Please scroll down to see the profiles of some of our members

Christine Darbyshire is a pet and portrait artist who has done pieces in acrylic, oil and pastel, however her preference is coloured pencil. Originally from Lancashire she now lives in the Cotswolds.  After a career as a make-up artist and beauty therapist she picked up her passion for art again when she retired four years ago.  She was invited to exhibit in the Haworth Gallery, Accrington where she sold several of her paintings, one of which went to America.  She really enjoys drawing people's pets and has done several commissions.  She recently won the Best in Show award at the Chipping Campden Art Society's annual exhibition and her painting was then featured in The Leisure Painter magazine.   

Judy E Edwards

Geoff Leathley was born in Yorkshire in 1943, the son of a coal miner with a talent and interest in art himself.  Despite missing much school through childhood illness, Geoff was always encouraged to draw and paint from an early age by his father, older sister and teachers.  His lifelong habit to always carry a sketch book has been a constant source of ideas for his many and varied compositions in both watercolour and oils.  

On leaving Wakefield Art School he was employed by the Yorkshire County Council libraries and museums department as an artist, designing displays and signage, promotional materials and educational events.  He began to develop his relaxed and instructive style of demonstrating technique whilst continuing to paint for leisure almost every day.

Freelance work illustrating books, designing and constructing sets for television productions, several one man shows and many commissions have followed.  He has contributed to prestigious art exhibitions in various venues in Yorkshire, Chipping Campden and Broadway, where he lives in retirement. 

Geoff is still a prolific and inspiring artist and we continue to benefit from his knowledgeable and entertaining demonstrations. 

David Lyon is a  relative beginner, taking up watercolour painting during Covid lockdown in advance of retirement in 2021.   After a full career as a scientist and a training in horticultural sciences he was first drawn to trying to capture detail in botanical and other subjects.  Lately he has been exploring  different media and different styles of painting, but has many others to try out.

Linda Rimen started life in Cardiff and is proudly Welsh.  She worked in banking until marriage took her to Didcot in Oxfordshire and after the birth of her first child she started painting at evening class, determined not to become a 'cabbage'.

Following a further move to the Cotswolds she joined Moreton in Marsh Art Group where she is still a member after more than 40 years.  After two more children she worked in Moreton's local library for many years until retirement.  

Linda recently rejoined  Chipping Campden Art Society, after covid and a spell of illness put everything on hold, and was pleased to find so many like-minded painters.  She enjoys working in watercolour, oils, acrylic and inks but prefers the immediacy and strong colours of soft pastel.  Her paintings are to be found in the USA, France, Japan and Australia as well as many  locations in the UK.

Angela Riste didn't pick up her paint brushes again until after retirement a few years ago.  She passed her art O level at age 14 but wasn't encouraged to continue to A level and beyond.  She spent most of her working life in finance, most lately advising wealthy clients how to invest and then training other advisers.  It was a lesson given on a cruise that sparked her interest in painting again.   Following further lessons she now paints mostly landscapes and seascapes in watercolour, but dabbles in acrylics too.   Family and friends are now collecting her paintings and she had also sold some on the exhibition days.  She takes great pleasure in knowing someone else is enjoying her art.

Sheila Ryder always enjoyed painting at school but her teachers would not enter her for O level because they expected her to fail!   Somewhat discouraged, it was not until her mid 30s, with three children and a career in teaching, that she began painting at home after inheriting some old watercolour tubes from her mother-in-law. 

She attended some evening classes and occasional workshops, gradually developing her style and technique, but at age 48 she gave up her hobby in order to train as a midwife   Study, career and family then took priority until her retirement when she joined various art groups in Essex and began exhibiting.

Soon after moving to Honeybourne in 2018 Sheila joined the CCAS volunteering to serve on the committee, specifically to help with exhibitions.   She took over as Chairperson in 2021 and with the help of a hardworking and inspirational committee, she has gained satisfaction from seeing the society thrive.

Caroline Smedley studied art as part of her degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.  After graduating she worked as a librarian in, among other places, the library of the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.  After marrying and having a family she didn't pick up a brush at all for years but later started to paint on holiday in watercolours.  She took part in some classes and art holidays, preferring to use acrylics as she had been taught at university   Now she paints every week at the Chipping Campden Art Society, usually in acrylics or water-soluble oils   She has exhibited in the Mall Galleries, London, and more recently at the Broadway Arts Festival