A chilly start to 2025 dictated in part by the double nature of our meeting; sketching in the Old Sarum hangars first followed by an evening lecture from our very own Keith Burns GAvA at the Salisbury Museum.

Our small but willing band of artists grabbed a coffee from Old Sarum’s Hangar 3 café to catch up before heading into the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection itself. Finding the temperature a bit unforgiving our artists nonetheless managed to create some fine depictions from the collection as winter sun filtered through the overhead glass lanterns. The conference room beckoned soon enough with the tea urn whistling, and joined by our Guild Trustee Richard Folkes, we sat down to discuss the days works.

Into the evening and the welcome, and much warmer Old Ale & Coffee House just outside of Salisbury Cathedral’s main gate for dinner and a pint before attending Keith Burns’ lecture.
I am sure that we are all aware of Keith’s work with Ladybird books with historian James Holland, suffice to say his artistic journey through comic books and the Guild is well worth a listen. His explanation of ideas generation using reference models, photo montage and dozens of preliminary sketches for each finished artwork amazed us. Considering that there were nearly 300 finished book illustrations in all, it makes one want to pick up the pace somewhat when painting.

Thank you to all who came along; to BDAC for their hospitality, and Salisbury Museum who had Guild members descend to take up the front row of Keith’s lecture which was otherwise very well attended.

Rob Hames GAvA
West Region Organiser