Art exhibition to take on a virtual setting

Stafford Art Group is getting set to hold its Winter Exhibition, a month-long display of works done by the group and which, traditionally, would be held at Oddfellows Hall in the town centre.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the group has been unable to hold its weekly meetings and, additionally, have had to cancel plans for a physical exhibition.

Group press officer Reg Sayer said the group had taken to the online world during lockdown to do weekly challenges and that had led to an idea of how to do the winter exhibition.

He said: "We've had a couple of people who know what they're doing completely revamp our website, so we decided to hold the exhibition on the website.

"We've tried to make it look and feel the same as a physical exhibition as we've broken it down into several rooms, so we hope it will go down well with the public."

The exhibition will feature gallery rooms showing exhibitions such as portraits and life studies, landscapes, animals, abstract pieces and work by young artists in the group.

Mr Sayer, who has been painting for 10 years, said pieces would also be available for sale during the month-long exhibition, discussed between the artist and the purchaser.

The 81-year-old said he thought it was wonderful that the exhibition was able to take place after all the concerns around coronavirus.

He said: "It's really helped to keep our group together and has also given us a chance to make a modest profit.

"We also get to help a good cause as well as we usually charge £5 for people to submit a painting, but on this occasion, we're asking people to donate to Katherine House Hospice instead."

The Stafford Art Group Winter Exhibition, which runs from December 1 to 31, can be seen via staffordartgroup.co.uk