CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR ART FRIENDS WARWICKSHIRE delivered at the AGM, April 2026

You have all been a great support to Art Friends Warwickshire during 2025 and for which I thank you.
I have enjoyed my first year as Chairman and especially the committee meetings which are
lively and full of ideas. We are lucky to have the committee we have. I should remind you at
this stage that I agreed to be Chaiman for a period of two years, year one is now completed.
So I am on the lookout for my successor. It is a super role to fulfil and the committee is such
that there are times I feel redundant! So don’t be put off by the thought of it.
EVENTS
There has been a variety of events at a selection of venues throughout the county and this we
plan to continue in 2026. Hill Close Gardens have proved to be a popular venue for both the
committee and those attending as there are good IT facilities, plenty of space inside and lots
of free parking outside.
The wide variety of events during 2025 included Dr Vicky Avery talking on the art of slavery
at the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge and Professor Paul Smith talking on Seurat. The topic of
Restitution was thought provoking – should we, shouldn’t we return works of art? There are
a lot of aspects to consider it not being straightforward and I am sitting firmly on the fence.
A highlight of 2025 was the lecture on the discovery and restoration of a portrait of Henry
VIII from the Ralph Sheldon collection. Full restoration is underway and we hope there will
be an opportunity to visit it in the Warwick Gallery in time to come.
Another highlight was the trip to Antwerp which was a “full-on” few days covering the art
and architecture of this famous city, home to many artists over the years.
This year’s trip to Munich takes place imminently and is a sell out.
One of our Award recipients gave a talk detailing how the money received from AFW was
used to help young people in north Warwickshire. We aim to have one or two lectures per
year from those to whom we have donated funds.
We try to vary the topics over the year and as a contrast last year, we had one on Mary Quant,
fabulous for those of us of a certain age. We were able to see and handle the extensive
collection of clothes the speaker brought to show us. Reminiscences were high and amusing
with much laughter at how we used to dress to impress.
Please do continue to support us. The committee has a great deal of expertise which is put to
good use in finding speakers, events and visits for you all. Our future events are listed on the
website and will have further additions in May after our next committee meeting.

ARTLOOK
This quite formidable quarterly publication is prepared by Dianne Page. There have been
articles written by some of you and she always welcomes more. Again, all back copies are to
be found on the website.
WEBSITE
This is kept up to date by Brian Phillips and I beg you to check it regularly. It includes a lot
of information about past, present and future events along with Awards given. You can book
online for events. It is an easy-to-use site. If you have suggestions as to how it could be
improved or items added, please do let me or any of the committee know. The committee
contact details are on the website.
We are also grateful to Jason Liversidge who keeps a keen eye on our website all the way
from British Columbia.
FINANCES AND MEMBERSHIP
Whilst there is a separate report provided in your papers and Marianne is here to take any
questions, I would like to highlight that we had 166 members in 2025 and our numbers are
currently 128, so as you can see we have lost quite number of members. Please do encourage
friends to join us, maybe ask them along to a meeting as a taster. If you know of reasons why
membership is not being renewed, please do let me or a member of the committee know.
Membership fee is held for 2026 at £25pa. Thank you to Marianne for her overseeing of our
finances for the past 2 years. Thanks are also due to John Goodman who has examined the
accounts.
AWARDS
A separate report is provided by Veronica Cutler. I give thanks to her and Brian Phillips who,
together with myself assess requests for funding.
THANK YOU
The AGM cannot be concluded without a huge list of thank yous.
The committee is wonderful, supportive, imaginative and hard working. Sadly we have to say
goodbye and thank you to Kate Purcell, she who introduced us to the speaker on Mary Quant.
Although Kate’s stay with us was short, she has provided us with such great ideas and I hope
she continues to offer inspirational thoughts to us. Good luck with your personal artistic
endeavours some of which I believe have already been on exhibition.
Felicity Furber who has given the talk on Frank Lloyd Wright has also been a strong
committee and committed member. Huge thanks to you Felicity and we look forward to
seeing you at future events.
Then Marianne is stepping down from her role overseeing our finances. Thank you Marianne
for your hard and organised work and for advising us on costings etc.. Sue Yeomans is
coming back onto the committee to take over this role.

And last, but most definitely not least, is Gill Ashley-Smith. Gill has been on the committee
for 15 years. She organised the tours for us until last year and has raised at least £10,000. She
is also the link with Kineton and the super teas provided by the first class bakers of the
village WI. I know Gill will continue as a loyal supporter of AFW. There will be a more
detailed tribute and thanks to her in the next issue of ArtLook.

Faith Matthews (Chair)