UPON reaching adulthood, brushes and pencils are often cast aside as the shackles of education and work life take hold.

Art can appear daunting after such a long break but in Gwent many burgeoning artists are taking to the canvas again and rekindling their passions in this technological age.

Far from intimating Picasso and van Gogh or Dali and Monet, these artists are using their local surroundings as inspiration.

One of the artists, Hilda Smith, 65, has been teaching art in Newport since 1997, having obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Foundation Art at University South Wales in Caerleon in 1999.

Mrs Smith has been based at the Blaen-y-Pant Centre in Malpas since 2011. Working at the Hera Art Centre there, she runs art lessons and craft classes welcoming artists of all ages and abilities.

At the centre, art lovers have the opportunity to do painting and drawing, mixed media through collages and even jewellery making with local artist Vivienne Davies.

Whether it’s watercolour, oil, acrylic, pastel, or mixed-media, Mrs Smith welcomes all styles and some of her members have even been with her since childhood.

Around 40 people attend her weekly lessons and helped by the warm, laidback atmosphere of her classes, Mrs Smith believes there’s a particular reason why art keeps drawing them in.

She said: “The most important thing with art is enjoyment and we all have a laugh here. It’s a very social group.

“I see my students every week for years and become quite attached. They may have been children back then and are now in their 20s and still with me.

“They like it because art is a way of expressing yourself in being creative. It’s a wonderful feeling and you go home with a piece and that’s great for your well-being.

“I’ll never have to retire because I love it. It’s not work, it’s pleasure.”

Although a number of Mrs Smith’s students have been with her for many years, many of her students are beginners.

Initially new students learn the art of portraits and landscape art formally but Mrs Smith soon lets each of her students explore their talents more naturally.

She said: “As an artist, you begin to look at things differently whether it’s the trees or colours, and everyone can draw.

“Of course there are exceptions who really are naturals but art is inside every one of us.

“There’s no such thing as a bad painting; each piece is lovely in its own way.

“My forte is 10-minute portraits but when it comes to perspective painting, I’m lost.

“We’re all different and art is very subjective. That’s something to be embraced and to be let loose.”

Among Mrs Smith’s many students is Julie Preston, 57, from Newport, who studied art at school.

Due to her work schedule, Mrs Preston has only been able to pursue her hobby on a part-time basis.

Having previously done evening classes, Mrs Preston recently signed up at Hera Art Centre and said it has lived up to her expectations.

She said: “The great thing about art is that you just get lost for a couple of hours.

“Working part-time, it’s really fitted in with my schedule.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and you learn so much from others in the class. I’m not disciplined enough to do art at home, so it’s great to spend a few hours in a room together with others who have similar interest.

“There’s an eclectic mix here and it’s a nice little place.”

Another club which is enjoying success is Pontypool and District Art Club, which has 30 members and has been running for four years.

The club meets at the Woodland Centre every Friday between 12.30pm and 3pm.

A keen supporter of Pontypool museum, the club has become a key part of the local community and attracts a range of ages, from fledgling painters in their teens to experienced pensioners.

The group exhibit annually at the museum, and enter work to be displayed in the winter art exhibition.

Jan Brentnall, 69, who is the treasurer of the club, said: “We see an increase in standard at each exhibition and some of the artists are bordering on professional at times.

“We encourage everyone to exhibit, regardless of how long they have been painting. Finishing a picture is an achievement in itself,

“To see their work up there is a measure on how far they have come and they soon realise that they were better than they first thought.

“It doesn’t take long to settle and feel like one of the old hands.”

Roger Purbrick, 76, the treasurer of the club, started painting as a teenager but owed to family commitments, he gave up the pursuit and only got back into it in his retirement.

A fan of landscape art, Mr Purbrick said what sets the Pontypool and District Art Club apart is how friendly its members are and how they all help each other.

He said: “We had just 10 members when we started but we’ve really gotten involved with what’s going on.

“We hold an exhibition every year and last year we did fairly well, selling 10 pictures.

“We mostly self-criticise and give each other advice to try and help each other out. You can get better the more you do it and when you paint something a couple of times

“It’s just friendly and everyone does what they like, with every style welcomed. There’s nothing rigid or nothing you can’t do here.”

Despite being a relatively new group, the club has established links with a number of tutors, including Jantien Powell at Chapel College Studio in Abergavenny.

While it is recommended that prospective members attend a few art classes before signing up with the club, Mr Purbrick said that all abilities are welcome.

He added: “We take advantage of the tutors coming in but when you start off, we all help each other out.

“It’s a relaxing pastime but it can be stressful when you start out in trying to get a particular effect. But, the sense of achievement wipes that out

“I do it quite quickly myself based on photos, scenery, or my head, whereas some artists take a really complicated take and it might take them a couple of days.

“Here in Pontypool, with all the scenery and the canal, our members are never short of inspiration.”

For more information on the Hera Art Centre, email Mrs Smith on hilda_smith@hotmail.com. To learn more about the Pontypool and District Art Club, email Mr Purbrick on rogerpurbrick@btinternet.com.