Christmas Fair

The Christmas Fair at the Pitt Building is a regular event for many people looking for unusual gifts for Christmas. It will be open Sat 24 and Sun 24 November from 10am to 4pm.

The two ground floor rooms, which have been recently renovated, will be full of gifts including jewellery, paintings, prints, books and many other hand made goods. Everything you may need for the festive season!

I shall be taking along lots of greeting cards, prints and paintings and I am happy to take commissions.

It is a lovely day out!

Reverie Exhibition

I am delighted to have been invited to take part in the Reverie exhibition at the Leper Chapel, one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge on Newmarket Road close to the Chisholm Trail, the amazing cycle route through Cambridge away from cars.

The inaugural exhibition took place last year and attracted many visitors who also came to look at this wonderful building.

The Reverie exhibition is a contemporary art show full of beautiful and sometimes challenging work. You can see more at:

https://www.artrabbit.com/events/reverie-autumn

Cambridge Drawing Society - Autumn Exhibition

The Cambridge Drawing Society holds two exhibitions a year, one in Spring the other in Autumn. This year it is MY painting on the advertising, I am thrilled about this, my work on posters around the county!

The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm from 27 October to 2 November. It is the biggest exhibition run by artists in Cambridge. This year I shall be helping with the card displays and also invigilating from 1 - 3pm at the Private View on 26 October.

What better way to spend some time in Cambridge.

Birmingham Open Studios

Every year I take part in Birmingham Open Studios with my son, Owen de Visser. He organises the whole thing and each year it grows steadily. This year I am with him at Lux Gallery, 8 Greenfield Crescent in Edgbaston = a lovely street with shops and eateries in what used to be smart houses.

I am just there the first weekend but photographer Owen and Glenn Campbell, jeweller, will be there on 5 & 6 October too.

I always meet lovely people in Birmingham, please drop in if you are in the area.

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Prize Exhibition

Sometimes I am really delighted with the way things work out.

When I saw the RBSA had an open call for artists, I thought I would send images of three of my paintings to be considered. Imagine my delight when two of them were accepted.

We took the paintings to Birmingham and dropped in to see my photographer son, Owen de Visser, at his gallery in Edgbaston and we went for lunch before returning home. Another trip followed as we went to the Private View and stayed overnight with Owen, had a wonderful meal and seem to walk miles!

I loved having my paintings on show in the gallery. One of the organisers told me they had over 5,000 entries and chose 154 paintings, two of which were mine.

I think I might enter some more Open calls though in the meantime I have exhibitions coming up at Cambridge Drawing Society, Byard Art and the Leper Chapel in Cambridge. Quite a busy time for me at the moment.

King's Parade sketch

Anyone who knows me knows I am an avid Urban Sketcher. I often go out into Cambridge and draw what I see either with a group or by myself.

I have drawn some of the businesses on King's Parade many times and even once, overwhelmed by the beauty, drew the recycling bins that seem to have a prominent place on the street!

As the fifth artwork destined for Byard Art on King's Parade for their Summer 2024 exhibition, I drew this sketch. After that I made some prints which I have added to for their print rack. So for £140 you can buy an original of mine, double mounted and ready to be framed.

Let me what you you think. The embellished print currently there has my deep blue sky with a selection of stars including the plough. Pop in to Byard Art, opposite King's College on King's Parade Cambridge, and take a look.

Cambridge Open Studios 2024

Cambridge Open Studios is a big event in my calendar. I have taken part every year for the last 15 years at my home studio in Milton Road, Chesterton. I love meeting my visitors and getting to know art lovers and other artists in Cambridge and the villages.

My studio is open from 10am to 5pm on 6 & 7, 20 & 21 and 27 & 28 July which leaves me one weekend to visit many other other studios. This year I have lots of new paintings and prints to view and perhaps sell during the 3 weeks I am open.

I also do demonstrations on using gold and silver leaf which I use regularly in my work. You will be able to make your own little painting adorned with gold or silver leaf to take home.

Do come along and partake in a glass of juice or wine, wander round the garden and chat about painting and how I produce my work. My studio is opposite Kendal Way.

Summer Show

I am delighted that Byard Art Gallery invited me to show 5 paintings in their Summer Show and one of them has already been in the window!

I love this gallery and all the wonderful contemporary artworks including some very quirky paintings, ceramics and glassware. There is such a lot to see and new work regularly arrives. The gallery is directly opposite the King's College gatehouse on King's Parade.

The painting shown is titled 'Riverside Books'. It depicts a beautiful large tree opposite the flats on Riverside in Cambridge which backs onto Logan's Way. During the winter it is full of cormorants and I have recently completed a commission of the cormorants in this tree for someone living in the flats.

For this painting I thought it would be a fun idea to have a bookshop in a tree although I am not sure how people would view them.

You can see 4 of my paintings here https://byardart.co.uk/artists/maureen-mace/ and I also have a sketch of King's Parade.

Camcrag art exhibition

I have been asked to be part of the Art Exhibition on Saturday, 22nd of June 2024 at the Alison Richard Building for Cambridge Refugee Week.

I have taken part in this exhibition for several years in a rather different format but this year a few artists have been chosen to have a stall on the ground floor alongside other events to raise money for refugees.

Please come along and support this event. I shall have several oil paintings on show as well as prints and greeting cards.

There are many events happening at the same time so do come and support all the refugees who are currently affecting by multiple wars around the world. We have seen them on TV and horrified by their living conditions.

St Johns with Cambridge Open Studios

I am delighted to announce that my painting, Cambridge Tree of Books, has been chosen to hang at St John's Innovation Centre in collaboration with Cambridge Open studios.

Ever wanted to see inside one of the most talked about buildings in Cambridge? This is your chance. Paintings will be distributed around this wonderful modern building next to the cycling bridge over the A14 to Milton. Can also be accessed by car!

After you have viewed the artworks you are welcome to their café and to walk in the lovely gardens surrounded the cluster of buildings. I live not far from St John's Innovation Centre but had never had the pleasure to visit there before but they are very happy to welcome art lovers.

Cambridge Drawing Society

Cambridge Drawing Society has two exhibitions a year. One in October half term and one in the Spring which is at the beautiful Pitt Building opposite Fitzbillies.

Competition to be a member is quite tough and I am delighted to have been part of the society for 10 years now. All entries need to be voted by a panel which means even if you are a member, you are not guaranteed to have all 4 artworks accepted. So far though all mine have been voted in.

Everything is done by the members; hanging, selling, wrapping, advertising, with a very organised member in overall charge who works very hard to make it run smoothly.

I have 4 paintings on show, three 20x40cms and one 20x20cms. All are of books in trees, one of my favourite themes. Do come along to the exhibition and see the best by Cambridgeshire artists.

Christmas Art & Craft Fair

This year I shall be joining other artists and crafts people at the lovely Pitt Building In Cambridge, opposite Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street.

I shall be selling cards, prints and small paintings.

Do come along and join me and many other artists for a wonderful Christmas event.

Winter Exhibition

I love the Winter Exhibition at Byard Art. It is full of large and small art, hand made decorations, wonderfully cheerful and beautifully made ceramics and much, much more.

This year I will have some paintings on their famous 'small wall' - little delights to fill up those small spaces in homes and maybe just small enough to put in a Christmas stocking.

The paintings I am exhibiting are part of my 'Books in Trees' series, perfect for who love books and learning.

Cambridge Drawing Society Autumn Exhibition

The Cambridge Drawing Society’s Autumn exhibition is at the Leys School, Cambridge and features over 280 original framed works: paintings in oil and watercolour, prints and 3D by both amateur and professional artists. It is always lovely to see so many people visit the CDS exhibitions and there is always a buzz around the place.

I have 3 framed paintings and several greeting cards in the exhibition.

Birmingham Open Studios

I am delighted that I have been invited to take part in Birmingham Open Studios again this year, with my son, Owen de Visser and Glenn Campbell.

Owen got used to me taking part on the Cambridge Open Studios and when he moved permanently to Birmingham he set up the Open Studio concept there.

Each year it grows and covers a wider area and this year an amazing 169 artists will be taking part. He even has comedian and painter Joe Lycett as the ambassador!

My paintings, prints and cards will be in the gallery during the first weekend.

I studied art at Wolverhampton and lived for 5 years in Coventry so I am definitely a Midlands fan and Birmingham has such a energy about it.

If you are in the area please drop in.

Byard Art's Summer Exhibition 2023

Byard Art are celebrating their 25th Anniversary and as one of their regular artists I have been asked to provide 6 pieces of artwork. It is a real hour to take part.

Here is how they introduce the event on their website:

This very special exhibition features work from over 40 artists, many of whom have been exhibiting with Byard for well over a decade or more. In celebrating 25 years, we are excited to pay tribute to our artists – old friends and new.

Gallery owner Ros commented: ‘It’s great fun and a privilege running Byard Art, finding exciting talented new artists for our discerning customers. Over the many years, we have been in central Cambridge, we have got to chat with & know many wonderful clients who are starting to build and or develop collections. I have always been lucky to have an amazing, friendly, knowledgeable team always happy to help everyone, answer questions, arrange deliveries, and of course assist in finding the perfect artwork for our clientele.’

Cambridge Open Studios 2023

I am in 2 venues this year!

July 1 & 2, and 8 & 9, I shall be at St Andrew's Hall, St Andrew's Road, Cambridge CB4 1DH.

July 22 & 23, I will be at my home studio, 309 Milton Road CB4 1XQ.

You might be asking why. It is because I live on Milton Road in Cambridge which is under reconstruction. When It is finished in 2 years time it will have wonderful cycle paths and flat pavements protected by verges and trees, some of which will grow very tall so the road will look like a lovely avenue. At the moment though, the road is full of road works. I thought some people may not want to see the roadworks so I am also exhibiting with another artist, Melanie Max who paints wonderful skies.

If you can make it to my studio, park opposite in Kendal Way, you can see how I paint my pictures, make your own mini painting with gold or silver leaf to take home and walk in my lovely garden, providing there are no thunderstorms.

I look forward to meeting visitors whichever venue they choose to visit.

IEA Exhibition

I am delighted to have a painting in the IEA (Institute of East Anglian Artists) exhibition for the second year running! There are many entries over the whole of East Anglia so competition is fierce!

'Bird Watch' is one of the paintings I started when I was asked to demonstrate at the Royston Art Society. It has changed considerably since then as I added some local birds in the tree as well as masses of blossom.

I enjoyed painting the sheer exuberance of this tree and it took over a year to complete which is even a bit long by my standards but really pleased with how it turned out.

The exhibition takes place in Holt in Norfolk. Full of independent shops and cafes, Holt is a joy to visit.

Of Day and Night

Melanie and I got to know each other when advertising the Chesterton area for Cambridge Open Studios. We worked well together even though our art was totally different although it complemented each other. Looking for a venue to have a joint exhibition with others before Christmas we ran into difficulties and it led us to think of just the two of us exhibiting. But where?

With most venues were already booked, a suggestion was made about the central cafe at Michaelhouse in Trinity Street. We were delighted to be accepted for 2 weeks at the end of November/ beginning of December.

We have measured the venue, hummed and hawed about the title, designed a poster, chosen the paintings.... and will hang the exhibition on Sunday 27 November ready for opening the following day.

So do come along and have a coffee, stop for elevenses, have lunch, drop by for afternoon tea and view our paintings.

You could describe our exhibition as total opposites, Melanie paints beautiful skies and I paint detailed dreams of Cambridge and beyond and our work could not be more different yet somehow it goes together.

One of us will be at the cafe most days between 11am and 3pm. If you want to meet us please let us know and we will endeaver to be there. We hope you enjoy the exhibition as much as we have enjoyed getting it organised.

IEA Institute of East Anglian Artists

I am really very chuffed to have a painting chosen for the Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition. My painting is stuffed full of random animals and is titled 'Sleepy Panda' - you may have to hunt for it! The painting is in acrylic and oil on canvas with copper leaf in a white floating frame. Looking at the other works accepted for this Open Show, it is going to be an amazing exhibition.

I used to live in North Norfolk. I was brought up in North Walsham and a visit to Holt was a great event. It was always a town that loved Art and I loved looking around the galleries. I even had some paintings accepted in The Gallery many years ago just out of art college so having one of my paintings there again is a real pleasure.

The exhibition is on from 29 October to 8 November. If you are in the area, I thoroughly recommend a visit.

Cambridge University Hospitals Affordable art exhibition

Occasionally I am invited to put forward an artwork to raise funds in an exhibition in the main corridor at Addenbrookes Hospital. I am delighted that CUH Arts choose my sketch recently from among the many entrants.

All money raised will go to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s arts-in-health programme, dedicated to transforming the hospital experience, promoting wellbeing and inspiring hope through live, visual and participatory arts.

Everyone loves viewing the art in the corridor. Some artworks are there permanently, others just for a temporary exhibition. Most artworks are by local artists or those with a link to Cambridge such as Raold Dahl. For those in the hospital and able to walk, the artwork becomes a focus of their day, for visitors waiting for an appointment many walk the corridors to view the artworks and the doctors and nurses love to see the artworks as they go about their busy lives. Having an artwork chosen is a great honour and I am very proud that my Urban Sketch drawn on location sitting outside Cambridge University Bookshop of my Bike against the railings of Great St Mary's Church has been chosen to go on the walls.

Birmingham Open Studios

Probably everyone knows that I love doing Cambridge Open Studios and that my son, Owen de Visser, started Birmingham Open Studios seven years ago. It has grown over the years and he is applying for funding so that it can be rolled out over the whole of Birmingham. I am, of course, very proud of him.

I have taken part for the last 3 years and this year will be with Owen at the gorgeous Lux Gallery in Edgbaston on 1 & 2 October. It will be a lovely time for us to catch up and share our love for art, He is a photographer and runs the gallery.

It does mean I shall have a few Birmingham themed painting and will be leaving my Cambridge ones at home. Trying to get my 'Tree of Birmingham' painted, varnished and framed for 1 October. Looking forward to meeting some lovely Birmingham people who have visited in previous years as well as new art lovers.

Cambridge Open Studios

Cambridge Open Studios is back!

I am open all 4 weekends this year. July 2 & 3 and July 9 & 10 I am at the Pitt Building with several other artists. I love this venue and it is always busy as passers by drop in.

I will be back home in my own studio on Milton Road for the last 2 weekends, July 16 & 17 and July 23 & 24. I have a table set up with small canvases painted in dark blue with a red outline of a tree. This is for my visitors to 'have a go' at gilding, and the best thing about this is you get to take your artwork home.

Please be aware that Milton Road is open although the roadworks have started. A bike can be left in our drive and a car can be parked opposite my house at Kendal Way.

Looking forward to meeting art lovers again in my home.

Art Unequalled

This year I am excited to be exhibiting with Art Unequalled in Ely for the first time.

During the weekend, there will be a range of stunning handmade works of Art and Craft exhibited by individual makers from across the UK as a weekend ‘gallery’ including ceramics, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, painting, glass, photography, print, wood, furniture and more.

It is a chance to:

-talk to the makers about their work, many accept individual commissions.

-observe makers demonstrating their craft, see how they create their stunning work first hand.

-meet the artists as you can be assured that all work on display is made by the artist selling it.

Cambridge Drawing Society April 2022

Recently I have been exploring gouache again with my Tezhip designs. I love the 'flatness' of gouache as well as the bright colours and thought it might also lend itself to some medieval style small paintings.

I entered 4 paintings for the CDS exhibition and was delighted when all were accepted. I see showing at this Cambridge exhibition a chance to display what I am doing. Most of the exhibits there are watercolours of local scenes and flowers which I never do so I like to put something very different there.

This year over 400 paintings were exhibited and the standard seems to get higher each year as new members are accepted.

Newmarket Open 2022

I am absolutely delighted to have TWO paintings chosen for the inaugural Newmarket Open exhibition which takes place at the wonderful National Horse Racing Museum.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and also does tours, if you love horses this is definitely a place to visit. The gallery is by the entrance opposite the shop and cafe so anyone can pop in and see the artworks.

Society of East Anglian Watercolourists Exhibition

During the lockdowns I learnt a little about Turkish designs. I have always loved pattern, colour and gold so I explored some of the tiles and paintings in these ancient designs.

I made three designs over Christmas 2021 when, for the second year, my family either had covid or were working the Christmas shifts. I was very pleased with the results although I have probably strayed from pure Tezlip designs. Although different from my regular paintings in oil with influences on Northern Medieval manuscripts, I was still making up patterns and using tiny details but I was using gouache, paints that previously I had only used at art college.

I entered 2 of the designs in the Society of East Anglian Watercolorists selected exhibition and was thrilled when one of my designs was chosen. I am planning to do more for other exhibitions that are coming up.

Winter Open Studio 2021

At last I made the decision to have a Winter Open Studio. Now that I have, I am really looking forward to meeting people, catching up with friends and customers and hopefully meeting new art enthusiasts.

I shall be in my own studio on Milton Road (see leaflet above) on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December between 11am and 4pm. There will be prints and paintings and greeting cards and my lockdown books and little notebooks - ideal small presents. And as long as there are no further restrictions I should be able to pour everyone a glass of warming mulled wine.

Addenbrookes Art exhibition

Last year two of my images were chosen to be in the Cambridge Art Book. The book is on sale in all the galleries in the city plus various other outlets and has been extremely successful at showing an artists view of our beautiful city.

Following on from its success, Addenbrookes has invited a selection of the artists who contributed towards the book to exhibit a painting in the long corridor in the section near the Addenbrookes Treatment Centre.

If you find yourself visiting the hospital please take a look at the exhibition. Alongside our paintings there are an amazing amount of images to keep visitors, those who have to stay in the hospital and the staff entertained. For every sale we make the hospital will receive money towards vital help for the patients.

Open 24 hours a day.

Summer Exhibition

This will be the first Summer Exhibition I will be doing with Byard Art and I am delighted to have been asked to submit four paintings.

I just LOVE this gallery