United by a shared vision for community art, Elsie Drew, Brenda Coyle and Laura Skye are pleased to introduce Cup of Art, a Wanstead-based art collective which the three friends hope will become a vibrant hub
Several years ago, I found myself looking for an outlet for my creativity. I came across an advert for a watercolour class in Wanstead, run by Brenda. I decided to find out more and it proved to be a great decision. Brenda is a fabulous artist and teacher with a warm and enthusiastic personality. The classes were not only fulfilling artistically but also socially. I met more aspiring artists, many of whom I am still in contact with, both locally and online.
It was here Laura and I crossed paths for the first time as watercolour newbies, and she has become a great friend over the years. We still attend Brenda’s workshops together, but we also travel far and wide. You can often find us on Chingford Plain, at Connaught Waters or in Epping Forest with our sketchbooks and paints. We also spend many hours in Wanstead Park sketching and painting the sky, the forest, the Temple and, of course, the bluebells of Chalet Wood when they are in bloom. Our flats are full of watercolour, acrylic, ink and crayon images. We always contribute to the art exhibition at the Wanstead Festival with Art Group Wanstead and take part in many of the pop-up exhibitions they organise.
Brenda, Laura and I now want to start our own community event. Once every three months, we would like to encourage local artists to come together and stage an exhibition of original artwork. This will not be a sales exhibition but an opportunity for the community to meet the artists over a coffee or tea and connect over a mutual enjoyment of the arts. With The George and Dragon kindly offering us a space to meet, and The Stow Brothers generously offering to help with the advertising, we hope this can become a regular event. There are so many creative people in Wanstead – painters, potters, mosaicists and sculptors – and we want to celebrate them and their work with you all.
The first Cup of Art exhibition will take place in The George and Dragon on 4 February from 12 noon to 4pm. For more information, email mbbcraft@gmail.com
