Cottenham Canvas

09/12/2025

Last week, Cottenham Canvas hosted our first ever Guest Artist. We were visited by the amazingly talented and friendly local artist, Lucy Bayes.

Lucy gave us a great introduction to her creative world, through relaxed presentation and Q&A, telling us about how she got started and over time discovered her own style. She covered everything from preferred mediums, how she approaches each new piece, working in layers, pushing through a painting's "ugly stage", day-to-day life as a commissioned artist, some of the pitfalls of selling artwork, and more!

She also stressed how she continues to experiment with different techniques and the importance of working with a subject matter she enjoys painting (hares feature a lot in her work, but also some lesser appreciated creatures like badgers).

For our first guest speaker, Lucy really knocked it out of the park! We hope to have many more Guest Artists in future.

Lucy is based in The Corner Studio at Haddenham Arts Centre. If you are in the area I would recommend popping in for a look at some of her work. You can find her on Instagram: lbthecornerstudio or email lbthecornerstudio@outlook.com

- Rob

28/09/2025

A Tribute to Janet Hathiramani

Last week we said our final farewells to our dear friend Janet, during a humanist ceremony at Cambridge crematorium. It was a beautiful occasion, with three of Janet’s favourite songs and dedications by her adored grandchildren, including a confident reading by her 8-year-old granddaughter.

Janet was a core member of our group at Cottenham Canvas, who attended regularly and always had something innovative to work on. A talented drawer, she also had a keen eye for colour, painting skilfully in watercolours. She described drawing for her, as a “compulsion” and her favourite was botanical drawing. Janet always made time to circulate in the group, praising the work of others and offering suggestions, when asked. Keen to share her experience, she led a wonderful gelli printing workshop last year and had many more workshops up her sleeve. Janet was very involved in the local Art scene and often took the initiative at Cottenham Canvas with recommending workshops, exhibitions and places to sketch. Earlier this year, she organised a very successful and enjoyable sketching trip to the kitchen garden at Madingley Hall. Janet was also a frequent participant in Cambridge Open Studios.

We will all miss Janet dearly, her soft voice, her sharp sense of humour, her warmth and company and not least her artistic talents. Some of our group expressed their affection for Janet in the making of an exquisite wreath of paper flowers, which was placed on her coffin and appears in a photo below.

May she Rest in Peace 🕊️

26/04/2025

More photos from Monday's workshop. We all got stuck in and let our hair down! 😍

Cottenham Village Hall

02/02/2025

I really look forward to Monday evenings and setting up the space, ready to welcome our members each week. We're from different walks of life but share the common interest of using creativity as a way to detox from life's stresses and strains. If you think you might benefit from a couple of hours of quiet self-guided painting or drawing in a calm and respectful environment, you'll find our group very warm and supportive (this is for adults only).

Thanks to donations we now have quite a range of shared materials for you to use if you are unable to bring your own, or just want to try something different (e.g. pastels, oil, watercolour, graphite, charcoal, acrylic, colour pencils, brushes, pens & paper). Drop me a message if you'd like to try out a session sometime. There's no pressure to commit and you'll be welcome back anytime (do please message me first though).
- Rob

12/11/2024

Some of our members at the end of our first group exhibition. :)

11/11/2024

We had an absolute ball this evening at Cottenham Canvas ! Usually we bring our own projects to work on by ourselves, but this week we decided to learn something new together. We tried Gelli Printing with guidance from those in the group who had done it before.
Sometimes it's the quiet peace that creativity can bring us, and other times it's the joy of finding new outlets for expression, and spending time with like-minded people.
If you'd like to join us and give it a go drop us a note! No experience needed, and all abilities are very welcome

19/10/2024

07/07/2024

Had a fantastic morning at Cottenham Market. A big "thank you" to the organisers. LOTS of positive engagement with local residents and folks from further afield, many of whom expressed similar doubts to my own from the past, such as "not being good enough" for painting or drawing. I hope I managed to convince some of you that the aim is to simply give yourself permission to have a go, and to try and set aside feelings about good and bad (if only for a couple of hours). The rest can come with practice. If you are creating (whatever the medium), then you are automatically doing something right by yourself. And if your only barrier to trying something arty is not regarding yourself as good enough, then please don't let that be the reason. I felt that way for MANY years, but now I'm beginning to let go of the self judgement (it is a process), and embrace the fact I'm doing myself a kindness every time I pick up a brush or pencil.

Personal outpouring aside (!), if you're on the fence about giving your local art group a try, I'd urge you to go for it. You might be surprised at how supportive and nurturing these environments can be, and how beneficial to your overall wellbeing.

A massive thanks to everyone who purchased our hand designed cards today! Not only a big boost for our members' confidence, but a great help towards paying for our weekly venue hire.

Hope to see you soon. :) -- Rob

06/07/2024

If you'd like to have a chat and find out more about Cottenham Canvas, come and find our stall at Cottenham Village Hall indoor market tomorrow (Sunday 7th July @ 9:30am-1:00pm). We'll also have one or two cards for sale to help raise money for the group. :) - Rob

24/06/2024

It's our one year anniversary! If you heard about us at FEF or have been thinking of trying the group, come along tonight to try out the group for free. We have cake! 🎂🥳

23/06/2024

We are set up and waiting to meet you at the Fen Edge Festival by the college. :-D