Dear Members,

My apologies for a late Newsletter this month.  I hope you have already seen my two earlier emails; Membership Renewal 2026/2027 and the Notice and Agenda for our AGM on 4th November.  Please let me know if you have not received these.

What glorious weather we are having at the moment.  I spent a beautiful day a couple of weekends ago at the Phillip Jackson Garden in Cocking.  He opened the garden in aid of Macmillan Palliative Care and it was a very successful day for all, the charity and visitors alike. His towering sculptures were a sight to behold in the beautiful gardens with a bubbling chalk stream and the backdrop of the South Downs. I enjoyed tea and some delicious homemade cake with a couple of our Members I bumped into, which made the day!

This Month:

·         Lecture this Wednesday

·         Special Interest Day this month

·         Visit to Knole end of November

·         Membership Renewal

·         AGM November

·         Christmas Lecture

Tomorrow, Wednesday 7th October, our Lecture is Thomas Cromwell, the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Mint by Timothy Schroder.

One of four titles springing from Timothy Schroder's book ‘A Marvel to Behold’, Gold and Silver at the Court of Henry VIII. This is the Thomas Cromwell, who we all know now through Hilary Mantel’s novels and TV adaptations, but who is shown in a rather different light in this lecture.

Our Special Interest Day is next week on Wednesday 14th October, Rogues in the Gallery: Theft and Forgery in the Art World by Tom Flynn. Nicky will be taking the few remaining bookings available on Wednesday.

A Visit to beautiful Knole Estate and Park, Thursday 27th November.  There are still places on the coach for this Christmas themed Visit. The magnificent rooms will all be dressed in their festive finery and looking fabulous.  See Julie on Wednesday to book your place.

You should have received your online membership renewal reminder a couple of days ago, which sets out the instructions for completing this.  We have kept the subscription at £55.00. Please do renew by 4th November. Thank you.

You will also have received an email giving Notice of our AGM on 4th November. As usual this will precede the Lecture that day at 10.30.

We still need a Committee Secretary. My various requests and personal approaches throughout the year have not been successful. I also had no response to the final paragraph of my September Newsletter, which clearly stated we can only run a thriving Society with a full Committee on board. It would be wonderful if we could elect a new Secretary at this AGM, so please do see me tomorrow or contact me to discuss joining the team. Thankyou.

Finally, just a reminder about our last lecture of the year, which is also the first of the new membership year, our Christmas one

A FESTIVE TALE: THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC by Raymond Holden on Wednesday 02 December 2026. This will be followed by our traditional Mulled Wine or Mulled Fruit Cup and Mince Pies.

Before that we have Viking Gods in November! Check the website for more details.

I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Coffee and Tea as usual from 09.50 to 10.20. Please be seated by 10.30 for the Lecture to start at 10.45.

Very best wishes,

Paula Chabrel

Chair, on behalf of your Committee

www.theartssocietysouthdowns.org.uk

Please visit the website for current news, information on Lectures, Special Interest Days, Visits and booking forms.

We're delighted to share updates from three artists who are midway through their Dr Andrew Edney Bursary projects, each demonstrating remarkable creativity and professional development despite facing various challenges.

Jackie Eksi has been creating an ambitious labyrinth installation inspired by the 1986 film, working from her living room due to challenges in securing studio space in Southampton. She has completed numerous intricate elements including fabric backdrops, a tower incorporating film scenes, painted canvases, moving elements, and a doll's house. Jackie has found the project therapeutic, helping her understand why the labyrinth has become such an important symbol in her practice. While working without a dedicated studio has been isolating and placed pressure on her home life, she has been resourceful in using donated and waste materials. Jackie acknowledges this project as her "last hurrah" at this scale due to her declining capacity from health challenges and is seeking exhibition spaces for early 2026.

Milly Aburrow has used her bursary to undertake a beginner's stained glass course, developing foundational skills with adaptive techniques suited to her access needs. The project has exceeded her expectations, with the new medium integrating naturally into her existing artistic interests around British seaside culture. Milly has purchased equipment enabling her to continue developing skills independently, and is now working on a new body of work translating her research into stained glass pieces that explore nostalgia, artifice, and emotional memory. She plans to produce resolved artworks for her professional portfolio and future exhibition opportunities, describing the grant as "ginormous financial aid" that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

Sea Shucksmith has taken their project in an evolved direction from the original plan, creating and exhibiting a new large-scale artwork called Male Gaze that pushed them beyond their comfort zone. They have developed significant new printmaking skills and secured a flexible, affordable studio space (£25/day in a friend's basement) that accommodates their fluctuating energy levels. This has led to important reflections on what "bigger" means in their practice—shifting focus from physical scale to ambition, impact, and accessibility. Sea has secured two new workshop-leading opportunities with Disability Arts in Surrey and the British Psychological Society, attended Make Art Brighton for networking, and is planning to exhibit in Artists Open Houses while platforming five other local artists. They're exploring how to create work with larger impact that remains materially and economically accessible.

All three artists have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and thoughtful adaptation in the face of challenges, using their bursaries to develop both their technical skills and professional networks while staying true to their artistic visions

Some examples of work on the theme "Bird Creations" are posted in our Gallery

Three Outside In artists have been awarded this year’s Dr Andrew Edney bursary. Below are the three artists and what they plan to do with their bursary.

Jack Bull

Jack will use the bursary to work with a photographer to take professional, high quality images of his recent artwork. Jack will hire a studio space in Brighton which provides lighting, backdrops and technical support. Jack will work with photographer Chris O’Donovan who will take photographs of Jack’s work. The images will then document his artwork and be added to his website. This will help Jack with his professional practice.

Julia Oak

Julia is using the bursary to research and explore what happens to artwork after people die. She wants to take this opportunity to find homes for her work, to explore options which will help her and also help other artists and their families or carers in the future. It will aim to help future proof it’s life. Julia will use part of the bursary to work with a mentor, exhibition and printing/communication translation costs. Part of the bursary would be a hard copy version of the research that could be available to art groups and individuals that are non-digital.

Yasmin Crawford

Yasmin Crawford is a Fine Art Photographer, Visual Artist and multidisciplinary collaborator. She will use the bursary to support her with the creation of her art, printing on different materials such as chiffon, silk and cotton, framing, and travel for two exhibitions. The bursary will support her travel and the development of her artworks and networks. These types of events are wonderful, and creative, allowing her to show her artwork in different forms but most importantly support people with difficult health problems and support public education on relevant scientific topics.

To see examples of the artists' work, click HERE

We are proud to announce the opening of a new Arts Studio at Bury Primary School, decorated and refurbished by volunteers and supported with Society funds.

The Studio can be viewed during an Open Day between 9:30 - 11:30am.

The Andrew Edney Bursary

Our Society has entered into an exciting new partnership with the award-winning charity Outside In. Founded and based at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, but operating independently and nationally since 2017, Outside In provides a platform for artists who find it difficult to access the art world for reasons including health, disability, isolation or social circumstance. It does so through exhibitions, artist support and professional training programmes.

The Arts Society South Downs will deliver an annual bursary of £1500 to Outside In, which will be divided between eligible artists living and working in Sussex and Hampshire. It will enable at least three recipients each year to advance their skills by purchasing art materials, attending a course in their discipline or expanding their artistic horizons through travel. 

The bursary, which will run for a duration of ten years, was made possible through a legacy left to The Arts Society South Downs by our former member of many years, Dr. Andrew Edney, veterinarian, art lover and philanthropist. We hope it will pave the career paths of many artists who would not otherwise have found the support they deserve.

The first round of the Andrew Edney Bursary was launched in April, and applications are now open. For more details, see  https://www.outsidein.org.uk/news_and_events?item_id0=18309. 

The image reproduced here is 'Sugar-Glider vs Octopus' by Outside In artist Carlo Keshishian.