Art exhibition in Louth for Lincoln and Lindsey Society
A local artist has donated her collection of paintings to Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society, the charity that supports her with her sight loss.
Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society member, Joan Westerby, was born in Swaby, near Alford, 94 years ago.
She attended Spilsby Grammar School, followed by teacher training in Hull. She married, raised two sons, and has lived in Aby for 68 years.
She taught at Withern Primary School for four years, then moved to Alford Primary School, where she worked for 32 years until she retired at the impressive age of 82.
Her husband took early retirement, and Joan decided she wanted a hobby of her own. She tried a cookery class but didn’t enjoy it, so she joined the Alford Art Group and discovered her talent for painting, something she had never previously tried.
After her husband died, Joan found herself with more free time, so she returned to teaching three days a week. She also took art classes with Derek Ashman, who taught her how to use oil paints, and later with Ash Buckingham, who introduced her to watercolours — now her preferred medium.
She attended day and weekend classes with Ash, which she thoroughly enjoyed. They helped her stay busy and avoid feeling lonely. Joan later joined the Withern Art Group, which she still attends despite losing her sight and no longer being able to paint.
She can still knit and makes beautiful blankets, which she donates to the Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society, a local charity based in Louth which supports blind and visually impaired people throughout East and West Lindsey, Lincoln and North and North East Lincolnshire. Their Sight Impairment Officers and 160 expert volunteers provide extensive services to enable and support any person who is blind or sight impaired to be as independent as possible and live the life they choose. Contact them on 01507 605604 or email [email protected] for more information about the services they offer.
Spout Yard Gallery in Louth is holding an exhibition of Mrs Westerby’s paintings to raise funds for LLBS. The gallery is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 3pm, accessed through Engine Gate carpark at the bottom of Broadbank in Louth, LN11 0NW.
Mrs Westerby attended the launch event of the exhibition at which a dozen of her paintings were sold.