Popular children's entertainer to return to this year's Southport Flower Show

A spokesperson for the Southport Flower show has said:- "We are delighted to announce that Justin Fletcher will be returning with his stage show on:- Sunday, 17 August 2025."

Justin Fletcher is a Singer and Television Presenter. Speaking and performing in various, often self created roles, he specialises in comedy and worked with children with special educational needs through his show Something Special. Justin Fletcher is also known as:- CBeebies favourite Mr Tumble, but stepped back from CBeebies earlier this year after 22 years.

Alan Adams, General Manager said:- "We are delighted to have Justin returning again. He is very popular with families and it's lovely to see so many children and adults singing along to Justin's songs. This year he will be performing 2 stage shows, at:- 11 am and 1 pm, within the Garden Theatre. It's always very busy so get there early! Justin will join a host of special guests lined up for this year's show. Kelvin and Liz Fletcher from ITV's Fletchers' Family Farm, gardening experts David Domoney, Carole and George from Beechgrove Garden and Nick Bailey. TV Chefs and Presenters:- Rosemary Shrager, Phil Vickery and Cherish Finden. Zack George aka Steel from Gladiators will also be joining us. This year we are also enhancing the children's activities at the show and will have a children's trail."

Activities at this years Southport Flower Show will include:-

• The Potting Bench, supported by Southport Rotary.
  

• Forest School, supported by Gang of Elk.
  

• Scarecrow Festival.
  

• Live Bee Hive.
  

• Meet the Alpacas, supported by Natterjack Alpacas.
  

• Children's Yoga, supported by Enchanted Fields.
  

• Doodle Wall.
  

• Wildlife Conservation, supported by Martin Mere.

It is worth adding that children under 16 go FREE with a paying adult.

From show stopping gardens and celebrity Chef demos to live arena entertainment, shopping galore, and fun for all the family; there's something for everyone at the Southport Flower Show, returning to:- Victoria Park from:- 14 August to 17 August 2025!

Buy your tickets early and save now on:- SouthportFlowerShow.Co.UK.

"We really CAN draw and paint!"

A world of opportunities have opened up for a group of local artists who have discovered that they really:- 'CAN' draw and paint.

The group are members of the:- 'You CAN draw and paint Academy' created by Southport artist Angela Birchall and, for 3 weeks in May, they are exhibiting their work at the ArtHouse Gallery, in Southport.

Most of the group took part in a joint exhibition at the same gallery nearly 2 years ago and that was the 1st time any of them had ever shown their work in public. It was a massive turning point for them!

Since then they have been taking part in various local and Regional exhibitions, selling their work, getting commissions and 1 even joined Angela in becoming a finalist in the Lancashire Artist of the Year competition.

As Angela explains:- "After lock down ended, I launched the academy initially teaching just watercolour classes, later adding acrylics and drawing classes. Most of this group started in those taught classes and when they were more experienced I created the tutored group. In these sessions they all work on whatever artwork they choose in whatever medium they prefer while I circulate offering advice, guidance, encouragement and tuition from my 50 years experience as an artist and teacher."

The format of the tutored group allows everyone to explore favourite subjects or brand new ones, experiment in a medium with which they are familiar or to try out a totally new 1, always knowing that Angela is there as a safety net for them if needed.

As one of the artists, Janice Hobson, commented:- "Since joining 6 months ago I feel much more confident in expressing myself through art. I have experimented with different styles and media and although I'm still finding my way it's a fabulous safe space in which to do it. Angela is so knowledgeable, so positive, so helpful and with the support of the other group members it's an experience I really value."

Alan Proffitt who joined the group 3 years ago, echoed this sentiment:- "With valued help and support I have been able to develop my all round skills and now feel confident in pastels, water colours and acrylic paint which is my favoured medium."

For Val Walmsley, the art group allows her to combine her two abiding passions of the natural world and art, as she explains:- "I wasn't really able to combine the two until about two and a half years ago, when Angela's tutored acrylics class fell into my lap. I feel my art has gone from strength to strength since then, due in the main to Angela's teaching and encouragement, which, aside from learning artistic skills, has given me the confidence I always lacked."

The sense of relaxation that they get from their creative activities was a point raised by many of the artists taking part in the group show.

Bev Waugh said:- "What I love about art is the chance to unwind and forget about everything else. I really enjoy having a go at different media and experimenting. It really doesn't matter how it turns out, it's all just practice!"

Marie Ward added:- "I started art classes following retirement, primarily as a form of creative relaxation. It's given me the opportunity to try out different ideas and processes; some more successful than others, but that's the joy of it really! I like to experiment with colour, texture and quirky imagery."

Retired nurse Jackie Horner echoed that, saying:- "I find it both rewarding and relaxing. I enjoy the classes so much, meeting other people and having a very helpful, patient teacher."

Patricia Goudie describes the tutored classes as:- "ideal for my needs" because she can take her time to retrain herself to use her left hand due to health issues. I'm gathering confidence and knowledge all the time. Watercolour is my preferred medium but I am also enjoying pastels after recently learning how to use them."

Some of these artists, such as:- Estelle Hall, hadn't painted since leaving School until she joined Angela's watercolour class in 2023. She's now moved over to the tutored group where she says:- "My imagination has been set free! I now tend to paint in mainly acrylics and the subjects can be anything from a landscape to a colourful Eggs Royale brunch: basically anything that catches my eye."

Neither Chris Charnock nor Carol Birch had previous art experience before starting in the taught watercolour classes. Now both of them are painting and drawing in a variety of media. As Carol explains:- "I would like to further develop my watercolour techniques and also try different mediums. I have just enjoyed sketching my first portrait in pencil."

Chris adds:- "I like painting landscapes and the media I like to use is acrylic but I have used watercolours in the past. In the future I would like to try pastels."

Like Carol, many of the artists are trying their hands at different media or subject matter because of being part of this group. Wendy Dixon who has been refining her drawing techniques with pencil and soft pastel, says: "I have now decided to branch out in the summer to capture landscapes in acrylics."

Sandra Morrison says:- "I joined Angela's classes several years ago where she inspired me to continue with art, using water colours. Since then, I've also used acrylic paints and have recently experimented with pastels."

In the coming months, Alan aims to improve his work with pencils on portraits and figure drawing; Val is adding urban scenes and still lifes to her portfolio of:- landscapes, plants and trees; Marie Hurst is developing her skills in painting birds; while Janice adds:- "I can't wait to see where my art journey goes from here."

Much of the growing interest in learning to use soft pastels comes from being inspired by Angela's recent work in combining watercolour and soft pastels to create sunset cloudscapes; at least 1 of those will also be included in the exhibition.

The final selection of work from the group is not complete, but already there are submissions drawn in pencil and pastel and paintings in watercolour and acrylics along with a few mixed media pieces. The subjects take you all around the world from just down the road in Ainsdale and Liverpool to favourite holiday destinations along with birds, flowers and fairies.

"I love the eclectic mix of work in this group. Everyone is eager to develop their art and will turn their hand to any subject that inspires them. The creative energy and the wonderful support and encouragement that they give each other is incredible. I feel honoured to be leading this group of artists and am excited to be curating our forthcoming exhibition." says Angela,

The "You CAN draw and paint Academy" exhibition will run from:- Tuesday, 6 May to Saturday, 24 May 2025, at the:- ArtHouse Gallery, on:- Eastbank Street, Southport. On Saturday, 17 May 2025, from:- 2 pm to 4 pm, the public will be able to come along to meet Angela and some of the artists to chat about what inspired them to create their works of art.