister by Henry Raeburn, Japanese prints and the Impressionist painter Monet with his ‘The magpie’. We were shown Post Impressionist and early C20th works, ending with the contemporary artist Peter Doig and Andy Goldsworthy the sculptor.

The lecture was very enjoyable and much appreciated. There was a genuine feeling of intimacy in a smaller space, which Jenny herself agreed with. She is a naturally engaging speaker who loves imparting her knowledge of the subject and we look forward to more of her lectures in the future. 

Sally Ridout ( BAS Committee )                                                 

Drawing the Line

Talks

2025 started this year as usual with our AGM which was held at Caryford Hall on 16th January. Those of you who were there will remember that we were treated (not for the first time) to a lecture by Will Vaughan.

The lecture was entitled “Drawing the Line” and was very enjoyable and thought provoking. Now, by popular demand, Will has posted the lecture on YouTube where it can be viewed until the end of March.

So for those of you who missed it, or those of you who would like to see it again, click on this link and you will be transported there: Drawing the Line

‘Picasso in Context’ and other workshops.

Talks, Workshops

As we draw towards the end of another year of interesting and stimulating workshops it is good to see some feed back from one attendee, the talk and workshop being led by our organiser, Sally Ridout herself. For a number of years Sally has organised a rich variety of quality workshops for Bruton Art Society members this year being no exception. There are still a few workshops left before we wind things up. A programme of what’s on can be found by clicking here.

We very much looked forward to Sally’s workshop, “Picasso in Context”, particularly as we had recently visited the Picasso museum in Barcelona. The workshop was very timely, we were eager to explore some historical context and to try out some new techniques.

So how to summarise one of the icons of the 20th century, an artist who was prolific in painting, sculpture, printing, ceramics, theatre design and who produced over 20,000 works of art and 100,000 prints in his lifetime, all 91 years? A daunting task.

Sally described and illustrated some of the influences in Picasso’s life, his upbringing, women in his life, loves and losses, the effect of 2 world wars, other renowned French and Catalan artists, the ballet, circus harlequins, his passions and pet hates etc, portrayed through paintings such as Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (influence of African art), Guernica (effect of the Spanish civil war, pre WW2), 3 Musicians (cubism).

As a group, we discussed various Picasso works, from the weird and wonderful, the sublime and surreal, sometimes the erotic and sometimes dark. Overall, Sally’s presentation was very interesting and thought provoking and gave us an insight into finding out more.

In the afternoon there was a chance for hands-on drawing and painting such as; drawing from memory, illustrating ‘Picasso hands’, a still life from different viewpoints, and some freestyle painting (creating our own form of abstract or Picasso-esque art). 

Many thanks, Sally for such an informative and enjoyable day and for your guidance, visual aids, helpful material and reference books. Such a busy day! The Picasso workshop followed on seamlessly from your Cubism workshop that we similarly enjoyed.

( Thanks also to Nigel Stevenson for this report)

Annual Exhibition opens with a Private View

Concrete Castles

Many members, guests and sponsors attended the opening private view of our 71st Annual Exhibition last night at Kings Memorial Hall, Kings School, Bruton.

John Burroughs, our new chairman, presided over affairs for the first time. With the help of several of our sponsors he presented this years awards to the winners. The list can be found at https://www.brutonartsociety.co.uk/71st-annual-exhibition-2024/ where you can also follow the link to see the entire exhibition online.

Of course, to enjoy the exhibition fully, you will need to visit in person. You are sure to enjoy what is once again an excellent show. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. And all the work is for sale! Open every day until 24th August from 10am to 4pm.

Only a few days to go….

Concrete Castles

All the artwork is in and the 71st Annual Exhibition is beginning to take shape; nearly three hundred pieces in many different media will be on show. All are welcome.

The Memorial Hall at Kings Bruton. Admission free. 10am to 4pm every day from 17th to 24th August.

Whats in store for 2024

Painting Days, Talks, Workshops

As winter turns to spring so we see Bruton Art Society slowly coming to life. Very soon our first workshop of the year, “Sculpture in Wire and Resin”, will take place under the tutelage of Melanie Deegan. Altogether there are eight workshops planned for 2024 with the introduction of 2 taster days; one on gouache and one on pastel (oil and chalk).  We are also delighted to have James Lynch doing a 2 day workshop on egg tempera painting. 

The full programme is listed in the new ‘What’s On’ calendar which can be found under ‘2024 Programme’ in the menu. This is also where to book a workshop if you want to. (There is a quick link below.)

There are also eight ‘painting days’ planned. These are free to members and will be hosted at a variety of interesting local venues including Lovington Mill, a listed grade II mill probably dating from 1086 in a lovely setting with stream and weir, the ancient almshouses at Sexeys Hospital in Bruton and the Heritage railway at Cranmore near Shepton Mallet.

Our retiring chairman, Will Vaughan has arranged a wonderful lecture in April by Jill Dunkerton, a restorer at the National Gallery in London, on the science of investigating a Renaissance painting.

Full details of all the events planned can be perused in the ‘What’s On’ section of the website.

Click here to see the Events Calendar or book a workshop

 ‘A practical approach to Portraits’ on Wednesday 12th April at Caryford Community Hall

Talks

James Budden will be giving a Live Painting Demonstration ‘A Practical Approach to Portraits’  at Caryford Community Hall, Ansford Park, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ 

Members Free 

Guests £5 

2.30 – 4.30pm

James is returning for what promises to be a fascinating afternoon on Wednesday next week, and will talk us through the process of painting a portrait in oils, from colour mixing and the first markson the canvas to the emerging likeness.

There will be a chance to ask questions afterwards followed by tea and biscuits!

David Brayne at the A.G.M.

AGM, Talks

Following the formality of the A.G.M. on 12th January, at which the committee reported to the activities of the last year, the forty or so members present were entertained to an informal lecture David Brayne, a celebrated watercolorist. He stepped in at the last moment, replacing his wife Jane who had been due to give a talk but was unable to due to illness. In the event David delivered an informal and enthusiastic demonstration of some of his techniques, particularly the use of natural pigments. Without a doubt many of the members present will be reviewing their attitude to watercolour and perhaps their own practice as well. Many thanks to David for sharing his trade secrets with us.

Change of plan for the A.G.M.

AGM, Members News, Talks

Unfortunately, due to illness, Jane Brayne is unable to give her lecture at the A.G.M. on 12th January. Her husband, the watercolourist David Brayne has kindly offered to give a brief talk about his work and methods instead.

David Brayne RWS

David uses water-based paint, usually on paper, often very wet. He was elected to the Royal Watercolour society many years ago and is now one of its honorary members. He has won a number of prizes, including the Turner Medal for Watercolour, and his work is collected widely.

He paints most days in his studio in Evercreech after an early morning walk. The studio walls, floor and ceiling are spattered with colour and he can have as many as five or six paintings on the go at various stages of completion. 

Venue: Caryford Hall, Maggs Lane, Castle Cary BA7 7JJ. 2.30 – 4.30pm Thursday 12th January