Meetings
Friday Evening Meetings
The meetings are held on the last Friday of the month (see dates below). Start time is 7.00pm for chat and refreshments, followed by a demonstration of technique by an artist, a talk or an opportunity to have artworks appraised.
Admission is free to BAS members. Visitors and guests are welcome – the entry fee is £3.00.
Come & Paint
An informal get together where members can discuss and practise their art. Sessions may be tutor led. For more information, go to: Come and Paint in 2025
Meetings are held in the Bridport Fellowship Hall, 4&5 Kings Square, East Street, Bridport, DT6 3QE.
The hall is located to the rear of East Street car park and offers convenient parking. It is fully accessible. Venue details >
Annual General Meeting
The AGM is held in March. The formal business of the AGM is combined with a social gathering. The Chairman’s annual report and the audited financial accounts are presented, and the officers and committee for the coming year are appointed. All members are invited to attend the AGM and have the opportunity to discuss topics of interest with the committee.
The Society holds a competition for the John Marlow Memorial Prize: members are invited to take to the AGM a work of art on a pre-defined subject and submissions are judged by a local artist.
Meetings Programme 2025
31 January 2025
Art Appraisal with Bridport artist, Tara Harland-Viney
BAS members are invited to bring along a piece of work they have completed or are working on for a helpful critique by Tara.
Read more about Tara here: Harland Viney
28 February 2025
Illustrated talk on Gustav Klimt by Gill Fifield
Gill retired to Bridport 23 years ago after living and working in Europe and England. She was always interested in art and art history and has visited many art galleries all over Europe and attended talks and courses on the subject. She belongs to both art appreciation groups at the U3A in Bridport and has given her Klimt talk to both groups.
She first encountered Klimt in Vienna in 1970 when she was working in Brno and immediately fell in love with his work. She travelled to Liverpool to see the Klimt exhibition in the Tate Gallery in 2008. However, she knew little about his life and background before researching for this talk. She was interested to learn about the talent he showed from a very early age and the variety of styles he went through during his life. The so-called “Golden Age” we know best, only lasted around 10 years during 40 years of painting.
The talk follows a chronological telling of his life, showing over 50 examples of his paintings, mosaics and murals, exploring the symbolism of his work and role he played in Vienna’s Art Nouveau movement.
She also found out he loved oriental art and his cats
In addition, Gill will expand on the work of ASCape, read more here: ASCape
28 March 2025
AGM and Marlow Prize Competition
The Theme for the 2025 Marlow Prize : Inside Out
BAS members are free to interpret the theme in any way they choose!
This year’s guest judge: Phil Clayton of Sou’-Sou’-West Contemporary Arts Gallery, Symondsbury. Sou’-Sou’-West
Members are invited to bring along their submissions. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices.
L-R: Karen Wallis 3rd, Kevin Smith 1st, Ulrica Tiso 2nd
Pictured is the 2025 winning picture: Inside Out by Kevin Smith
View all three winning pictures in the Gallery
25 April 2025
Alex Boon – Nature Journaling
Demo: a tour through the sketchbooks and journals of Alex Boon
Nature journaling artist Alex Boon will show you through 8 years of nature journals and sketchbooks and describe how he started this rewarding activity. He will also explain his techniques for sketchbooking in coloured pencil and painting in Derwent Inktense, including some Inktense demonstrations.
Alex Boon is an artist and nature journaling educator from Seaton. After earning a Ph.D. in environmental science, Alex left academia in 2016, moved to the rural south-west, and started his first nature journal. His style is inspired by the British tradition of artists recording nature, particularly Edith Holden, Beatrix Potter, and Charles Tunnicliffe.
There will be a follow-up workshop in July.
27 June 2025
Trudi Ochiltree will demonstrate the use of water-mixable oil paints
“My talk is aimed at anyone interested in trying Water Mixable Oils, particularly if you currently use acrylics or traditional oils but are curious about Water Mixable Oils and how they actually work (How do oil and water mix? Are they any good?)
I was originally trained to use traditional oils but found the smell and slow drying time put me off using them at home. Water Mixable Oils give me a slower drying time and blend -ability that I find acrylics can’t achieve, and without the chemicals of traditional oils.
In the talk I will cover aspects such as the differences between water-mixable oils vs traditional oils and acrylic paints. How to use them: Thinning, blending, layering. Adding mediums to the paint such as Stand Oil to slow drying time and smooth the paint. How to clean your brushes when you’ve finished painting.
Firstly, I will demonstrate starting the first layer of a painting over an acrylic ground. Then on a second canvas I will show how to add further layers over a half-done painting. I’ll also be explaining how Water Mixable Oils have changed and developed my artwork and transformed my art practise.”
About Trudi: “I create paintings inspired by the landscape and seasonal changes, working in oils, watercolour and acrylics. My art begins as en plein air sketches and photos, before I explore my ideas further in the studio. This develops the expressive and imaginative qualities of my art as I remove myself from the original source. I love to explore mark making, colour and light. People often comment on the vibrancy and atmosphere in my paintings. My art celebrates nature and my experience of it, capturing a moment of awe and spiritual connection.”
Read more about Trudi here> Trudi Ochiltree. PDF
Trudi will be leading a workshop for BAS in September
25 July 2025
Kevin Smith – The Zorn Palette
The Zorn Palette, named after the Swedish painter Anders Zorn, is a limited palette of four colours often favoured by portrait artists but also useful in landscape painting. It traditionally comprises Ivory black, Yellow Ochre, Vermillion (Cadmium Red Light/Medium) and Titanium White.
Kevin will lead a short practical session where attendees can explore the potential use of the Zorn palette by colour mixing; the more adventurous have the option to create a portrait based on a reference photo. Acrylic paints will be available.
More details about the session and what to bring, here: The Zorn Palette Workshop Guide
Read about Kevin Smith, committee member and Exhibition Co-ordinator: Kevin Smith Profile. PDF
24 Octber 2025
Tony Fifield will give a talk on The Evolution of Japanese Painting
The illustrated talk ‘THE EVOLUTION OF JAPANESE PAINTING’ plots the development of ‘Traditional’ Japanese Painting from 1100 to around 2000, exploring the evolving styles, and their artistic, religious, social and political influences. It is an original talk written by the speaker, based on a lifetime’s interest and study of most forms of Oriental Art.
If circumstances permit, the talk will be accompanied by a display of 12, mostly original artworks by Japanese Masters from his own collection.
From his childhood, when his Naval Grandfather recounted tales of his travels to the Orient, and photographs he had collected, Tony has pursued a passion for Oriental Art. Each of his talks draw upon objects of art & paintings he has collected and researched over the years.
A Bridport resident since around 2000, Tony has travelled the world, extensively researching Oriental Art.
28 November 2025
Xmas Social
The committee extends an invitation to all members of Bridport Art Society to attend the Christmas Party in Bridport from 7.00pm. Pop in and meet fellow members, have a drink and a mince pie (alternative nibbles also available!)
Venue: TBA
Come and Paint in 2025
A friendly, informal group meet up in the Bridport Fellowship Hall every 2nd Thursday afternoon of the month. 2.00pm – 4.00pm. Members bring along some art to work on or different materials to show colleagues. There will be a guest tutor for some sessions.
2025 Prices
Standard session: Members: £3.00, non-members £6.00
Tutor led session: Members £6.00, non-members £10.00
Light refreshments are included.
2025
- 9 January
- 13 February – tutored session. Read more: Boo Mallinson, Abstracting from the Landscape PDF
- 13 March
- 10 April
- 8 May
- 12 June
- 10 July – Life Drawing session with clothed professional model, Sophie Larter. Price as per tutor led session to cover costs. Read more about our model: Sophie Larter PDF
August Break
- 11 September
- 9 October
- 13 November
- 11 December
Updates will be published in the BAS Newsletter which goes out to members. If you have any queries, please use the Contact Us form to get in touch.
