FOR this year’s summer exhibition Newton Abbot Art Group has been given the use of part of the ground floor of the town's library.

Virginia Griem and Jan Newton – co-chairmen of Newton Abbot Art Group - explain that over 20 local artists will exhibit their paintings, drawings and sculptures, with more than 100 individual works ranging from detailed figurative paintings to the wildly abstract and quirky.  

Entrance is free, and it will be open during Library hours from today, Monday, July 31 to Saturday, August 12.

This is the Art Group’s third major exhibition at the Library, but on the ground floor for the first time, so access is even easier. 

Founded in 1973, Newton Abbot Art Groupwill be celebrating its 50th anniversary in October this year.

In the run-up to this anniversary, other collaborations with the library over the past year include the display of ‘A Field of Flowers’, a series of six panels created by members.

Kathie Weedon
(Kathie Weedon)

This was initially shown at Newton’s Place, but has since been showcased in the Library on six individual easels.

The group also took part in the ‘Pen and Ink’ event in February, memorable for its display of sketchbooks and work by graphic artists.

An extra project this year is the compilation of a hand-made book to commemorate Newton Abbot Art Group’s 50th year. 

While the book is scheduled for an anniversary celebration in October, members are appealing for anyone with past memories or knowledge of the group to get in touch via the groups's website here.

Newton Abbot Art Group meet twice a week on Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings for informal painting sessions.

Current membership is about 65, many of whom take part in those sessions. Other activities include outdoor sketching trips in Spring and Summer and occasional visits to indoor sketching venues when the weather is colder.

Five or six painting workshops each year are led by respected artists and there is at least one annual exhibition open to all members.