PATRON

Dr Paul Atterbury

CO-PRESIDENTS

Mary Jacobsen

Julian Halsby

Our Officers and Committee

Chair
 

Niels Kraunsoe

An Englishman of Danish origin, Niels trained as a civil engineer. He lived in Hong Kong, working around the Asia Pacific region from 1970 to 2001 and witnessed the emergence of China onto the world stage. His work varied across the infrastructure spectrum from property development for a Chinese family business to  Facilities Director of the newly formed Hospital Authority  and Project Head for the new international airport. He was responsible the building and operation of the spectacular new Convention Centre, centrepiece of the ceremonies marking the Handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. He and Ann spend their time looking after their old mill house in Iwerne Minster as well as travelling and seeing their large family. He has thoroughly enjoyed his 20 year membership of the Sherborne Arts Society, from the quality of the lectures to the visits, tours and fellowship.

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 19th 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.

Projection/Co-Website/IT
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

Marketing

 
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.

Powerpoint presentations

 

 

 

 

Angela White

Angela studied Graphics and Illustration at Canterbury College of Art, before working in set and costume design for The Marlowe and Gulbenkian theatres and graphics for children’s television. Later she specialised in Museum Design as head of design for The National Maritime Museum. Free lance work included graphics for The London Dungeon and Bedford Museum. Angela moved to Dartmouth with her children and was tracked down to design the new galleries for Dartmouth Museum, Britannia Naval College and the Newcomen Engine House. Her last work, The Mayflower Gallery, was opened last Christmas and she is at present designing the David Hulse gallery in Dartmouth.

Angela and Richard moved to Sherborne 8 years ago and love the town, it’s rich history and have met so many friendly and welcoming people. We would love to contribute to this community.

You might spot Angela and her partner Richard on their tandem… as a blur!

Member Communications

Hilary Smith

Hilary worked in IT for a number of companies performing a variety of roles including writing software to extract data from RAF accident data recorders and to launch a satellite into the early phase of its orbit. She retired from performing an IT project manager role for an American company in 2013.

She has always enjoyed the arts: music, painting / drawing and sculpture. She learned the clarinet at school and thoroughly enjoyed playing it both solo and with the school orchestra.

She really enjoys the Arts Society lectures because they give an insight into what is behind the art and the artist and often give a historical context which adds depth to her knowledge and understanding.