Exhibition will illustrate trio’s shared theme

THREE Somerset artists are joining forces for an exhibition, Art of Transitional Spaces, in Wells & Mendip Museum.

When Marianne Lowen King, Freddie Bird and Lorraine Reilly Millington met up they realised they share a common theme in the imagery they create. Interested in the art of transitional spaces, they say their work is about creating in the observer, moments of personal revelation, of helping bring about a different state of being; it is about the experience.

In building up their library of sketched and photographed reference material for their work, they journeyed to coastal paths and seashores, moorlands, river systems, along ley lines, and to ancient or ecclesiastical places. Keeping wonder uppermost, their resulting art is a representation of the subjects of their awe and wonder.

Lorraine Reilly Millington is a

Galway-born artist and musician based in Wells who has worked within multiple mediums and whose creative output across the board is built around contrasts: old versus new, dark versus light, order versus disorder, the immense versus the barely visible. Her recent paintings reflect the breathtaking enormity and soaring beauty of Gothic architecture.

Marianne Lowen King specialises in ink and acrylic pieces of sacred places. Capturing the invisible weave of culture and spirit of place is at the heart of her work. She uses a narrow palette and light to create a cinematic feel.

Freddie Bird is an artist specialising in large and detailed monochrome landscapes, and is interested in tone, scale, and light and dark. The imagery reflects walking coastal paths and seashore, remote waterfalls, moor, and ancient woodland.

Marianne, Freddie and Lorraine will, in turn, be resident throughout the exhibition, which runs from March 7-25, when visitors will be able to watch the artists demonstrate their art technique and the precision of their work.

Workshop chance to be creative

WELLS & Mendip Museum is offering a free creative workshop with artist Richard Tomlinson this half-term.

The workshop will be exploring the world of cyanotype printing, and combining digital photography, paper cutting and traditional photographic processes to create a unique work of art.

The workshop will take place on Friday, February 17. It is suitable for age six upwards and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Those who would like to take part can drop in any time between 10am and 3.30pm.

Usual entry fees apply for the museum (family ticket £8), which is on Cathedral Green.

The workshop has been arranged in partnership with Somerset Art Works, and made possible thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

n WHAT’S ON Time theme of first new cafe concert

TRIO Paradis Cafe Concerts start again at St Thomas’ Church, Wells, on February 6 and continue on the first Monday morning of each month (February-December) at 11am.

February’s concert has the theme of Time, and includes music for piano trio by Ravel, Turina, Grieg’s Morning and Night by Florence Price.

Cafe Concerts are informal, feel-good events for everyone. The Musicians South West motto is ‘Friendship through Music’, and all ages are welcome. Entrance is free with donations invited, and there is a pop-up cafe open from 10.30am where people can meet with friends and make new ones.

There is more information at http://www.trioparadis.com and on Facebook @trioparadisbath, where all MSW free daytime concerts in the South West are listed. Email trioparadis@icloud. com to join the email list.

Tai Chi

Wells Blue Sports Centre

Mondays

6pm – 7pm

£5 per class

Bob 07791 291886

Three performances of Aladdin panto

THE always popular Croscombe Frolics pantomime is back this February half-term with Aladdin.

The show will be staged at Croscombe Village Hall from Thursday, February 16, through to Saturday, February 18, with a performance each evening starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 adults / £6 under 18s or low income.

For more information and tickets see www. croscombevillagehall.org.uk or contact: richard.cronin567@ btinternet.com, 01749 939485.

Coffee morning to feature book table

FOLLOWING a successful and well attended new series of Wells Labour Party Coffee Mornings, the public are invited to join them for the next one.

It will take place at the

There will be a bring and buy book table at the Labour Party Coffee Morning on February 4

Portway Annexe, Avenue, Wells BA5 2QF, on Saturday, February 4, from 10am-noon.

There will be tea, coffee, cake, biscuits, a bring and buy book table and an Open Discussion Forum with a Panel on: The Democratic Right to Withdraw Labour.

Cinema returns at different venue

WOOKEY Hole Cinema is back with The Outfit on Sunday, February 5, at 7.30pm, at the new venue upstairs at Wookey Hole Club.

The Outfit (15) is a gripping thriller. Set in Chicago in 1956, Mark Rylance plays an English cutter who works at a tailor shop in Chicago, whose primary customers are a family of vicious gangsters.

Tickets on the door.

Wookey Hole Club Members £6, guests £8. More at wookeyholecinemaclub.weebly. com

Seated exercise

SEATED exercise classes are taking place in Seager Hall, Union Street, Wells, every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm.

Carrie Hemmings is delivering the Love To Move sessions, which involve movement to music while sitting down. The cost to take part is £4 per person and £1 per accompanying carer. For more information, contact Carrie: 07818 303956 or email lovetomovemendip@gmail.com

Board game nights

WELLS Board Game Group will meet at The Quarter Jack, Priory Road, Wells, on Wednesday, February 1, and Wednesday, February 15, from 7pm-9.30pm.

8.30pm. In this CHAT, Rebecca will explore how her distinctive painting and drawing techniques and style emerged, looking back at her training in ceramics and her extensive studies in Japan, and discuss her meticulous approach to materials and markmarking.

Pilates And Barre

TUESDAYS

Pilates 9.15am

Pilates seated seniors 10.30am

WEDNESDAYS

Barre 5pm • Pilates 6pm

THURSDAYS

Pilates 9.15am • Barre 10.30am Pilates 6pm

All above classes at Wells Town Hall FRIDAYS

Pilates 9am. Online via Zoom

All classes mixed ability and prebooking only. Contact Sally at: zest2zen@gmail.com

Pub folk sessions

FREE folksong and music sessions are being organised in friendly traditional pubs.

The Wells Folk Sessions take place on the second Monday of every month at Queen Victoria Inn, Priddy, BA5 3 BA, 9pm till late; and the fourth Wednesday of every month at City Arms, High Street, Wells, BA5 2AG, 8.45pm till late.

Essential Mindful Exercise

Core & More

Functional Fitness Classes www.healthtaichi.co.uk www.pilogafit.co.uk

John Beasley 01749 672482

Folk and Barn dance

WELLS Folk and Barn Dance Club meets at Dinder Village Hall on Wednesdays from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Members £3.50, visitors £4. Tel: 01749 674920.

Art conversation

THE current President of the Royal Academy, Rebecca Salter, will be in conversation with writer and art critic Tom Marks in the latest CHAT event produced by Project Factory. It will take place at Cedars Hall, Wells, on Friday, February 10.

The evening will start with a musical performance at 7pm, the talk and Q&A at 7.30pm, and post-talk drinks in the Foyer at

All are welcome at the music nights to sing a song, play a tune, join in a chorus or just listen and enjoy. For more, contact: Richard 01761 412797, richardlm397@gmail.com

Folk club meetings

MR Punch’s Folk Club meets once a fortnight on a Friday at Theale Village Hall, BA5 1PN, from 8pm. Traditional and contemporary music, song and verse. Mostly open mic, with new performers always welcome. More at punchsfolkclub. yolasite.com

Football stories

MANY people in Wells will know former football player and manager, and TV and radio pundit, Ian Holloway, whose past clubs include Bristol Rovers. He will be recounting tales from his football days in An Evening With Ian Holloway at Kings Theatre, Cheddar, on Wednesday, February 15, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 from thelittleboxoffice. com/cheddararts