Berkhamsted painters, sketchers and textile creatives will showcase their work at online exhibition

Galleries have been closed and art groups have been unable to get together during coronavirus lockdown – but that has not stopped Berkhamsted Art Society members from getting creative.

They have put together an impressive exhibition of artwork created in their studios, spare rooms or in corners of their kitchens and dining rooms over the past year of pandemic restrictions.

And art lovers now have the chance to visit their virtual show when it goes live on the Society’s website on Friday, April 23.

The BAS Online Lockdown Exhibition showcases activities and events from the past year of lockdown that have inspired talented members of the Society, which this year marks its 90th anniversary.

Some of the exhibits are a light-hearted look at life, some a more reflective representation of the difficult past 12 months.

Still life studies, landscapes, portraits, beautiful pots, accomplished creations in textile and depictions of local scenes are all included. Many of the exhibits are for sale, with prices starting from £10.

Ian Jones, the Society Treasurer, said: “Just like everyone else, our normal society activities had to stop during lockdown – and that included our social coffee mornings at the pub and our annual exhibitions at Berkhamsted Civic Centre.

“But we continued to meet up over a coffee thanks to Zoom, where we chatted and laughed together, and supported each other through the highs and lows of lockdown.

“The coffee mornings were a chance to show and share some of the art we had been working on.

"We chose a ‘theme’ each time to inspire us too, and many of the pieces in the online show and for sale demonstrate how imaginative members have been in interpreting the theme."

Catherine Archer, of the Berkhamsted Art Society, added: “I urge everyone to visit the show and take a look at this wonderful array of lockdown art."

In normal times, Berkhamsted Art Society meets for talks and winter life drawing evenings, in the Court House for, and at various locations in and around the town for summer sketching evenings.

All ages and abilities of people who like to draw and paint are welcome.

The BAS Online Lockdown Exhibition will be available from Friday, April 23.