On our road trip around the North West’s Art Groups we’re stopping off at Lower Ince Art Group, established in 2004. Still going strong after 20 years, join us as we take a look at this friendly group of artists and the work they create with their tutor Anthony Barrow.

When & where do we meet?

St Nathaniel’s Parish Church, Church Road Platt Bridge Wigan WN2 3TB.

Tuesday morning from 10.00 am until 12 noon with refreshments.

We have a large, bright room for painting. We are a non-profitmaking community group, the cost of classes cover premises hire and tuition fees. Payment is £60 for a block of 10 weeks.

Who is the group suitable for?

The group welcomes participants of all experience levels, although it may not be best suited for absolute beginners. It’s particularly beneficial for individuals with previous painting experience looking to reignite their passion, expand their skills across various mediums, or enjoy the camaraderie of painting alongside fellow enthusiasts.

How do the classes run?

Our tutor, Anthony Barrow, leads our sessions. Each month, we publish a program of topics and media, but following it is not mandatory! We cover a diverse range of subjects, including landscapes, portraits, figurative studies, and still life. A variety of media is used: watercolour, oils, acrylic, soft pastel, charcoal, gouache, pen & Indian ink, and occasionally oil pastel.

We enjoy looking at the work of other artists and seeing what we can learn from their style or technique. Amongst others we have painted in the style of Ann Blockley, Scott Naismith and local artist Ian Murphy. At the end of each session we all showcase our work. The group appreciates the different styles of fellow painters in a supportive atmosphere.

What our members think

There is always a good spirit at the group and people are able to develop friendships with others who have that common interest in art. 

We have a facebook page for Lower Ince Art Group that we use to showcase our work each week. This is the best way to view the type of things that we do and see what the programme is.

If you are interested in joining the group you can make contact via email, Tony Barrow or message the group via Facebook messenger.