Dear Member
As this is the first Newsletter you receive in 2026 may we wish you all
A Happy New Year
Not so long ago we held our traditional Christmas Party. There was a tremendous turn-out with more than 45 members coming along. I think I can fairly say that the event was enjoyed by all.
The quizzes were great fun and the raffle well supported! And the food! – you excelled by bringing along a super feast, so many thanks to all who participated.
Membership Renewal
Sorry about another reminder, but Membership Renewals have been coming in a little more slowly than usual this year.
Many thanks to the large number of you who have already renewed. If you haven’t, we do hope that you will decide to remain a member of Cookham Arts Club. Details of how to renew follow:
Your membership renewal will be due on 1st January, 2026. To renew, simply send your fee by bank transfer to our HSBC account (payee: Cookham Arts Club, sort code 40-42-09, a/c number 41157671) with your name followed by the word SUBS as reference. Fees are unchanged, £20 for single membership and £34 for a couple at the same address.
If you can do this as soon as possible it will be very helpful. We are not asking members to submit a renewal form this year so if any of your details have changed, please do remember to let us know. If you wish to pay by cheque, let us know and we will make sure you are sent the necessary details.
This will be your last newsletter if you decide not to renew.
Events in February
If you have already received your Membership Card and programme for the year, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CHANGE from the planned February event as Paul Oakley has had to withdraw. We hope to re-book Paul’s ‘sketch along’ at a later date.
Monthly Meeting
Monthly meeting – Thursday 19th February, 2 – 4pm in the Parish Centre.
Tushar Sabale is coming to demonstrate an oil painting of buildings/structures with a Thames venue. Tushar, a member of The Wapping Group and The Chelsea Art Society, came two years ago and impressed us with a London scene and about twelve months ago he ran a workshop. His skill with the oil paints showed how, with apparently effortless ease and minimal brush strokes, he could build up a light-filled scene. We look forward to seeing him at work again. If you missed Tushar’s previous visits, just look at his website for inspiration and we are sure you will want to come along on 19th February.
Club Workshop Day
Saturday February 21st 10am – 4pm in the Parish Centre. Church Gate, Cookham, SL6 9SP.
STILL PLACES AVAILABLE. PLEASE APPLY SOON IF YOU WANT TO COME ALONG.
Granulating watercolours in a landscape with Linda Saul RWS (www.lindasaul.co.uk)
Our February workshop has usually been an economically priced one, run by a club member. This year we have asked professional artist Linda Saul, who specialises in wonderfully textured and unique landscapes, to run the workshop. We have kept the price low, and with one look at the examples of her work here, and on her website, you will realise what a terrific artist she is.
To join the workshop, please contact us requesting how many places you will require by 8th February. Numbers will be limited so book early to be sure of a place. Cost: £30.
We will then email your confirmation and outline your payment options. No payment will be required until you receive an email and your place is confirmed.
Coming Soon
Spring Art Exhibition and Sale
You are invited to take part in our annual Spring Art Exhibition and Sale, 6th- 8th March 2026
This will be held in Pinder Hall, Cookham Rise, SL6 9EH and is for club members only.
Brief details as follows:
- To exhibit your paintings screens will be available for hire. £10.00 for a 4ft x 4ft screen and £15.00 for a 6ft x 4ft screen. 2 artists may share a screen.
- Members may exhibit single paintings on a ‘mixed artist’ screen for £5 per painting if they do not want a whole screen.
- To exhibit craft items a few tables are available at £15.00 per table. Depending on number of craft entries we may only offer ½ tables and £7.50. contact exhibition organiser
- If you hire a screen, you may offer up to 15 greetings cards for sale.
- On the screens we will only hang original artwork, no bigger than 76cm and not reproductions/prints.
- If you hire a screen, you may, in addition, put a maximum of 3 unframed pictures for sale in racks – originals or prints are acceptable – prints must be of ‘archive’ quality (probably ‘professionally’ printed Giclee prints). Digitally created artwork (not photographs or digitally modified photographs) may be entered as unframed prints.
- Artwork in the racks, whether prints or originals, should not be priced too low – as a guide; approx. A4 sized, £20 minimum; approx. A3 sized or larger, £30 minimum.
Please visit our Spring Art Sale and Exhibition page. All the detailed information you need for the Spring sale can be found in the FAQ’s.
Fill in the screen/table request form (found in ‘How do I book a screen/table’) if you would like to exhibit.
Once we receive your request you will be sent the Entry form and details of how to pay by bank transfer.
It will really help with our planning if you send your request form as soon as possible.
Closing date for your Request is Monday 23rd February 2026
Coming in May
The Cookham Festival
Once again the club has been asked to support Cookham Festival
This year the chosen theme is Seasonal Views of Cookham
https://www.cookhamfestival.co.uk/
The venue has now been confirmed, The Holy Trinity Church Cookham. SL6 9SP, 1st May-17th May
Members can submit up to 3 ‘framed’ paintings no bigger than 50cm x 50cm and 2 unframed, all on the theme – Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter, and up to 15 cards, any theme.
A suggestion, could be the same image in 2/3 of the seasons.
Get painting – details of how to enter can be found on our Cookham Festival page.
Closing date for your Request is Monday 27th April 2026
Tuesday Painting Workshops
At Cookham Dean Village Hall, Church Road, Cookham Dean, Berks SL6 9PY, from 1.40pm to 5pm.
| Tuesday Painting: cost £2 A topic, appraisal, tea and cake |
Tuesday Extra: cost £2 Painting, tea and biscuits |
| February 3rd: A black and white flower arrangement (could use pen & ink – think of texture and mark making) | February 10th: Paint what you like |
| February 17th: A simple still life drawn with pencil or pen in one continuous line | February 24th: Paint what you like |
TIPS OF THE MONTH
With our Spring Exhibition coming soon it is worth sharing a few thoughts about copyright.
- When you create an original work for example a painting or photograph, such that it exists in some tangible form you own the copyright.
- Even if you sell the original, you still own the image rights – you can still reproduce it, share it or publish it. Only if you explicitly transfer the copyright in writing do you lose these rights.
- It is a good idea to keep dated evidence that the work is yours e.g. photographs with metadata (Exif files) (especially showing progress of the work), or dated high-resolution scans.
- Creating a copy of someone else’s work (such as an artwork, photograph or online image) infringes their copyright. You must not sell (e.g. in one of our exhibitions), publish or post online such work unless you have permission from the original artist.
If you are an SAA member, you will find a very good article about this in the winter 2025 ‘Paint and Create’. If you are not a member, it is worth borrowing a copy if you can – there is a lot more information in it. The Club has a copy which you will find at CDVH during a Tuesday Painting session.
The above bullet points are an effort to summarise some copyright ideas – please do your own research if you require more detailed information. (The SAA article suggested gov.uk/ipo and dacs.org.uk).
Yours sincerely
Robert Jones
Newsletter Editor