About the Club

Sunderland Art Club was established in 1943 by a group of amateur artists keen to develop their skills by sharing their strengths and their experiences and organising a number of exhibitions to showcase their abilities. These same principles remain evident today.
The Club is a friendly mix of amateur artists from a wide range of backgrounds and with a wide range of abilities ... some very good, some not so good, some downright awful ... but we'll not mention them by name!. Members paint in a variety of medium from the humble pencil ( greatly under-appreciated ) to oils and acrylic, taking in watercolour, pastels and inks.

Members meet on Friday mornings between 09.30 and 12.00.
We meet in the CHURCH HALL OF ST NICHOLAS, .... which is opposite The Barnes Pub. THIS is a NEW VENUE as of 31st MAY 2024.
Our former home is to be the subject of extensive refurbishment by new owners and we cannot stay during the works programme.
Access for wheelchair users is good and there is plenty car parking in the grounds for people with mobility issues; others are encouraged to park on the bays on Queen Alexandra Rd or nearby streets. on the streets outside.

A small group also meet on a Tuesday Evening from 18.00 till 20.30hrs .... though where this group will meet as of September 2024 has yet to be decided.. It is hoped that this will attract new members that may not be able to attend a meeting during normal working hours. It is hoped that this meeting will ultimately achieve a sustainable level of membership .... currently, only a hard-core of 3 are attending. Ho'way chaps!!

You will see by opening the tabs marked 'Friday morning sessions' and 'special events' that the Club tries to meet the requirements and desires of the club's members through a varied programme of events. You will be encouraged to address the theme on Friday mornings, but if it really doesn't appeal to you then you are quite at liberty to progress a piece of work of your own choosing ... I know I often do!.

The committee is always open to new ideas as to what subjects might be included in future programmes. These have in the past included people sitting for portraiture, arrangements of still life, and club outings to local places of interest for sketching.
We make a small charge for each session to cover room rental and other sundry expenses; or you can pay a nominal sum at the start of a term and that covers all sessions that term. All profits are ploughed back into enhancing the Club's offer to members. The sums to be charged have yet to be set, but may be as little as £2.50 per session; £25 per term ... though this may increase a little after our AGM .

The Club also has a Facebook page onto which members can post finished paintings, work in progress, or ask advice. This is somewhat under-used at present … so get posting Do follow the programme at home if you cannot make the club in person and post the results on Fb .... you know it makes sense!! However, membership of the Fb group is usually dependant on you attending our meetings in person .... unless you are a friend or family of Barry!!.

A small group (ie 2 or 3) like to meet outside in the open ... en plein air, no less! .... to draw and paint on location ... just like the professionals tell us to. This is co-ordinated via the FB page or WhatsApp Group. Mike Lowe has the dubious honour of managing these; so contact him via the Club's Fb page if you wish to participate. This is highly weather dependant, of course ... somewhat ad hoc and increasingly infrequent!! Must try harder in 2024 .... well it is August now and no sign that this plea is being acted on !!