Janet Brady

I grew up in London and studied Geography and Geology at Birmingham because I love finding out how landscapes came to be as they are. I got good at doing field sketches and ‘losing myself’ in a landscape! Luckily I met my husband who’s brilliant at map reading and doesn’t mind at all gazing at the countryside while I sketch.

In 1970 I became a primary schoolteacher. I did a part-time Foundation course at Rochdale in ’83. Since then I’ve taught and looked after the family. I’ve always sketched, especially when out walking with them and I’ve always hoped to do more, and more. What was lacking was time and confidence.

With semi-retirement I achieved the first and then, a real breakthrough, I achieved the second by attending the Creative Drawing classes at Bury Art Gallery. They really inspired me.

Now I’m painting hard, selling my work and looking forward to my first big exhibition in September ’10. And I’m still passionate about ‘losing myself’ in a landscape!

Picture above:
This painting, 'The Nine Ladies of Stanton Moor', is in mixed media. I placed puddles of colour (acrylic ink) roughly where needed to capture this scene - a stone circle in the Peak District. Then I covered them with clingfilm and worked the colour into place, making the bubbles elongate and the ink run into a tracery or maze. When the picture was dry and the clingfilm peeled off I worked into the scene with inks and pastel to bring out the foliage and hint at the nine ladies dancing on the Sabbath before being turned into stone!

Mike Standbridge

Semi retired accountant who took up painting and drawing so I would have something to do on holiday while the wife was sunbathing. It now occupies a considerable part of my life.

Although I use watercolour and acylic my favourites are fast drying alkyd oils.
the picture attached is called "still life 1942." and was inspired by the credits sequence of "Sharpe" and to show that still lifes do not have to consist solely of fruit dishes and glasses.

Mary Shaw

I have been a member of the Bury Art Society approximately 5 years, in which time I have developed a passion for watercolour. As a young girl I always had an interest in sketching, usually the family pet.

After passing my GCE 'O' level art, I started work in an office and up until 1982 after the children grew up and left home I became painting again. Firstly in Oil and Acrylic, produced a couple of nice pictures, then work took over again until I retired in 2003 and began again, this time in ernest. I went to the Bury Arts and Crafts to do watercolour painting and have been doing this ever since.

After joining the Bury Art Society I have been introduced to various different styles of painting, with the added bonus of meeting people with a similar enthusiasm for art, and made lots of new friends.

Shymal Sarkar

Medical doctor, started painting as a hobby in 1999.Has exhibited several of my paintings at the Bury Art Gallery through Bury art Society during last 3 years. Prefers to work in Oil doing Landscapes and Portraits (life sizes).

Malcolm Lucas

The painting illustrated is 3’ 4” x 2’ 8” and is in acrylics on canvas.

Born in 1942 and worked in Lancashire all my life as a Textile Designer, Potter and Swimming teacher. I retired 15 years ago and now dedicate my time to drawing and painting. Many of my paintings are in private collections in America, Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom. I’ve won a Millennium Award for painting and a Society of Industrial Designers Award.

I am influenced in my work by van Gogh, Lucian Freud, Peter de Wint. I also have a keen interest in the great outdoors.

I paint in various mediums: pen and ink, watercolour, oil paints and acrylic.

Lee Crocker

I like to think of myself as a sketchbook artist more than a painter, because I prefer the instant enegry that is created in the sketchbook and the not knowing what's round the corner! To quote the artist Harold Gillman, I like to make 'the mundane memorable', my other main inspiration comes from working in the wonderful Bury Art Gallery. Most used medium is pen ,watercolour, bleach and anything else that's nearby.

Visit my personal website: http://leecrocker.blogspot.com/

Mary Edyvean

Mary was born in Bury, Lancashire . She trained initially at Bury School of Art, and then worked as an embroidery designer and later as a commercial artist.

After marriage and raising a family, she returned to fine art, attending many classes at the Bury Arts & Crafts Centre covering painting pottery and sculpture.

Painting has now become a major part of her busy life. Having worked in every media she paints mainly in watercolour and pastel. Landscapes and flowers are her favourite subjects though still life and portraits are in her repertoire

She has exhibited and sold her work at most local galleries and from the Mall Gallery, London . Her work can always be seen at the Wensley Gallery in Ramsbottom.

Peggy Hargreaves

I have been a member of the Bury Art Society for about twelve years and Secretary for the last ten, during which time the membership has increased greatly and so has the workload! I liaise with Bury Art Gallery to arrange the Annual Exhibition and work with the Programme Secretary and Chairman in the final stages of the yearly programme. I organise the twice yearly trips to the Bury Outdoor Pursuits Centre at Glenridding and have instigated a reasonably regular Newsletter which is circulated to members.

I started attending drawing classes about forty years ago and have continued enjoying the medium until the present day. I work mainly in pencil, pen and ink, and pastel, and occasionally watercolour. I enjoy drawing “on location” whilst on holiday, especially in Ireland, and the Outdoor Sketching trips with the Society. I have holiday drawings rather than holiday snaps! I enjoy portrait drawing and occasionally drawings of animals.

Carl Jacobs

Born in Manchester in 1947, my earliest recollection was drawing at every opportunity. At School, Art was by far my most favourite subject. I went onto Art College gaining a diploma in Graphic Art and Design followed by a much enjoyed career in Advertising, eventually setting up my own successful business. I had the good fortune to be able to retire early and spend more of my time on doing the thing I love the most, painting.

My work is a combination of my imagination along with photographs I have taken whilst on holiday in Cornwall and Europe. I use fine lines and blocks of colour to create an interesting semi-abstract fragmented composition. Although my work may be based on an actual place, my painting process relies more on a personal feeling for the essence of a moment in time.

I work mainly in acrylics because of their versatility and quick drying properties. They can be used similar to oils or when thinned, like watercolour and suit my method of working perfectly.

I have been an active member of Bury Art Society for ten years and am now programme secretary, the past five years of which I have successfully exhibited at Bury Art Gallery receiving several very highly commended awards by the Judges and in 2005, 2006 and 2007 winning the People’s Prize. Also in 2005, I won an Internet Art Competition and that September I donated a painting, which was sold at auction, at North Manchester Hospital, to raise funds for a local Leukaemia Research charity. I am also asked to give demonstrations, talks and workshops to Art Groups which are very well received.

Selected Shows or Exhibitions of my work:

Bury Metropolitan Rework Exhibition.
Whittakers Gallery, Rawtenstall
Last Drop Inn, Bolton
Worsley Festival
Blythe Gallery, Manchester
Coach House, Littleborough
Visitor Centre, Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale
No.10 Gallery, Rochdale
Hawarth Gallery, Accrington
Mevagissey Fine Arts Gallery, Cornwall
Upper Deck Gallery, Fraddon, Cornwall
The Gallery, Liverpool
Mooch Gallery, the Triangle, Manchester