The 43rd Essex Young Musician of the Year, John Lill trophy, will be presented on Sunday 5 July, following heats on 28 June and 5 July. The competition supports and encourages young Essex musicians of talent and potential who enjoy performing and competing. TASWE have donated the 4th Prize of £200 (Under 19).

For more information about the competition have a look at the Ongar Music Society website. 

If you would like to attend the competition in the ballroom at the Budworth Hall, Ongar, the semi-final is at 2pm, and the Final, at 6.30pm.

The Arts Society West Essex (TASWE) had a four day holiday in September 2025. Based in Northampton, we left the town in several directions during the trip to explore the surrounding countryside.

Northamptonshire is known as the county of spires and squires. Our church visits included All Saints Brixworth which is a large Saxon church and the medieval church in Ashby St Ledgers. The manor there was owned by the Catesby family, who lost their lands because Robert Catesby was one of the leaders of the 1605 Gunpowder plot.

Our choice of magnificent homes started with Kirby Hall, a large grade one listed Elizabethan mansion owned by English Heritage. The family abandoned the house and it is now in a semi-ruined state but the main rooms remain intact. The next day we visited Boughton House known as the English Versailles. This house has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in the 17th century and belongs to the Duke of Buccleuch, who shares his time in Boughton with his house in Scotland. The final day we were in Kelmarsh Hall built in 1732 but given a complete make over in the 1920s and 1930s by Nancy Lancaster who is known for her ‘English Country House’ interiors. Northampton also has a house remodelled by Charles Rennie Mackintosh which we visited.

Compton Verney Art gallery made a restful stop on our journey to Northampton and we also spent a morning in the Georgian town of Stamford in the next door county of Lincoln.

We could choose our itinerary but not the unsettled nature of the weather. The wind and rain did not seem to put off the 46 members of TASWE from Epping Forest. There was a lot of laughter and chatter during the four day trip and a great way to get to know other members of the Society.

 Image: The group at Boughton House

Art Bytes Celebrates Record-Breaking Year as Creative Excellence Flourishes Across England

National Programme Grows 50% in Partnership with The Arts Society, Showcasing Exceptional Young Talent from Over 150 Schools

England's most promising young artists took centre stage on 12th June as the Art Bytes national schools programme reached new heights in its fourth year, welcoming a record-breaking 150+ schools across the country – a remarkable 50% increase from 2024. The programme's flagship celebration events, held at prestigious cultural venues from the Saatchi Gallery in London to The Victoria Gallery and Museum in Liverpool, highlighted the extraordinary creativity of Year 5 and Year 9 students nationwide.

Ilinca Iftimoae from Stanton Bridge Primary School in the West Midlands claimed the coveted National Primary Winner title with her stunning piece "Adonis," while DD from Lamledge School, also in the West Midlands, triumphed in the secondary category with "The Blue Void."

This milestone year marked Art Bytes' first national partnership with The Arts Society, seeing 46 local Arts Societies champion visual arts education by supporting 70 schools and celebrating pupils' creativity. The programme also benefits from the continued support of the School of the Arts at University of Liverpool, which provides both financial backing and valuable volunteering opportunities for students. These collaborations demonstrate the growing recognition of art education's vital role in developing young people's confidence, cultural capital, and essential future employment skills.

A Beacon of Hope Amid Educational Challenges

Art Bytes arrives at a critical moment for arts education in England. With arts GCSE entries having plummeted by 47% since 2010, the programme provides a lifeline for creative learning, proving that investment in the arts yields transformative results for young people's development and wellbeing. While the decline in arts GCSE entries has begun to slow, there is still significant work to do to reverse many years of erosion and devaluing of creative subjects.

"The standard of work we've seen this year has been absolutely exceptional," said Adele Darlington, Primary Art Consultant and competition judge. "What strikes me most is not just the technical skill on display, but the imagination and innovative approaches these young artists bring to their work. They're showing us that creativity isn't just surviving in our schools – it's thriving."

Technology Meets Tradition

Built on 13 years of proven success through the dot-art's Schools project in Liverpool, Art Bytes combines cutting-edge virtual gallery technology with traditional celebration events in prestigious cultural venues. This year's nine regional events were hosted by an impressive array of partners including new additions the Saatchi Gallery in London and Hastings Contemporary in the South East, alongside returning venues including The New Art Gallery Walsall and Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge.

The programme's innovative approach allows students to see their artwork displayed in a high-quality virtual exhibition while experiencing galleries and museums as welcoming, inspiring spaces in their communities.

2025 Winners Showcase Remarkable Range

The quality and diversity of this year's winning entries reflect the exceptional talent nurtured through the programme:

National Winners:

·         Primary Winner: "Adonis" by Ilinca Iftimoae, Stanton Bridge Primary School (West Midlands)

·         Secondary Winner: "The Blue Void" by DD, Lamledge School (West Midlands)

National Runners-Up:

·         Primary: "Colour Clock" by Ava Bailey, Grange Primary School (North East); "Coast" by Archie, Kettlefields Primary School (East)

·         Secondary: "The Lighthouse" by Kamilla McFarlane, Childwall Abbey School (North West); "Heron at First Light" by Emilie, Imberhorne School (South East)

Regional winners span the creative spectrum, with the South West celebrating the talents of Etienne Bowden-Hull's powerful "Portrait of Maro Itoje" (Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Secondary) and Ellesie Clegg-Goodwin’s ethereal “Space Impasto 3” (Bradley Barton Primary School, Primary), demonstrating the breadth of artistic expression flourishing in schools.

Community Engagement Reaches New Heights

The programme's public voting element generated unprecedented community involvement, with Monkton Park Primary School in Chippenham (SW) securing the Primary Community Engagement Award, while Coundon Court School in Coventry (WM) claimed the Secondary award.

Paul Lillicrapp, teacher at Stanton Bridge Primary School, reflected on his student's national victory: "The Art Bytes competition has allowed Ilinca to showcase her passion and create something truly personal. When we told her about winning the national competition, there was such a great sense of pride and happiness. This means a lot not only for Ilinca and me, but for the whole school and community. Our area can be challenging to grow up in, and this gives hope to everyone that it's possible to follow your dreams and overcome any barriers."

Emma Griffiths, Art Bytes Coordinator, commented: "The level of family and community engagement we've seen this year has been extraordinary. Art Bytes isn't just about celebrating individual talent – it's about bringing whole communities together around creativity and showing young people that their artistic voice matters."

As Art Bytes prepares for 2025/26, the programme continues to evolve its sustainable model, ensuring long-term support for arts education across England.

Art Bytes is open to all primary (Year 5), secondary (Year 9), and SEND schools across England, with registration for the 2025/26 academic year now open at artbytes.co.uk

Full list of Regional Winners:

Regional Primary Winners

North West - Titanic - Zachary Thornhill - Lister Juniors

North East - Colour Clock - Ava Bailey - Grange Primary School

Yorkshire - Reaching Out - Sophia Baker - Sheep Dip Lane Academy

West Midlands - Adonis - Ilinca Iftimoae - Stanton Bridge Primary School, Coventry

East Midlands - Portraits 7 - Jacob P - Saint Augustine's Catholic Voluntary Academy

East - Coast - Archie - Kettlefields Primary School

Gtr London - Bumpy Night - Joseph Walder - Stroud Green Primary School

South West - Space Impasto 3 - Ellesie Clegg-Goodwin - Bradley Barton Primary School

South East - Mark Making - Jayden Jobson - Helen Allison School - Primary

Regional Secondary Winners

North West - The Lighthouse - Kamilla McFarlane - Childwall Abbey School

North East - Basquiat Portrait - Millie C - Catcote

Yorkshire - Protest Art - Finley Pemberton - Vale of York Academy

West Midlands - The Blue Void - DD - Lamledge School

East Midlands - Eye - Lily Robilliard - Redmoor Academy

East - Steampunk Animal #14 - Orla Penny - Wootton Upper School

Gtr London - Animal Bones 1 - Samuel Quainoo - St Marylebone CE Bridge School

South West - Portrait of Maro Itoje - Etienne Bowden-Hull - Sir Thomas Rich's School

South East - Heron at First Light - Emilie - Imberhorne School

 2025 Venue Partners:

·         North West: The Victoria Gallery, Liverpool

·         North East: The Arts Centre Washington, Sunderland

·         Yorkshire and Humber: The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

·         East Midlands: The Usher Gallery, Lincoln

·         West Midlands: New Art Gallery Walsall

·         South West: Chippenham Museum

·         South East: Hastings Contemporary

·         East of England: Kettle's Yard, Cambridge

·         London: Saatchi Gallery

About Art Bytes: Art Bytes is a national art and EdTech programme for year 5 and year 9 students in all educational settings, combining an inter-school art competition with a bespoke virtual gallery and in-person Celebration Events in cultural venues across England. It is based on 12 years’ experience in the North West and is proven to nurture talent, raise ambition and develop confidence and cultural capital, as well as support mental health and help develop vital skills for future employment.

Art Bytes is managed by dot-art, a Liverpool-based social enterprise supporting artists and championing art as an integral part of everyday life for over 18 years. The programme combines an inter-school art competition with bespoke virtual gallery technology and celebration events across England, proven to nurture talent, raise ambition, and develop vital skills for future employment.

About The Arts Society: The Arts Society (theartssociety.org) has 350+ local societies worldwide, engaging communities through lectures, study days, and volunteering opportunities that preserve artistic heritage and support arts education.

Henny Berner's winning painting from Epping Upland Primary School will be judged along with all other first prizewinners on Thursday 12 June at Kettles Yard, Cambridge.  A recording of the proceedings will be available on the ArtBytes YouTube channel on Friday 13 June when you will be able to view the results as they happened.  Click here to join.

You will see the three winning entries from Epping Upland Primary School in the attached image.

All members and any prospective members are welcome to join us at our  COFFEE & CAKE morning which will be held at Theydon Bois Village Hall on

Wednesday 14 May, 10.30-12.00

Please let Lis Goodwin know if you intend to come - we need to ensure we have enough cake for everybody!

We had a marvellous behind the scenes tour of the Royal Opera House on 19 March led by Mark.  We saw Romeo and Juliet rehearsing their parts, the props manufacturing studio, costumes, scenery and lots more; but the highlight was being invited to go on the stage and look out into the auditorium, only the third time this happened during one of Mark's tours in two years! The stage is in continual use for all sorts of rehearsals of the orchestra, dancers, singers and lights so we were very lucky.  Thank you Mark!

You can see some photos of the visit here

The Arts Society West Essex had a stand at the Copped Hall Apple Day on Sunday 13 October where we were handing out the Walled Garden and Mansion Garden Trails which we prepared for them and can be downloaded here and photos can be seen in Gallery 2.

The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Arts Society West Essex was held on Wednesday 2 October and Elizabeth Nash was elected Chairman and Barbara Lane as Treasurer.  We wish them well in their new positions.  A full Committee list can be found here.

Long serving members of the Committee, Pam Percy and Janet Carrington, retired after working hard on our behalf for many years and were wished a fond farewell.  They will of course continue to support the Society from the membership.

The Chairman's Report to the 2024 AGM can be found here, the Treasurer's Report can be found here and the 2023-2024 Annual Accounts are here

Forty-six members of TASWE set out on Monday September 16 2024 for a four day coach trip to County Durham. The weather was glorious and remained good for our whole break.
We were able to start our visit at Rockingham Castle in the Midlands which opened for us specially with a tour and lunch. During the holiday we also visited Rokeby Hall near Barnard Castle, Ushaw near Durham and Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire, all of which are historic houses.

A guided tour of Durham including the magnificent cathedral was a highlight on the Tuesday. The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle had a fascinating exhibition of two of the northern painters, L.S. Lowry and Norman Cornish as well as the splendid permanent exhibitions.
The scenery in Teasdale is beautiful and we visited High Force, the waterfall painted by J.M.W. Turner.

In 2025 the North East is commemorating 200 years of the public railway system. As we stayed in Darlington, we visited Locomotion, part of the Science Museum group built on the site of the first railway works in nearby Shildon.

The aim of these holidays is to have a taste of different aspects of the area where we are based. We try to mix fine art and design with industrial design and heritage The aim is that everyone will find something that was special for them on the trip and maybe will think of returning to spend more time in the places that particularly interested them.  It is also a great way to get to know other members of the group and to enjoy each other’s company.

Click here to view photos in Gallery 5

Two of our committee members, Diana Meteyard and Elizabeth Nash, were very pleased to receive The Marsh Award at The Art Society's AGM held in London on Friday 23 August on behalf of The Arts Society West Essex. 

This Award was presented by Charles Mickwright, Trustee of the Marsh Charitable Trust, for the exceptional joint efforts and dedication of the Trails Team to create church trails and heritage trails for the community and were recognised by the judging panel as outstanding.

The Marsh Group Awards recognise volunteers from some of The Arts Society’s 365 local societies across the UK, who have worked together as a group to help conserve the decorative and fine arts in their local area.

Our prizewinning Trails Team and the presentation are pictured here in Gallery 2.

Nominations for the Award are put forward by local societies and are judged by a panel consisting of Arts Society and MCT representatives.

The Marsh Charitable Trust was founded in 1981 with the sum of £75,000 by its current Chairman, Mr Brian Marsh OBE.  His aim was to create a sustainable way to give something back to society, by supporting the organisations and people who are making a difference, as best he could.

From the outset the Trust has aimed to create long-standing relationships with the organisations it supports and partners through both its principal areas of work; the Grants Programme and the Awards Scheme.

The Trust supports around 400 charities every year through the Grants Programme and gives around 100 different Awards to individuals and groups from across the charity sector, who make a difference to a cause that they believe in.

The Trust's activities are financed by income derived from its investment portfolio and it does not accept any public donations.

All our trails can be downloaded here

Our summer social event took place in the village hall in June. Supplied by the English Cream Tea Company sixty members and friends enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea and were entertained by Jane Malyon, the Chief Scone Gnome. Jam and cream, cream and jam, napkins or serviettes, cut or break?? We were reassured that the etiquette police were not in evidence so a relaxing atmosphere was maintained. Some traditions remain just that, other protocol should be observed if one is invited to The Palace. It was very lighthearted and a lot of laughter was encouraged. Dainty sandwiches, cakes and scones, with plenty of tea made a convivial afternoon where friends and members enjoyed a quintessentially English pastime.

Members of TASWE were at a Copped Hall Open Day to hand out our trails for the Walled Garden and the Mansion Garden for primary school children. 

You can download copies of both trails and answer sheets under Volunteering/Trails and see some photos in the Gallery.