Our team

Chair

Nicole Lyscom

A PhD in Immunology and a background in scientific research may make me a surprising choice for this position . However my recent 20-year career in conference production involved me in all aspects of preparing, marketing and running conferences (biotechnology of course) and team leadership. These skills relate directly to my role in the Arts Society. My own and my husband’s diplomatic career allowed me to live and travel extensively in Europe and North America, giving me the opportunity to further my strong interest in the arts. On retiring to Sherborne I was delighted to discover this vibrant Arts Society.

Vice Chair

Visits

Joan Biles

Joan studied Studio Pottery at Bournemouth, and Education at Exeter. After spells teaching general art at a boarding school for disturbed boys near Beaminster, and at Colfox Comprehensive School in Bridport, she was delighted to find that the Dorset Adult Education Service was looking for a Pottery tutor and for the next 22 years taught adults of all ages and abilities the joys of clay. Her final post until retirement was teaching Ceramics in the Sherborne Girls Art Department.

Vice Chair

Study Days

Jenny Newman

Jenny taught Art for 40 years, latterly as Head of Art at Sherborne Girls’ from 1994-2016. Trained in Fine Art, her love has always been painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture; she has a broad knowledge of Art and Design, which she loves to share with others. On retiring she started two University of the Third Age (U3A) groups in Sherborne, for which she gives illustrated talks on current / forthcoming exhibitions or collections. Many members take up the opportunity subsequently to visit the galleries and museums and sometimes Arts Society members have been welcomed on these trips. She is keen on walking, birdwatching and cooking.

Secretary

Assists with Visits

Jane Findley

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

Treasurer

Richard Kidd

After retiring early from a major firm of consulting engineers, Richard spent 16 years circumnavigating the world on a 42 foot sailing yacht with his wife Susan. They returned to England in June 2017 and moved to the Sherborne area (Henstridge). Richard’s knowledge of the Arts is, at best, limited but he is keen to learn. His early education in the Arts was possibly marred by compulsory and unguided visits to the Dulwich College Picture Gallery on wet games afternoons as an 11-12 year old!

Liaison and Social

Julian Halsby

I studied History of Art at Emmanuel College, Cambridge before pursuing a career lecturing on art and design history in London art colleges. I have written 7 books and many articles, my specialist period being the late 19^th century in Europe. Since retirement I have lectured for The Arts Society in the UK and abroad. I am a member of the Critics Circle and The International Association of Art Critics. I am also a practising artist and an elected member of the Royal Society of British Artists

Programme Secretary

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.

Programme Secretary

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.

Membership Secretary

Gill Evans

I have always had an interest in the arts and although I do not have any art background, I go to most of the exhibitions at the British Museum and at Tate Britain, especially JMW Turner. For may years I travelled to Bristol to see Welsh National Opera in every one of their seasons as that is my favourite of the arts. Thank goodness for live streaming now!

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.

Evening Projectionist

Website

Denis Borrow

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

Member without Portfolio

Melanie Lillie

I have had a lifelong love and fascination with the arts in general but at school I was the girl who couldn’t create anything in art classes whether drawing, painting, sculpting or pottery. As I grew up I started to explore art and as a teenager first discovered the impressionists in Paris who got me hooked. It was a trip to Moscow in 1977 when I first visited the Tretyakov Gallery which opened my eyes to the universality of art. I could not believe that within such a repressive regime there could be such a fine collection of Western European art. Since then visits to galleries and collections have been a major feature of holidays and downtime when on trips for work. I married into a very creative and talented family who encouraged me to collect as finances permitted. Top of my current wish list is a piece of sculpture by Bridget McCrum.

PATRON

CO-PRESIDENTS

Our Officers and Committee