Gillian Coates
I am a self taught artist who works mainly in oil paints. After having success entering my paintings in a local show, I joined three art clubs and learned a great deal from other members. I am now secretary of Hetton Art Club.
My favorite subjects are animals, and I have recently been asked to do commissions that I have really enjoyed painting. I will tackle most subjects and was asked to design the West Rainton Banner for the Miners Gala. This was transferred onto a banner and is displayed annually each July.
In recent years I have exhibited in a number of local exhibitions, namely Crook Hall, Washington Wildfowl Park and Sunderland Minster, managing to sell pictures in most of these venues, I will undertake most commissions, so if you like my style, please take a look at my website.
www.gilliancoatesart.co.uk
I am a self taught artist who works mainly in oil paints. After having success entering my paintings in a local show, I joined three art clubs and learned a great deal from other members. I am now secretary of Hetton Art Club.
My favorite subjects are animals, and I have recently been asked to do commissions that I have really enjoyed painting. I will tackle most subjects and was asked to design the West Rainton Banner for the Miners Gala. This was transferred onto a banner and is displayed annually each July.
In recent years I have exhibited in a number of local exhibitions, namely Crook Hall, Washington Wildfowl Park and Sunderland Minster, managing to sell pictures in most of these venues, I will undertake most commissions, so if you like my style, please take a look at my website.
www.gilliancoatesart.co.uk
Alison Davis
I am a watercolour and pastel artist painting landscapes, mining scenes, animals, flowers and anything I find interesting and challenging. I do commissions of dogs and horses and even houses. (Anything I am asked to do really).
I am also secretary of Houghton Art Club as well as a member of Hetton Art Club. I exhibit locally with both clubs and individually. I volunteer with Beamish museum, sitting painting in the pit village in costume.
Visit my website to see images of my paintings.
www.alidavisart.com
I am a watercolour and pastel artist painting landscapes, mining scenes, animals, flowers and anything I find interesting and challenging. I do commissions of dogs and horses and even houses. (Anything I am asked to do really).
I am also secretary of Houghton Art Club as well as a member of Hetton Art Club. I exhibit locally with both clubs and individually. I volunteer with Beamish museum, sitting painting in the pit village in costume.
Visit my website to see images of my paintings.
www.alidavisart.com
Karen Thompson
I am an artist who only came to painting about 10 years ago and I am self taught. I am a member of several art clubs and have paintings in various exhibitions in the North East of England.
I have a passion for portraits - adults, children and pets. I particularly enjoy painting Miners and I am currently adding to my collection of Miner portraits with a view to exhibiting in a mining museum in Colorado Springs USA. I have recently become very involved with the Mining community countrywide, who have taken me to their hearts and are very appreciative of my portraits.
I enjoy painting scenes and flowers in watercolour. I have recently completed several paintings for a children's book which will be published this year and am currently recreating my village Miners Banner from 1929.
Please take a look at my website and you can also find my on Facebook -artbykarenthompson
www.artbykarenthompson.co.uk
I am an artist who only came to painting about 10 years ago and I am self taught. I am a member of several art clubs and have paintings in various exhibitions in the North East of England.
I have a passion for portraits - adults, children and pets. I particularly enjoy painting Miners and I am currently adding to my collection of Miner portraits with a view to exhibiting in a mining museum in Colorado Springs USA. I have recently become very involved with the Mining community countrywide, who have taken me to their hearts and are very appreciative of my portraits.
I enjoy painting scenes and flowers in watercolour. I have recently completed several paintings for a children's book which will be published this year and am currently recreating my village Miners Banner from 1929.
Please take a look at my website and you can also find my on Facebook -artbykarenthompson
www.artbykarenthompson.co.uk
Brian Scott
I am a watercolour artist particularly interested in painting old buildings, stonework and old weathered doors. I love to show the detail in my subject. I paint as a hobby and find it very relaxing.
At school I was involved in art projects and enjoy doing pencil sketches of anything that caught my eye but once I started work I let this drop.
As I approached retirement I was given a prospectus for the local college which had a "Watercolour painting for beginners" evening course so I enrolled and my interest in painting was re-ignited. When the course was discontinued, I looked around for a daytime art club as I play tennis in the evenings and I joined Hetton Art Club.
I am a watercolour artist particularly interested in painting old buildings, stonework and old weathered doors. I love to show the detail in my subject. I paint as a hobby and find it very relaxing.
At school I was involved in art projects and enjoy doing pencil sketches of anything that caught my eye but once I started work I let this drop.
As I approached retirement I was given a prospectus for the local college which had a "Watercolour painting for beginners" evening course so I enrolled and my interest in painting was re-ignited. When the course was discontinued, I looked around for a daytime art club as I play tennis in the evenings and I joined Hetton Art Club.
John Ord
I am John Ord, a retired commercial artist and worked in newspaper advertising for over 35 years. I started painting again about three years ago after discovering Houghton Art Club at their exhibition during Houghton Feast.
I now work in various styles in acrylics and watercolour, subjects ranging from landscape, industrial, natural history and the occasional portrait of people and pets, but I will have a go at almost anything.
I joined Hetton Art Club a couple of years ago.
I am John Ord, a retired commercial artist and worked in newspaper advertising for over 35 years. I started painting again about three years ago after discovering Houghton Art Club at their exhibition during Houghton Feast.
I now work in various styles in acrylics and watercolour, subjects ranging from landscape, industrial, natural history and the occasional portrait of people and pets, but I will have a go at almost anything.
I joined Hetton Art Club a couple of years ago.
Fred Finch
I joined the Hetton Art Club in January 2015, after retiring. I'm a self taught artist who enjoyed art at school but, due to a very busy working life, never found the time to continue with it. Now that I've started to paint again, after some 55 years, I'm experimenting with different media, including watercolour, seascapes, animals and flowers.
Our club is very friendly and has some extremely talented artists, who are happy to give advice and encouragement to newcomers, who just want to " have a go". Do come and join us!
I joined the Hetton Art Club in January 2015, after retiring. I'm a self taught artist who enjoyed art at school but, due to a very busy working life, never found the time to continue with it. Now that I've started to paint again, after some 55 years, I'm experimenting with different media, including watercolour, seascapes, animals and flowers.
Our club is very friendly and has some extremely talented artists, who are happy to give advice and encouragement to newcomers, who just want to " have a go". Do come and join us!
Davd Hughes M.B.E.
David was the major instigator of the retail modernisation of the North East Co-Op. When he retired in 1985 he turned to writing and painting. He has used these talents to raise vast amounts of money for charity, leading to him receiving the M.B.E. in 2016.
He is a member of various art clubs and specialises in watercolour, selling prints and originals for his favorite charities, which include Grace House and Orphans in Palestine, plus many more.
David was the major instigator of the retail modernisation of the North East Co-Op. When he retired in 1985 he turned to writing and painting. He has used these talents to raise vast amounts of money for charity, leading to him receiving the M.B.E. in 2016.
He is a member of various art clubs and specialises in watercolour, selling prints and originals for his favorite charities, which include Grace House and Orphans in Palestine, plus many more.
Stuart Gamble
I have been a member of Hetton Art Club since I was 18 years old, encouraged by mother who was also a member.
I am self taught and work with watercolour and oil paint.
I've covered many subjects over the years but enjoy painting the Lake District and coastal views the most.
Sheila Gamble
I have been a member of Hetton Art Club about 15 years. I'm self taught and have used watercolour, oil and pastel but my favourite medium is coloured pencils.
I mostly do flower pictures and use them to make greeting cards which I sell to raise funds for my local church.
I've welcomed and gained friendly advise and support from other members of this club.
Vicky Cullen
When I was younger I attended a special needs school in Sunderland, as I suffer from Cerebral Palsy which affects the left side of my body and I have no use of my left hand. I also suffer from epilepsy.
I left school in 2006 and went to study I.C.T. at college, I then attended Etec for two years in an office. I am currently based at Springboard in Sunderland where I do voluntary work an have passed my NVQ Level 2 in admin and customer services and Level 1 in English and maths.
I have always been interested in art. I did my GCSE in art and was the only person in my school to do so but on leaving school I gave it up and I regret this now.
In 2015 I attended a ten week art course at Bede college. I joined Houghton Art Club, this led me to people who attended Hetton Art Club so I joined this as well.
Within the same year I had joined both art clubs and now exhibit work at places like Sunderland Minster and Crook Hall. If one of my paintings sells I give half the money to a disabled little girl who does not qualify for funding from the NHS.
I don't think I would be where I am now if it wasn't for attending these art clubs.
We are always welcoming to new members and are a very friendly club. We help each other and give tips and advice on how to do things. This helps me especially to improve my paintings and I get more confident with the work that I do.
When I was younger I attended a special needs school in Sunderland, as I suffer from Cerebral Palsy which affects the left side of my body and I have no use of my left hand. I also suffer from epilepsy.
I left school in 2006 and went to study I.C.T. at college, I then attended Etec for two years in an office. I am currently based at Springboard in Sunderland where I do voluntary work an have passed my NVQ Level 2 in admin and customer services and Level 1 in English and maths.
I have always been interested in art. I did my GCSE in art and was the only person in my school to do so but on leaving school I gave it up and I regret this now.
In 2015 I attended a ten week art course at Bede college. I joined Houghton Art Club, this led me to people who attended Hetton Art Club so I joined this as well.
Within the same year I had joined both art clubs and now exhibit work at places like Sunderland Minster and Crook Hall. If one of my paintings sells I give half the money to a disabled little girl who does not qualify for funding from the NHS.
I don't think I would be where I am now if it wasn't for attending these art clubs.
We are always welcoming to new members and are a very friendly club. We help each other and give tips and advice on how to do things. This helps me especially to improve my paintings and I get more confident with the work that I do.
Tom Vaulks
In 1996 I was diagnosed as having throat cancer, had two major operations and had to finish work.
I took up painting, did a watercolour course at college, then went on to acrylics and oils, I also started to do wood carving.
I love to paint animals and birds and try to include them in unusual scenes, adding extra features to my paintings like feathers, shells and insects. These all add to my individual style.
Nora Smithson
Nora is a new member of Hetton Art Club, but she has painted for many years. She paints in her own unique style with mixed media, usually very large pictures.
For many years she has donated her pictures to charity but in April 2019 she is having her first personal exhibition at the Cafe on the Green at Durham Cathedral.
Nora is a new member of Hetton Art Club, but she has painted for many years. She paints in her own unique style with mixed media, usually very large pictures.
For many years she has donated her pictures to charity but in April 2019 she is having her first personal exhibition at the Cafe on the Green at Durham Cathedral.
Joyce Watchorn
I Loved art at school and found that my drawing skills helped in my studying of human anatomy for my career in Radiography. Later in my career when I moved into education, it came in useful again when producing teaching aids for my students.
However, art for pure pleasure took a back seat when working and with my life with my three horses. After retiring it was still a little while before I finally revisited my first love and Hetton art club and members have helped develop my abilities in different ways. Charcoal and pastels are probably my favorites, but I am becoming more intrigued by the use of oils. The club has also made it possible for me to exhibit my art, something I would never have done otherwise.
I Loved art at school and found that my drawing skills helped in my studying of human anatomy for my career in Radiography. Later in my career when I moved into education, it came in useful again when producing teaching aids for my students.
However, art for pure pleasure took a back seat when working and with my life with my three horses. After retiring it was still a little while before I finally revisited my first love and Hetton art club and members have helped develop my abilities in different ways. Charcoal and pastels are probably my favorites, but I am becoming more intrigued by the use of oils. The club has also made it possible for me to exhibit my art, something I would never have done otherwise.