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Paint or draw

Send in pictures of your original artwork on a monthly theme to feature in our online gallery. No prizes, just prestige!

  • Are you a dab hand with a paintbrush or pencil?
  • Do you want to develop your skills or are you simply interested in the world around you and how to capture it in a piece of artwork? 

We are running a monthly challenge to encourage people to paint or draw a piece of artwork, then take a photo of their work and submit their pictures via our online form. We are going to be posting a different theme each month and inviting u3a members to submit photos of their creations on that topic.

This is not a competition and it is not about your artistic ability  – what we want from you are interesting pictures, possibly different perspectives on everyday scenes or objects, anything which has inspired you to paint or draw. Peter Akers, a member of the paint or draw network, has shared his helpful tips on Starting out in pastels, Sandra Foster has some tips on Acrylics and David Wrigley, another member, has shared some thoughts on Watercolours. We will be extending this network of members so please do contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to find out more. 

At the end of every month, we will choose and publish up to 15 photos of artwork on an online gallery for each theme to share the pictures with all of our members. Just upload your photo using the form below (you will receive an acknowledgement once submitted). Follow the links at the bottom of the page to view previous galleries. 

Please only submit one photo per person. Your photo of your artwork should also not include any recognisable people.

The theme "The Old Town" is now closed. Thank you to all those who submitted photos of their artwork on this theme. This is just a selection of the fantastic pictures that were sent in. It was very difficult to choose as they were all brilliant and much appreciated. 

The theme for this month is: "Into the Blue"

Deadline for submissions: 29 April 2026

Follow this link to submit your photos on our WuFoo form

This month's gallery: The Old Town

'Gayle Beck' by Chris, Long Eaton & District u3a

This is Gayle Beck in Hawes, N Yorkshire. It runs straight through the old town and joins the River Ure. The town has literally grown up around it with old stone houses flanking it on both sides. It’s a lovely place to visit. Hawes dates back to the 15th Century and nestles in Wensleydale. If you’re a cheese lover, a trip to the Wensleydale Creamery in the town is therefore highly recommended!

'The Shambles' by Lesley, Hurst,Hassocks and Ditchling u3a

A watercolour of The Shambles York. 

'Sorrento' by Christine, Caterham u3a

Sorrento, old town, using watercolour. This picture was inspired by a photograph taken on holiday

'Thirsk' by Elaine, Northallerton u3a

My painting is of the old town square with clock tower in Thirsk in North Yorkshire in acrylics.

'Paris - It still looks the same' by Salim, Harrow u3a

My memory of Paris......The city of romance always. An abstract form in watercolours. 

'The Old Town of Thaxted' by Ian, Witham & District (Essex) u3a.

My entry is a pen and watercolour painting inspired by a photograph I took of Stoney Lane, Thaxted, with the Guildhall on the left and Thaxted Parish Church in the background.

I believe both were built sometime around the late 15th century, so hopefully the picture qualifies for the 'Old Town' theme.

'Plymouth' by Janet, Bradford on Avon u3a

I painted this picture while thinking of my childhood when living in Plymouth in the 1950s.

'Roman bridge' by Nicholas, Hampstead Garden Suburb u3a

My watercolour is not an old town but the Roman bridge dating to the 17th century at Penmachno Wales. 

'Nerac' by Jo, Cardiff u3a

After Christmas I found a pile of old magazines and supermarket brochures. Rather than throw them away I decided to rip out pieces to make a collage of part of Nerac, a medieval town in south west France. Although there are a couple of figures in the distance they cannot be recognised.

'Laugharne' by Yvonne, Cardiff u3a

One of many quick sketches I have completed in one of Wales’ most beautiful and iconic old towns- Laugharne, synonymous with Dylan Thomas. Not the Boat House, but a pretty cottage alongside a river running under a wonderful stone bridge. Of course it was the washing on the line that really appealed to me.

'Wisdom' by Lichien, Farnham u3a

Chinese Brush painting on Xuan paper. The "old" not necessarily mean out of the date or done for. It could also means wisdom from the experience or the art from the time.

'Rouen' by Jane, u3a interest groups online art

My dad lived in Normandy and when we visited Rouen we would try and get to le gros horloge for it to strike the hour. The mechanism was made in 1389, one of the oldest mechanisms in Europe. Then we would walk under the carved Renaissance arch and down into Rouen's beautiful Medieval Old Town.

'A road near my home' by Nor'dzin, Cardiff u3a

A road near my home. The sun was illuminating the chimneys which inspired me to notice their variety of styles and textures.

'Chorley Town Hall' by Mike, West Pennine Villages u3a

My photograph is of my acrylic painting of Chorley Town Hall on a November evening with a typically damp Lancashire atmosphere.

'Whitby' by Elizabeth, Oakley u3a

Historic cottages on steps down to Harbour at Whitby. I hoped to create the atmosphere of the past that continues into the present.

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