This year’s Menston Art Club exhibition and sale, on Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th of May, at the Kirklands Community Centre, is a special one. It is 50 years ago that Richard Bayer, tutor, mentor and friend of David Hockney, generally regarded as the greatest living artist today, led a small team to set up the club. One member of that team, Ann Carr, is still a member of the club and paints and exhibits regularly.
Another ‘special’ this year is a silent auction. Bids for the beautiful framed pastel of ‘The Doges Palace in Venice’ (pictured above) by John Ridyard, president of the Club, will be auctioned with proceeds going to the Psoriasis Association. Bids will be taken throughout the exhibition.
Selfie portraits produced in charcoal by children ages 3 and 4 at Menston Preschool will be exhibited in the cafe area.

Ann Wade, Chair of the club, Pat Hargreaves, Membership Secretary, and Judy Illingworth
Each member of the club can exhibit up to three framed works and a portfolio of up to 12 unframed works.
The exhibition is open from 10.30am to 5.00pm on Saturday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. Admission is free. As usual, a varied selection of members’ paintings and crafts will be for sale.
A café will be serving food and drinks; there will also be a cake stall and a raffle.
Further information about the club can be found on its website.
Attended and bought a painting for our daughter as a rerminder of Yorkshire – she now lives and works in Devon. Recipient is delighted with her gift.
We thought the standard of the paintings was exceptionally high this year.
Stewart & Val Ross
2 Grange Farm Close, Menston