THIS coming weekend on May 23rd, Clapham Art Group would have been opening their Annual Art Exhibition to the public.

An Exhibition has been held by the group without a break since 1951 so this would have been the group's 69th year.

But like everyone else, the group's plans have been thrown into disarray by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Now members are working in lockdown and hoping to exhibit in the future.

Clapham Art Group was founded in 1949 by Peggy McDonald and Cyril Harrington, who was Head of Art at Giggleswick School.

An online exhibition of Cyril’s work completed when he was a prisoner-of-war in Germany during the Second World War is being held at The Folly in Settle at the present time.

The Art Group Exhibitions, held originally in the Potting Shed, then the Old Manor House in Clapham, were mainly for showing the breadth and scope of the work produced by the members and, over time, became opportunities for purchase.

Over the years, and with a changing membership, the popularity of the Exhibition grew.

A move to Clapham Village Hall followed with purpose-built display stands and a rapid growth in attendance numbers drawn from a wide area.

With the addition of refreshments provided by volunteers and sold in aid of the local Parish Church, the Exhibition has become a much anticipated date in the local calendar.

The aims of the Group remain the same, however, which is to foster and encourage the practice of drawing and painting and to further develop exciting and innovative techniques amongst a group of artists who mainly are, or have been, involved in art in a professional capacity. There is no tuition.

At the present time, members are continuing their artwork in lockdown, but the group hope they will be able to organise work for show in the future.

If anyone wishes to hear of future developments, please send an e-mail to claphamart51@gmail.com.