Cyril Wheeldon's portrayal of Marine Court

After a career in electrical engineering, Cyril took up Art in 2001 and this will be his first show –  at the age of 85. He works in mixed media, but mainly acrylic, since it has little odour and is based on water.

Cyril’s first works were from the area around Fairlight Church and Firehills. However, he now uses Hastings as a venue. There are so many corners and small streets to be captured, but the occasional abstract offers a challenge. Cyril finds the World so full of beautiful scenes, except where man has built castles and shed his yellow paint – “The need for carbon streaks, seem so unnecessary”, he insists.

His image of Marine Court on the lines envisaged by the architect, is his biggest attempt to date. Cyril looks forward to seeing you on 11 September.

Sub-titled, “My Journey to abstraction“

John Lipsham is known to most Forum members as a regular volunteer, who meets, discusses and hangs members’ shows. Although taught to paint with a palette knife by a professional artist, D’Oyly John, when he was in his twenties, he did not start painting seriously until late in life.

John Lipsham 'View from Athelstan Road, Hastings'

John was in the Sussex CID for many years and for over ten years was on the Art and Antiques Squad leading searches of all manner of premises in the pursuit of stolen “art”. This awakened his feeling for fine art. On retirement he successfully gained a place at Brighton University where his knowledge was widened and which influenced his appreciation of “good art” and subsequent style. John’s work started out in a more figurative style, but over the years he has developed a love of abstraction. His sharp mind and analytical approach has been a benefit in his “Journey to abstraction” as this exhibition of his work will show.”

We plan to hold a Gallery Talk for John on Saturday, 12 Sep at 3 p.m.. This will take the form of an interview by Rod Harman and Sid Benyon.

Michael Stokoe

Michael Stokoe will be showing a selection of screen prints, etchings and paintings from the 1960s until the present day. Michael has exhibited widely, has sold to 60  municipal galleries and education authorities and has 9 pictures in the National collection. Gallery purchases include the V&A, the Walker Gallery, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle  and Brighton.

Teaching includes the RCA and running a foundation course at Ravensbourne. Michael is now living at Robertsbridge.

Michael’s painting has moved from abstract expressionism, in the 1960s, to a more figurative and personal response to colour in the landscape. The emotional content is usually one of well-being.

Clio Pinkney 'Brink'

With a vigorous and controlled palette of vivid colours, Clio Pinkney’s current abstract and semi figurative paintings on canvas and board express a strong and lyrical response to inner and outer worlds.  After a ten-year training and career in nursing and midwifery, Clio studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art from 1989-1993. Here, her work was a gritty semi-figurative response to the environment. Recently her painting has become an abstract expression of her own feelings as well as of the natural world, evoking memories of childhood in the Caribbean as well as of the Sussex landscape. She lives in Forest Row with her husband, Alastair and children, Olivia and Thomas. Her work has been exhibited and sold in numerous group shows in London and Sussex. Her first solo exhibition will be held at the Hastings Art Forum.

Subtitled “A summer show”, it is a coastal link of artists from Lewes to Rye. Assembled by Kim Thrower and Renée Jasper, this show fills another substantial part of our re-scheduled exhibition programme – for which many thanks. Participating are:

Kim Thrower with oils on canvas,

Renée Jasper showing photography and text

James Taylor-Ward, oils on canvas

Harry Snook, print and text

Nigel Plumb, print

Rachel Lever, mixed media

Peter Quinnell, assemblages

Clare Fletcher, acrylics

Serena Thirkell, sculpture

Vanessa Fowler, ceramics

Brenda Hartill 'Sheets'

Brenda has an international reputation with a full calendar, but nevertheless answered the call to fill a gap. Brenda is also giving a talk on her work and will lead a tour of her exhibition at 3 p.m. on Saturday, 29 August. Tickets will be £3, including wine, and Brenda is donating the proceeds to the Forum. This is the first of what we would like to be a series of artists’ talks – so your support will be important.

Promotional details of Brenda’s work have been published on previous bulletins, and a broader account of her work can be seen on her web-site www.brendahartill.com