An invitation by the School of Army Aeronautical Engineering at Lyneham, saw us return in July for some plein air painting with an Apache helicopter forward base set up to study.
Through our chairman’s contacts with the Chief Instructor of the SAAE, Lt. Col Josh Lively, a small band of artists met at the gate with Warrant Officer Dave Cater duly escorting us to a kitchen for coffee and a chat with several interested officers. Throughout the day we had all ranks taking a keen interest in our work, including the young REME personnel armed with blank SA80 rifles slung about them, reminding us of the exercise’s nature.
The vagaries of a British summer did not stop us cracking on outside on the exposed airfield, and we were soon in full aviation artist mode, wielding pencils, pens, brushes and cameras. With an unhindered view of our subject, wind, clouds and stops for sandwiches and flasks not with-standing, we were soon at critique stage, outside flanked by the Apache.
Whilst watching the Swallows skim the grass all about us, I realised that I was actually there to paint and it wasn’t a nature ramble so scribbled a few preliminary sketches! With a canvas board given to me by Patricia Forrest propped on my field easel I pulled out short flat bright brushes and set to work with some newly acquired Cranfield and Sennelier oil paint, roughing in huge clouds that echoed the slab sided Apache itself, and with only one light source shadows were indeed simpler!
I mention the pens, pencils, paint and inks here, as if like me, you as artists are always interested in what materially goes into an artwork. Cranfield paints are made in Cwmbran even, so Welsh painters take note!
A huge thank you to all at the SAAE, who made our day such an enjoyable one, we will return.

Rob Hames GAvA
West Region Organiser