Cicely Deloughry: I regard myself very much as an amateur beginner. At school, art was not a subject for girls, especially during the war. When I retired in my seventies, I joined a weekly half-day class tutored by David Woodrow at Glossop Adult Centre, which I attended for about nine years until Covid interrupted. Since then, I have regarded myself as self-taught, using photographs, magazines and online pictures as inspiration.
I have found this new interest extremely satisfying and have made many new friends with whom to share ideas and helpful criticism.
It is with some trepidation that I am exhibiting in the Labour Club, which is my first display in public, but this too has been a learning experience. I hope that it might inspire others, who hitherto have regarded themselves as totally without any talent or skill, to not hesitate but “have a go” and discover an occupation that brings great pleasure and satisfaction into their lives.
David Fowler: When I first moved Glossop in 2001, I started going to WEA art classes at the Adult Education Centre with Dave Woodrow and he has been a great inspiration and source of advice ever since.
My dad used to take me to the art gallery at Norwich Castle Museum when I was a small boy to look at landscape paintings and something must have stayed with me.
I like colour and texture so pastel, and oil seem to suit me best. Walking with the Labour Club book group during Covid helped me to discover the enormous range of dramatic landscapes in Derbyshire. I am looking forward to more plein air painting in the Peaks.
As Cic and I play Scrabble every Friday we thought we would display our pictures together.
