For all the latest news and information, about our classes, artwork and special offers as well as information and links to what’s going on in the local arts scene.







Wednesday 1 December 2010

Wednesday evening class is cancelled

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Weather


Hi All, the studio is closed on tuesday night, will be open on wednesday morning weather permiting

Tuesday 26 October 2010



Depeche Mode painting, currently on display in the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon

A commission piece

Bobby painted for a local charity

some of my latest artwork, thanks to Taylor for helping out with the Bond picture and Ben for parts of the design.

Saturday 16 October 2010


Tiger by Gary Crease

Wednesday 13 October 2010


Lee Penstone from Wednesday mornings, Acrylic Collage Seascape. Looks Great !

Thursday 7 October 2010


Wow, you really getting the hang of this Una!

Friday 1 October 2010


commuting from L A to attend your art class isn't such a problem when you can produce work like this, well done Una !

Friday 24 September 2010


Exhibition of the students work Sept 2010

Eric Webb with his painting that he raffled for charity and raised £215 for the Essex Air Ambulance Service
Depeche Mode artwork finished yesterday, signed limited edition prints on canvas available from next month!

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Martin Dyer


Martin from the Tuesday evening class has an exhibition of his work in Basildon Library during the month of June, well worth a look!

Saturday 24 April 2010


Hi all you Art Class painters! We now have in stock handmade Dean smith art Aprons, made by Liz (studio 54)and embroidery by Shirley (studio 4) never get paint on your clothes again! Aprons are £14


As you can see, the Hulk is all but finished, next will be the Rock, then the drawing of Spiderman!

Monday 12 April 2010


It is with great sadness to announce that Mark passed away on Sunday 11th April 2010. The exhibition of his work currently on show at Basildon Library meant so much to him. I think you will agree by the paintings on display there that Mark was an extremely accomplished and gifted artist and one that will be missed by all who know him.

Thursday 1 April 2010

Basildon District Art Trail

Hi all, just to remind everone, if you are interested in putting work into the Art Trail application forms are available to download from the Art Trail website, which is www.thebdat.com.

For those that would like to be involved but do not wish to apply, I will be running a fringe event that weekend where your work will be displayed.(no details yet)

Thursday 25 March 2010



Mark Milsom from the Thursday night class, will be exhibiting a selection of his work at Basildon Library all throughout April. I promise you wont be disappointed.

Monday 22 March 2010

Basildon District Art Trail Pre Launch


The Pre-launch as reported by the Echo

Saturday 27 February 2010


The Parliment Protestor Brian Haws as drawn by Pat Forbes from the Thursday morning art class, complete with Dean Smith Art and Save the Woodsman badges!

Thursday 18 February 2010




Basildon artist gets invite to Art Trail pre launch party- family still in shock!

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Save the woodsman sculpture

Hi all,
See what Old Man Stan thinks of Basildon Council and its removal of the woodsman sculpture from its home in St Martins Square.

click on the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVAs-IxB59A

Saturday 13 February 2010

Work Experience



Work experience student, Charis's excellent drawing of John Lennon and lending a helping hand with my current artwork.

Friday 12 February 2010

The film footage on the blog was filmed by Les on his new digital film camera, it coincided with Jenny's birthday. In all our classes cards and cake are very much the order of the day. Cara had popped down to Barleylands during the previous week and had suggested I make Jenny a card with me as Elvis on the front cover, straight away I thought that Cara would make a better Elvis. Whilst Les was hoping to film some footage of the artwork and art class, he also filmed the moment that Jenny was given her card signed by the whole class (including an unaware Cara) and the moment that Cara found out that she was the Elvis on the front of the card. I must admit I did think she was going to hit me! start with the video at the bottom and work your way up.

Thursday 11 February 2010

Wednesday 10 February 2010


The Tuesday Night class.
From L - R,
Martin, Sarah, Debbie, Gemma, David, Simon, Sue and Janet.

Thursday 4 February 2010



Teresa's many differant pictures of Twiggy as well as Jose, John and Gene!

Thursday 28 January 2010

Thanks to everyone for supporting our campaign to bring the Woodsman Sculpture back to where it belongs in St Martins square, in just a week we have managed to get not far off 670 supporters. our next move is to contact the Echo to make them aware of this and the level of public anger. If we can ask all our friends on facebook to join this group and push this figure to over 1000 I think that will send out a clear message to the councillors that made the decision to remove Daves Sculpture, many of there council seats are won and lost with fewer votes than 1000.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

The Woodsman












Todays Echo, , Geoff Williams quite rightly states "When politicians try to determine public taste in matters artistic we are entering dangerous waters indeed"











Monday 25 January 2010


This was in the Echo only a couple of weeks back.

Friday 22 January 2010


When Basildon Councillor Kevin Blake paid his surprise unexpected, foot in the door, visit to Dave Chapelle's widow( Dave died very recently) to explain why Daves statue of the Woodsman Poacher would be moved from its home and the place where he sculpted it in St Martins Square, part of his 'spiel' was based on how much loved the sculpture was and how it would be lovingly looked after by Basildon Council at What(sic) Tyler Park. True to form Basildon Council and Kevin Blakes interpretation of 'lovingly looked after' is alot differant from our interpretation! The word DUMPED springs to mind.

Thursday 21 January 2010



Question. what is it?


The Who on a Lambretta side panel, as yet not finished.


Answer. The Incredible Hulk of course!

Tuesday 19 January 2010

It was with utter dismay that I learnt that the council had torn down the sculpture of The Woodsmans Poacher that had been beautifully carved by the talented sculptor Dave Chapelle.

The councillors responsible should be ashamed of themselves! The art community in the district, of which they know little, has a tough time as it is dispelling the myth that Basildon has no culture without them getting rid of popular local sculpture.
There has been no proper consultation with the people of Basildon with whom the statue actually belongs to. They may think by putting the clock there or by offering to put Edgars head in the Towngate Theatre, that this token gesture may somehow appease the local community, well it doesn't. The clock should go back to its original site in the centre of the town, the Woodsmans Poacher should be repaired, returned and looked after, with information on the plinth about who, how and why it was carved and Edgars head also carved by Dave should be located nearby as a fitting tribute to an amazingly talented artist..

As elected representatives it is their responsibility to preserve and promote the culture of the district and its artists, to support and celebrate all of the district art and culture, if that is too difficult a thing for them to do then maybe by the time of the next local elections it will be the people of the district that decides it wants to do a bit of removing!

Please protest to your local councillor, Basildon Council and join our group on facebook to 'save the woodsman' http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=save+the+woodsman&init=quick#/group.php?gid=274143641248&ref=search&sid=645358766.792253933..1

Saturday 16 January 2010

The Statue of Eiffel





Here we have the (almost) finished painting, the spraying was completed Saturday afternoon amidst much coughing and choking and
all without the aid of make-up! and I dont think Debbie was wearing any either!
Great Fun. Great painting!

Thursday 14 January 2010

Twiggy


Teresa Alston, from Thursday morning class, painting of Twiggy. Excellent!!

Pat Forbes

Brian Haw,
the well known peace protestor who has been camped out in Parliament Square since 2nd June 2001, as drawn by Pat Forbes in the Thursday morning class.

It's the Thursday morning art class! well half of them.


Here is the latest update of Nicky's painting, sorry it's been so long.
unfortunately it's not being kept at the studio anymore, but will update as and when I can. Note for Nicky's Dad, the eye IS in the right place!

Friday 8 January 2010

Friday class and Saturday classes are on! were open, hoorah!!!!

Thursday 7 January 2010

Hi All, all classes for Thursday 7th Jan have been cancelled, it's not good!

Wednesday 6 January 2010

well, it's now 7.10 Wednesday night, at home nice and warm with a big glass of red wine! depending on how much snow falls overnight or how much wine gets drunk will depend on whether there is a thursday morning art class, it's not looking good I can tell yer!

Class Cancelation

Wednesday Night Class is Cancelled.



well folks, this is what Barleylands looks like at 11.15am on wednesday morning, with heavy snow still forecast for later today and tomorrow. so far no classes have been cancelled, but if your not sure just call the studio. 01268 522973

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Happy New Year

Hi all, hmmm, new years resolutions, lose weight, try and make some money and..... blog at least once a week, well the first two are possible I guess! ok well were all back this week, unfortunately so it appears is the snow as well. It's supposed to be here late tuesday early wednesday, should the studio be closed, information will be available here and on the answer machine, yeah thats the one, the answer machine we never use.
thanks see you all soon