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Sign up for the North Somerset Arts monthly email newsletter and see past editions about NSA news, local art events and what our members are up to. GALLERY Click on the links below for our latest email newsletters NSA Newsletter December 2025 Festive art events and artist spotlight NSA Newsletter December 2025 NSA Newsletter November 2025 SIFA exhibition, artist opportunities and November events NSA Newsletter November 2025 NSA Newsletter October 2025 Artist spotlight, Somerset International Festival of the Arts and Autumn art events NSA Newsletter October 2025 The deadline for submitting news and event listings for the NSA newsletters is five days before the end of each month. Please email information to newsletter@northsomersertarts.org Events Group Members Venue Opening Times Membership Form Group Membership Form Arts Week Venu Form

Exhibiting Artists Map Directions Opening Times Venue 31 Simshill, Ropers Lane, Wrington Artists Exhibiting Artists Bridget Winterbourne Mixed Media Bridget is showcasing her recent paintings, fine art prints, cards, unique jewellery, cushions & hand painted vases. View More Map Map Simshill, Ropers Lane, Wrington BS40 5NH Directions and Parking Wrington High Street onto School Road, past school, 2nd left to Ropers Lane continue on to signpost to Simshill. Plenty of parking at the venue with disabled parking outside the house. Directions Opening Times Venue Opening Times Saturday 3rd May Sunday 4th May Monday 5th May Tuesday 6th May Wednesday 7th May Thursday 8th May Friday 9th May Saturday 10th May Sunday 11th May 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm 11am - 5pm Disabled Access: No There is disabled parking right outside the building. Wheel chair access to the gallery with one step up through the door. Refreshments: No

Chris Holden Painting/Drawing Chris Holden Painting/Drawing Chris Holden Painting/Drawing 1/1 Fine art degree course at art school in the 1960s. Then trained as a paintings conservator/restorer at the Tate Gallery in London, leading to a 35 year full time career there. On retirement became involved in the anti-war movement - the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq and motivated to try and use art to make aware and communicate the truth about what was learnt as an anti-war activist from numerous differing sources. Essentially, the art became 'political'. This felt important and normal to do this, as in the 1960s was a time of significant change; - the cold war, nuclear weapons proliferation and testing, plus the Vietnam War, which politicised many of his generation. Also family background upbringing had an influence. They were quite radical and progressive, sympathetic to the Quakers. Chris was educated at an independent co-educational Quaker boarding school from the age of 12. Father was a ww2 conscientious objector & a grandmother who had been a suffragette in the early part of the 20th Century. An uncle who had been on the front line and gassed in ww1, spent the rest of his life helping children internationally affected by war. The activist art continues today engaging with the truth about serious issues; conflicts, environment and social/political. 'Political' art has often been devalued and marginalised. Website: https://www.activistartist-chrisholden.com Facebook: Instagram: Email: echolden@hotmail.com

Vivienne Hunter Painting/Drawing Vivienne Hunter Painting/Drawing Vivienne Hunter Painting/Drawing 1/1 Viv works with a range of mediums and so produces works that vary from the more abstract to more precise renderings. The common thread that runs through all her art is a bold use of colour. Viv often finds inspiration in nature but also takes the urban landscape and her travel destinations as subjects. As well as original art, Viv sells prints of her work and a popular range of greetings cards featuring her work. Website: https://www.vivhunterart.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VivHunterArt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivhunterart Email: info@vivhunterart.co.uk

Brontë Leigh Textile Art Brontë Leigh Textile Art Brontë Leigh Textile Art 1/1 Brontë uses natural dyes and fibres to create clothing and decorative items. Every piece is dyed by hand with colour extracted from the flowers, roots, leaves and bark of plants. Using traditionally inspired techniques like bundle dyeing, shibori and resist printing, she draws both her inspiration and her materials from nature - taking influence from organic form and texture; the beauty of pattern, colour and geometry within the natural world. Website: https://www.bronteleigh.com Facebook: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronte.il Email: bronte.soma@gmail.com

Ian Beckton Ceramics Ian Beckton Ceramics Ian Beckton Ceramics 1/1 Ian is a maker of individual pots of energy and colour. He explores rich fluid glazes. His pots are full of life and vigour. Bowls, mugs, jugs and jars fulfil their function. None the same, but work together. Function in pots provides a frame work with plenty of room for exploration. The effect is one of fluidity of surface. Ian's thrown pieces are full of character. They enjoy the full plasticity of the material. Working in clay for thirty years. All pots are made in stoneware clay. Educated at UWE Bristol. As well as making, Ian teaches pottery at clayability in North Somerset. Website: https://www.ibceramicstudio.uk/ Facebook: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibceramics Email: ianbecktonarts@gmail.com

Julie Mainstone Painting/Drawing Julie Mainstone Painting/Drawing Julie Mainstone Painting/Drawing 1/1 Julie is an award winning professional artist with a lifelong passion for painting. She was born in Bristol and has lived in the area all her life. Her Mother was the earliest artistic influence and her passion for painting in Watercolour started in her mid-teens studying briefly alongside her Mum with Stained Glass Artist James Crombie. They moved on and discovered the medium had a whole lot more to offer from Yatton based Watercolour Artist and Tutor Brian Parrish. It was at this point that her passion was truly ignited and throughout her life she has pushed boundaries and tried to get inside this enigmatic medium. In the mid 80’s Julie started work as an Audio Visual designer and soon progressed to managing the in house AV team for a large Financial Services company based in Bristol. Her career progressed and when the team expanded to include all the creative services for the group. She managed the whole team of designers who were also responsible for the design and print of the company’s whole suite of literature. Alongside her career, Julie continued to paint and exhibit locally and at craft fairs across the South West and she became an active member of both Clevedon and Clifton Art Clubs. 22 years later, when changes to the company structure were brought in, Julie took the opportunity of redundancy and set up an Arts & Crafts business based in Nailsea. It was here that she started teaching. The shop soon became a Winsor & Newton Premier Art Centre due to the range of products stocked and Julie was able to use her knowledge and experience to guide and advise customers. Sadly a recession and rising overhead costs meant that the retail side of her business had to close. She continued painting, teaching and exhibiting alongside caring for her Father until he passed away. In 2016 she attended a workshop with Trevor Waugh and enrolled on an Atelier style Foundation Course. Under Trevor’s guidance her painting skills flourished and her style developed and finally in 2017 she took the step to become professional. Julie is currently a member of North Somerset Arts and takes part in the biennial North Somerset Arts Week. She has become known locally for Watercolour knowledge and her love of painting en plein air where she feels in touch with nature – the South West coastline has a special place in her heart. She is always searching for the story in her subject and her intuitive style is loose yet traditional with contemporary influences. Whilst Watercolour remains her greatest passion, she does explore other mediums, mixing them up if the subject calls for a more experimental and adventurous approach to tell the story. Her art is led by her heart not her head. She tries to portray how the subject makes her feel rather than getting too bogged down in accuracy. Julie’s own classes are now based at Portbury Church where she is also the artist in residence. She also visits other art groups around the region to teach ad hoc sessions and run workshops. She is one of the founding members of @art6explore – a collaboration of North Somerset Artists who formed online during the pandemic to explore monthly creative themes and try different ways of sharing their art, processes and inspiration with a new audience. Now they also hold regular live events, exhibitions and workshops. They often use their talents to raise money for deserving causes and particularly in support of environmental causes. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to find out more. You can view more of Julie’s work on her social media pages:- on Facebook: Julie Mainstone Artist and on Instagram: @juliemainstone as well as on her website juliemainstone.co.uk For more details email: julie.mainstone@hotmail.co.uk Website: https://www.juliemainstone.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieMainstoneArtist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemainstone Email: julie.mainstone@hotmail.co.uk

Dawn Cox Painting/Drawing Dawn Cox Painting/Drawing Dawn Cox Painting/Drawing 1/1 A local tutor for 18 years, and with a background in Secondary Art teaching, Dawn uses her wealth of knowledge in her classes to teach a variety of media/themes/styles. She runs weekly classes and her very popular weekend painting days in Yatton, where practitioners can come for a delightful day to focus on the development of their style/skills and techniques with support and advice, and of course a magnificent lunch and cake! Dawn loves portraiture and seeks to capture moments in time, from unposed and often imperfect images. She uses the 'Zorn' palette; cadmium red, yellow ochre, white and Ivory black, and delights in the unbelievable breadth of colour variation that can be achieved. In her mixed media landscapes she uses texture and mark-making to explore light and mood. Website: https://www.dawncoxart.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DawnCoxArt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DawnCoxArt Email: dawncoxart@hotmail.co.uk

Weston Artspace Painting/Drawing Weston Artspace Painting/Drawing Weston Artspace Painting/Drawing 1/1 Weston Artspace brings together local artists at all levels using a collaborative approach to culture and has developed a supportive community. Inspiring people to be their best self through creativity and providing a space to connect artists and foster creative ambition. Artspace has an inclusive culture to develop skills and experiences which cultivates artistic imagination and enriches lives. Bringing together amazing local artists alongside new and emerging talents. Offering an inclusive space assists members in developing their art practice in a welcoming environment which builds confidence and connections. Website: https://www.westonartspace.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestonArtspace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westonartspacewsm Email: hello@westonartspace.com

Joan Hudson Painting/Drawing Joan Hudson Painting/Drawing Joan Hudson Painting/Drawing 1/1 Joan is a professionally trained artist with a huge amount of experience in producing and selling art in many mediums. She feels it is important to constantly review her way of working and the materials she uses to keep the work fresh. Most of Joan’s work is in acrylic but increasingly she is moving towards mixed media to add interest and texture to her paintings. A key element to each painting is the depiction of light and tonal contrast. This comes from constant close observation and her choice of subjects. Joan’s landscape work is greatly helped by living in North Somerset with its beautiful rural and coastal scenery. Her honours degree in Graphic Design is influential in her still life paintings and her landscapes, bringing a sense of design to her work. She is prepared to discuss commissions but when it comes down to it, Joan is in her element when just happily creating art. Website: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008326833672 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanhudsonartist Email: joan.hudson3@btinternet.com

This is the application form for group membership. North Somerset Arts Group Membership Form 2024-2026 Group Name* Please enter your groups name as you would like it to appear on the NSA website. Please provide a name and address for contact purposes for the Group. This information will not be published on the NSA website directory. First name* Last name* Address Please enter the house number, road name and town. Post Code Phone Number Please provide the following information for the Group. This information will be published on the NSA website: First letter of Group Name Please select the first letter of your groups name. This will be used to index the NSA website directory. Email* Website Facebook Instagram Please select which contact you would like in the Arts week brochure Artistic Discipline Short Group description The Short Group description will be used for Arts Week brochure (max 120 characters) Main Group description The Main Group description will be used for the NSA website directory entry (max 900 characters) Art work image Upload File It is recommended that the image is square, and of suitable resolution for printing in the Arts Week brochure (e.g. a file size of at least 1MB). Disclaimer: By joining North Somerset Arts ("NSA"), we (the Group Member) agree to allow NSA to use the data provided for the purposes of administration and communications. If you have also provided a website image, you also give permission for NSA to use that image and any related written text on our website and in our other publicity materials. You may withdraw permission for image use by contacting NSA in writing at any time. NSA do not share your personal or image details with other individuals or organisations without your written permission. We accept the NSA membership terms and conditions * Your Membership fee payment should be made via bank transfer to the following account: Name: North Somerset Arts Bank: Lloyds Bank Account Number: 10360460 Sort Code: 30-54-66 Please select the amount you will pay: Full payment of £200 First instalment of £100 Please make the payment after completing the form. Submit

Gail Mason Painting/Drawing Gail Mason Painting/Drawing Gail Mason Painting/Drawing 1/1 I am an intuitive painter/printmaker exploring the ‘Emotional Landscape’ through gestural, semi-abstract, fictive places full of movement, weather, air and space. The works offer a sense of perspective, invite reflection, and utilise the restorative and hopeful aspects of nature. Colour is of prime importance in creating the emotional tone, working in layers of transparency with gestural marks to build perceived depth, texture and form. Celebrating the spiritual power of open spaces and the cyclical nature of life, the concept of journey both physical and metaphorical is central to the work. Selected for the Royal Academy and a recipient of several national awards my work has been widely exhibited in the UK. I have been a core tutor at Spike Print Studio in Bristol since graduating from an MA in Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking in 2004, and co-manage North Street Gallery in Bedminster. Website: https://www.gailmason.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071160205789 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gailmason1 Email: gailmason1@btinternet.com