PATRON
CO-PRESIDENTS
Mary Jacobsen
Julian Halsby
Our Officers and Committee




I started my teaching career in London where I took advantage of many musical and varied artistic activities and visited exhibitions. When I came to Somerset I married, had a family and I continued to teach for many years until I retired in 2009. Finally, I had time to be able to follow my interest in art once more visiting galleries and museums and taking part in textile and painting adventures


Deborah Edlmann

I left school at 16 and was a PA until having our second child who is special needs. Along with 2 lovely friends I started a Nanny Agency but had to close it after my husband had a serious illness. After that I set up a Bridge Club with another good friend based in London and the South West with expert teachers and where I taught bridge to the ‘beginners’. Over the years I have raised money for different charities usually with a ‘bridge theme’ involved. I thoroughly enjoy going to Art Exhibitions and have joined the Sherborne Arts Society to have the opportunity to learn more about different art subjects.
Ann Gidney

I spent much of my childhood in New York. My Mother was an artist and a member of the Museum of Modern Art. My interest in art was born out of visiting many wonderful exhibitions at the museum. Years later, after bringing up my family, I did an Open University degree. This included a general humanities course and a wonderful Art History module. I take up every cultural opportunity when travelling. I joined the Arts Society as I am hungry to learn.

I completed my teaching career in 2016 after 40 years as a qualified teacher, retiring as the Head of a Somerset school. Since then, I have had more freedom to explore my interests and joined Sherborne Arts Society, where I received a warm welcome.

In a career spanning 45 years starting with a short spell training in Architecture in Paris and London, from there on to graduate courses in Film Production at the London School of Film Technique which then led on to the Cinematography course at the National Film School in Beaconsfield as one of their first students in 1972.
Graduating in 1975, there followed periods working with Film Crews on TV commercials, two years in Nigeria running a Film Unit, then periods on Feature Films both abroad and in UK studios.
Then on to Documentaries of all genres that took me all over the world with some of the most well-known Presenters, Actors and Personalities including Royalty. Most recently I had been helping to make drama films in Zambia
