Beechwood Artists was established in 1996 and currently has around 100 members of varying experience from absolute beginners onwards. We are all amateurs, creating pictures in various media for enjoyment and personal challenge. There are no entry qualifications for membership. Beechwood members come from the Chilterns area of Buckinghamshire and from nearby areas of Hertfordshire.
The venue for painting sessions is the Amersham Common Village Hall.
Beechwood is affiliated to the SAA which has members throughout the UK. Individual membership of the SAA is recommended. It allows a reduced annual subscription to Beechwood, covers insurance for exhibitions and an online retail service for materials .
Weekly painting sessions are held on Wednesdays (members only) between 10.00am and 1.00pm and 1.00pm and 4.00pm. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and supportive and we bring our own materials. There’s a small fee for coming to painting days, but tea, coffee and biscuits are free.
A few times a year we have social gatherings and informal painting competitions for members.
We also have an annual programme of Workshops and Demonstrations given by visiting artists, alternating on a monthly basis and a Spring and Autumn exhibition where work can be sold.
Resources include an art DVD and book library for members’ use, and a variety of materials for members to “try before you buy”. We also
keep some DIY mount-cutting and basic framing equipment.
Annually a charity is chosen by members at the AGM so that a proportion of the sales takings from its exhibitions can be donated.