About

THE DUNMOW ART GROUP

Who are we?

The Dunmow Art Group was founded in 1971 by a group of local people interested in painting and drawing. Membership is open to all persons interested in Fine Art and the group has held an annual Exhibition and Sale of members’ work since 1975.

What do we do?

We organise  painting and drawing sessions or workshops, talks and demonstrations. If there is sufficient interest, during the summer, arrangements are made for outdoor painting and drawing at different locations, some not open to the public.

Where are we?

The  meetings are usually held in the Talberd Room of the E.T.Foakes Memorial Hall, Stortford Road, Great Dunmow, CM6 1DG (opposite Foakes House, the Dunmow Town Council office) 

These events are organised by a committee elected at the Annual General Meeting.

The current Committee members are:

Chair: Audrey McNeill

Vice Chair: Helen Williams

Classes Organiser: Helen Williams

Talks/Demonstrations Organiser: Julie Bull

Treasurer:  Sara Barber

Membership and Communication: Louise Longman

Exhibition: Audrey McNeill

Equipment: Kay Cossey 

Promotion and Social media: Louise Longman, Julie Bull, Audrey McNeill 

Website: Audrey McNeill

Logistics: Debbie Goodman

Open Studios: Jo Mayo

 

Membership is £35 a year, payable at the AGM in December. Guests are welcome at all our activities at £5 per visit. There is an additional £1 fee payable at each session attended for all members.

If you would like to join us, please visit our membership page or contact dunmowartgroup@gmail.com

MORE ABOUT THE DUNMOW ART GROUP

Our beginnings

It was at an Evening Class where Cyril Deakins was tutor, that the idea of a Dunmow Art Group (DAG) was first proposed and the inaugural meeting took place on 11 September 1971 at the home of Mrs Helena Romanes. The first committee elected was: Cyril Deakins (Chairman,) Alan Hughes (Secretary), Molly Johnson (Treasurer), David Helme, Nancy Blyth and Ann McLurg. In 1991 Cyril Deakins retired as DAG Chairman after 20 years and was succeeded by John Woodrow (91-93), Jan Faithfull (93-94), Tom Deakins (94-97), Philippa Thomas (97-02), Eileen Bell (02-06), Sydney Smith (06-14), Barrie Sumpton (15-18), Chris Runacres (18-21) and Audrey McNeill (21- present). 

Meetings were initially held in the homes of members, but by1983 they had moved to the Talberd Room. In the early years, the number of Members was limited by a selection process based on paintings submitted by those wishing to join. There was also a restricted number of Associates with limited participation. By 2003, the number of founding members had declined and new applicants were discouraged by the selection process so that overall numbers were falling. Selection was therefore discontinued and there is now only one grade of membership with full participation in the Group’s activities open to anyone interested in Fine Art. 

The original Dunmow Art Group Constitution can be found Here

Serving the local community

In 1978 members painted a mural, designed by Alan Hughes, in the Talberd Room. By 2008 it was showing signs of wear so the painting was restored to its original condition by DAG members under the direction of Tom Deakins. For the millennium, DAG was again invited by the Town Council to paint a mural, this time for the Dourdan Pavilion on the Recreation Ground. It takes the form of a demountable panel, designed by Cyril Deakins and painted by members of the Group, depicting scenes from Great Dunmow and its twin town of Dourdan.

DAG is now a flourishing Group of about 50 members, some professional artists but mostly enthusiastic amateurs, from across the county but centred on Great Dunmow.

If you would like to join us, please visit the membership page contact dunmowartgroup@gmail.com