BUDDING artists have been brushing up on their painting skills with a course held at the United Reform Class in Tavistock.

'The Art for Fun classes' are proving successful with 11 students attending one session last term.  The URC vestry only holds 12 comfortably, so the class was split into two. Classes are held between 9.30am-11.30am on Tuesdays and the same time on Fridays.

Art teacher Thelma Newell, who trained initially at Bournemouth Teacher Training College with two famous painters Fred Yates and John Ward RA in the same group, leads the sessions.

She has never specialized, being always ready to embrace and teach new methods, materials and techniques.

The subjects and lessons are entirely suitable in both cases and the medium used is either gouache or acrylics.