Our Outdoor painting programme Summer 2022

Our outdoor programme is just another opportunity to get together and perhaps do something different. For some it is a chance to produce a finished picture but for others just a chance to get together; see what others are doing; maybe inspiration; a sketch or two or just lunch or tea in an interesting place! Hope you can come along.

Wednesday 25th May Somerton Parish Rooms TA11 7NB. 10am start

Painting together in the hall or outside with a morning workshop for those wishing to participate with Mandy McAllen.

Friday 10th June St Margaret’s Chapel and the Magdelene Almshouses, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9EJ. Painting from 1.30pm. Parking in the Abbey carpark, next to Abbey entrance. Parts dating back to 1264 AD. Access via a very narrow footpath just up from the St Mary’s Catholic Church (between the church and the roundabout). This is a little gem, not to be missed with a beautiful garden; ancient chapel and almshouses; a painting paradise; small but a treasure. Chairs and toilet available there. Small gift shop and access to individual almshouses. For those wishing to meet for lunch The Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury BA6 8DB. Parking available, meet 12.45pm. Entrance to the cafe only is free. For tea, the Abbey Tearooms, 16 Magdelene Street, just up from the Almshouses.

Friday 24th June  Perry’s Cider Mills, Dowlish Wake, Ilminster TA19 0NY. Painting from 1.30pm.  Unfortunately the cafe and museum are not open, but this is still an interesting destination and there is a range of  buildings and farm implements.  You can also venture into the village to the beautiful bridge and houses. The shop serves tea and coffee and has a selection of cakes and sausage rolls etc.

Wednesday 6th July Plotgate Community Farm, Off Mill Road, Barton St David, TA11 6DF. Meet 2pm. A big thank you to everyone at Plotgate for letting us come to paint at this fantastic community farm. There are barns; vegetable fields; implements; views; sheep; hens and even kunekune pigs to inspire. Not to be missed. Parking and compostable loo on site.
From Main Road in Barton turn down Mill Road, carry on down until a sharp right bend where you keep straight on (not around the corner) until you are on a track which turns right into Plotgate.

Saturday 16th July Somerton Parish Rooms, TA11 7NB. 10am start.  Mandy McAllen will hold a workshop in the morning – stones, pebbles and shells will be the subject.  Please try and bring some of your own objects – Mandy will also bring a few. Focus will be on volume, pattern and texture using any drawing medium, including colour.  Choose a surface suitable for your medium – you can afford to be bold and work large!!   Mr Copeland of the Lynch Country House Hotel TA11 7PD in Somerton has kindly invited members to paint in the hotel grounds.  All are welcome at The Lynch in the morning if not attending Mandy’s workshop, or the afternoon after she has finished.

Wednesday 27th July  We had arranged to meet in Butleigh, but the tearoom has now closed.  Instead, we will meet at 11am for coffee in the Balsbury Grocery and tearoom in Church Lane, Baltonsborough.  This lovely church, mill stream and beautiful views are within easy walking distance of the cafe.  We will try and arrange a visit to Butleigh another time when either the cafe or pub are open again.

Friday 12th August Maunsel Lock, Bankland, Bridgewater, TA7 0DH. Meet 1.30pm. Sit on the bank of the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal and paint the lock and with a bit of luck a barge or two. Tearoom with selection of delicious cakes closes 4pm.

Wednesday 24th August Avalon Marshes Centre, Natural England, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Glastonbury, BA6 9TT. Meet 1.30pm painting or 12.45 lunch in the café. Replica historic buildings, including Roman Villa, are in the process of being completed and access may be available or you may be able to paint them from the outside tearoom. A short walk down the road (there may be some limited parking there) is the Ham Wall nature reserve with fantastic painting opportunities – The Tor; reed beds; beautiful watery views from bird hides; woodland walks; replica Sweet Track (ancient wooden walkway across the marshes 3807 BC). Craft shop at the visitor centre.

Saturday 10th September Painting Together Day Somerton Parish Rooms, TA11 7NB. 10am start.

Painting together in the hall or outside with a morning workshop for those wishing to participate with Mandy McAllen.