Painting out Days

Dates for the Painting "en Plein Air" 2018 Season

We are currently preparing a series of dates for the 2018 season

The 2017 venues are shown below

All venues have parking and toilet facilities unless stated.
Times are from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm unless stated.
Where weather forecast is poor, visits are likely to be cancelled.
Entry fee or Charitable Contribution is advised although most venues are open venues or free.
Guest fee of £3.00 per person per day for non-members of Maidstone Art Society

2017 EVENTS:

Thursday 25th May, Aylesford Priory
Address: The Friars, Aylesford, ME20 7BX
Views: Priory buildings, both ancient and recent, gardens, lake and waterfowl.
Directions from Maidstone: Take Forstal Road, signposted Aylesford, from Running Horse Roundabout towards Aylesford. Approx. 1½ miles turn right and pass through Aylesford Village. After approx. ½ mile turn left into Priory.
Facilities: Parking and toilets. Tea room on site.
Cost: Parking by donation
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Monday 5th June, St. Michael’s Gardens
Address: Roydon Hall Road, East Peckham, TN12 5NH
Views: Gardens, house, small lake, sheep, views over countryside.
Directions from Maidstone: Take A26 Tonbridge Road and continue approx 6 miles. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Tonbridge Rd/A26. Next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Seven Mile Lane/A228. After 1 mile, Turn left off A228 into Roydon Hall Road. Gardens are ½ Mile up the hill on the left.
Facilities: Free parking and toilets
Cost: Donation to Friends of St. Michael’s Church, Roydon
Organiser/contact: Diane Hayes

Wednesday 14th June, Lenham Tithe Barn
Address: The Barn, The High Street, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent ME17 2QD
Views: Grade 1 Listed 14th Century Tithe Barn, country views, church & village with many old & interesting buildings.
Directions from Maidstone: Take A20 Eastbound to Lenham. Take High Street from village square. After 200 yds approx. at bend in road & just before small Fire Station turn left into private drive. Pass around large house and park in field behind Tithe Barn.
Facilities: Free parking, toilets
Cost: Charitable Contribution towards maintenance of Tithe Barn.
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Tuesday 27th June, The Croft, Detling
Address: Pilgrims Way, Detling, ME14 3JY
Views: 19th century house and stable block surrounded by formal and cottage gardens and other outbuildings.
Directions from Maidstone: Take A20, Ashford Road from Maidstone ½ mile beyond railway bridge turn left onto New Cut Road . Continue to 3rd roundabout & turn right onto Bearsted Road.
Take 1st left after ½ mile onto Hockers Lane. Continue just over 1 mile into Detling & turn right at Tee junction into The Street. After approx. 200 yds, opposite “Cock Horse Inn”, turn right onto Pilgrims Way. Continue about 300 yds and turn right onto un-named track opposite entrance to Detling Cricket Club. Park as directed in field at end of track.
The track will be signed for Maidstone Art Society on the day.
Facilities: NB. There is no parking available at the property. Toilets
Cost: Charitable Contribution.
Organiser/contact: George Wright vvvvvvvggg

Monday 10th July, Westenhanger Castle
Address: Westenhanger Castle, Stone Street, Hythe, CT21 4HX.
Views: 14th Century Castle, Scheduled Ancient Monument, with Grade 1 Listed house within set in 14 acres of formal gardens and meadows.
Directions:- Take M20 coast bound to Jct.11. Take Hythe exit and continue on A20. Approx. ¾ mile turn right onto Stone Street (signposted Railway Station). Continue and take 1st turning on left beyond racecourse, signposted Westenhanger Castle.
Facilities: Free parking and toilets
Cost:
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Wednesday 19th July, Medway Bridge Marina
Address: Medway Bridge Marina, Manor Lane, Rochester ME1 3HS
Views: On banks of River Medway, views over Medway, pontoons, boats moored & in boat yard, some houseboats, some very old etc.
Directions from Maidstone: Sat. Nav. Use Medway Bridge Marina or Manor Lane
Take A229, Bluebell Hill towards Madway Towns. Take exit at top of Bluebell Hill signposted M2. At roundabout keep to left and take 2nd exit (1st exit is Buckmore Park etc.) onto A2045. Keep to left. At roundabout take 1st exit, B2097, towards Borstal. Approx. 2 ½ miles turn left into “Priestfields”. Approx. ½ mile turn right (just before The White Hart pub) into Manor Lane. Continue down hill to the bottom & turn sharp left into Marina.
Facilities: Free parking and toilets
Cost:
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Tuesday 25th July, Ford Place
Address: Ford Place, Ford Lane, Wrotham Heath TN15 7SE
Views: Private, listed Manor House c1600 and gardens.
Directions from Maidstone: From Maidstone take A20, London Road towards Wrotham Heath. Immediately past Seven Mile Lane take right turn into Ford Lane and the house is just before the Motorway on right. Or M20 then M26 from Maidstone. First Junction on M26, take first exit on to London Road, A20. Just beyond traffic lights, turn left into Ford Lane then as above. Park in lane or as directed.
Facilities: Free parking and toilets
Cost:
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Wednesday 9th August, Lower Halstow - Cancelled due to heavy rain
Address: See directions.
Views: Estuary, possible moored sailing barge, Grade 2 Listed Church dating back to Saxon times.
Directions from Maidstone: Take A249, Detling Hill north. At the first junction beyond M2, turn left onto A2. Approx 2 miles, look for large café & car park on left & turn right into Breach Lane (signposted Breach/Lower Halstow). After approximately 2 miles turn right onto The Street. Take second left onto Lapwing Drive. Park considerately at end of road on right. Church & estuary short distance to right. Toilet available in church.
Facilities: Free parking and toilets
Cost: Charitable Contribution towards maintenance of Church.
Organiser/contact: Anne / George Wright

Monday 14th August, Bearsted Cottage (& Bearsted Green)
Address: Bearsted Cottage, The Green, Bearsted ME14 4ED
Views: Cottage garden and Village Green views.
Directions:- Cottage is located on the SW corner of The Green where Yeoman Lane enters the Green. No parking at Cottage. Suggest dropping off equipment at the cottage and then park either in Church Lane Car Park (Free) or Manor Way, 2nd turning on left up Yeoman Lane.
Facilities:
Cost: Charitable Contribution
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Thursday 24th August, Allington Lock
Address: :- Allington Lock, Allington ME16 0LU
Views: Lock, moored boats, river views etc.
Directions from Maidstone: Take A20 London Road from Maidstone. Turn right into Castle Road and pass by Mid Kent Shopping Centre. Continue down road turning sharp at left at at Allington Castle gates. Continue to Lock. Stop at Barrier. Pay £3.00 parking fee at Lock keepers cottage. Barrier(s) will be raised. Continue to small riverside car park. Alternatively approach from Forstal Road and park at Malta Inn
Facilities: parking and toilets
Cost: £3.00 parking fee
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Tuesday 5th September, Whitstable Castle and Gardens
Address:  Whitstable Castle and Gardens, Tower Hill, Whitstable CT5 2BW
Views: Crenelated House, orangery and delightful gardens. Excellent tea room.
Directions: Take A249, Sittingbourne Road & Detling Hill from Maidstone then M2 coastbound. Continue onto A299, Thanet Way. Take Whitstable turn off, signposted “Whitstable (B2205) & Canterbury (A290)”. At second roundabout take 1st exit (A2205) into Whitstable. Continue through town centre passing harbour on left. Where main road bears right and starts to climb, take left turn into Tower Hill. Castle and gardens approx.. 150 yds. on right.
Organiser/contact: George Wright

Painting Out Days 2016

Our last painting out day was on 7th September at 'The Croft', Detling.

The weather was fabulous and 16 people attended. See you all next year!!!

25 August - Lower Halstow

Brian Howe

Drawing by Brian Howe

Painting by Terry Longhurst

Above: 25 July at The Buttercups Goat Sanctuary, Boughton Monchelsea

19th July Lenham tithe barn (and village)
This was one of the hottest days of the year and most of us ended up under the shade of a large chestnut tree. Unfortunately the pond was fenced because of a wedding taking place in the barn a few days later.

7th July Tenterden Railway (Kent and East Sussex Railway) Above: Dee, George, Marjorie and Sue
Below: Terry Longhurst

Above: 29 June Upnor Castle Painting above by Ann Thompson