Glenn Allton

Glenn began drawing during the Covid lockdown, predominantly in graphite and recently Polychromos colour pencils. He particularly enjoys creating portraits of both animals and people.

While drawing from a photo of an elephant during my lunchbreak, I found I was being watched by a colleague who quietly slipped me a note asking if they could buy it. What a boost to my confidence and my first ever sale !! She has since bought further pieces which I am proud to say are framed and hanging in her house.

I’m inspired by Jamie Boots - Wildlife Artist (www.jamieboots.com)

Becoming a member of Art Alert has given me the confidence to share my work and ideas with like minded people and other creatives, thus helping me to develop my skills further.

Anne Becker

Anne has always been interested in Art and has been able to put this into practice since she retired. She experiments with a wide variety of media, collage, printmaking, and paint. Anne paints what inspires her, a wide and eclectic choice of subjects. A humorous self-portrait.

"Edificio Los Naranjos" This is the first collage Anne made, based on a doorway in Spain. It was entered into the 'Decade of Doorways'  Art Alert exhibition at the Nuneaton museum and art gallery.

Henri Matisse is an inspirational artist to Anne. She is drawn to his expressive use of colour and design both in painting and collage.

Being a member of Art Alert has been the catalyst for Anne's work. It has encouraged her to create, experiment and exhibit with like-minded people.

Joanne Lole

Over 50 years ago, Joanne submitted a 3D handsewn felt squirrel for a school class craft section in the Nuneaton Festival of Arts. Preferring to make clothes and furniture for her Cindy doll rather than ‘play dolls’, Blue Peter’s ‘Here’s One I Made Earlier’ craft section is probably responsible for her urge to keep Dairylea cheese boxes and pizza bases ‘just in case they’re needed for an art project’.

Her lifelong enjoyment of art and craftwork includes enrolling in a 3D HND in Glass and Ceramics, buying a glass kiln, building a work studio and exploring many creative practices. Joanne likes working to a project brief, researching the subject, creating ideas boards and experimenting with various media. It’s important to her to keep learning and experiencing different aspects of the arts.

Joanne admires the work of stained-glass artists Marc Chagall, Johannes Schreiter and Brian Clarke.

Joanne, a founding member of Art Alert, retired from the committee in 2024 after 16yrs. In Oct 2024, Joanne showcased a retrospective exhibition of her glass artwork at The Station Gallery.

Rakha Madahar

Rakha Madahar is a surface pattern designer, illustrator, and creative workshop facilitator behind the award-winning business desgn.prnt.

Guided by her love of vibrant colour and tactile textures, Rakha brings her vision to life through carefully curated artisan prints and patterns—each one designed to evoke emotion, memory, and joy, and showcased across a considered range of products.

She draws inspiration from nature, architecture, travel, and her South Asian heritage—bridging cultures and celebrating identity through meaningful pattern and print. Rakha uses a thoughtful mix of creative techniques, combining hand-drawn detail with digital software to shape designs that feel both modern and timeless.

In 2023, Rakha was one of twelve artists commissioned by Shelter to create artwork that told the story of families and individuals, who were helped by them.

"It was wonderful to be able to create a large piece of accessible art that was displayed at Birmingham New Street Station!"

As a result of being a member of Art Alert, it has given Rakha access to a variety of opportunities within her local community. From exhibiting at The Station Gallery on a number of occasions at group exhibitions to being part of the committee.

Viv McKee

Viv McKee began to get involved in art in her late 60s. Now, in her late 70s, she enjoys all kinds of creative activity. It is difficult to select one medium, when all you do is want to explore. Currently she is working in wood, metal, embroidery, painting rocky landscapes, and a Christmas mural for the village. She’s got a basket to make as well! She enjoys working with children and adults on all sorts of projects. She’s even decorated shoes and painted dog portraits for charity. It is unlikely that she will ever develop her own style, and actually she doesn’t care. Life is too short.

Her mermaid matters to her. She made it when she did foundation at DMU, at the ripe age of 68. When Viv went to school she wasn’t even taught how to wire a plug. Being able to cut, shape and weld large pieces of metal into a favourite form was mind blowing.

There is no one artist or place. She enjoys Brimham Rocks, the headland at Hartlepool and the Forth bridge. Artists depend on her current focus. She admires Sue Nichol, Gormley and Peter Eugene Ball. Art Alert has been great. It put her in touch with like-minded individuals and provides an impetus when motivation flags.

Ted Parsons

Ted has drawn from an early age and paints mostly with acrylics .His main source of inspiration is being in the landscape. Most of his paintings can be best described as an expressive response to the subject matter.(aka Abstract!). The discipline of objective drawing has always been important to Ted.

A view over the fields from his bedroom window painted in oils when Ted was age 12 is key to his development as an artist; he describes it as a keystone to his work.

In his late teens Ted was impacted on by the work of Paul Cezanne and this continues to be the case and similarly with the work of John Constable. Walking alone in the landscape always inspires Ted e.g.; Calke Abbey parkland S Derbyshire and the hills around the Mawdaach Estuary in Wales.

Art Alert is a valued community of artists that brings new ideas , opportunities and inspiration to Ted and the camaraderie and friendship of the group provide a sense of belonging.