THE chairman opened the November meeting with his report on the autumn exhibition.

As usual, visitors to the exhibition had been invited to vote for the best painting in three classes.

The vote for best overall went to Angie Merris, best flower painting to Caroline Berwick and best under-16 painting to Nathalie Harris.

Speaker and demonstrator Margaret Smeeton's subject was silk painting. She discussed the scope of silk painting, explaining painted silk panels could be incorporated into cushion covers and other items of soft furnishing or could be used decoratively as wall hangings or framed paintings.

More personal applications were their use as individual silk scarves and incorporation into greeting cards. Examples were on display, all strikingly colourful with subjects mainly flowers and other natural forms.

The materials and equipment needed for making a start were described and demonstrated. A characteristic of paint when applied to silk is that it spreads freely and rapidly. Each patch of colour must therefore be restricted by a paint resistant barrier and Margaret demonstrated how the boundary of each patch of colour was defined with a line of material called ''gutta''.

She explained the application of subtle colour mixes and of the problems that can be encountered.

Members were invited to try their hand.

Margaret finished on a festive note by showing how large, plain candles can be attractively decorated using similar techniques but with materials suitable for application to wax.

The next meeting will be at St Luke's Memorial Hall, Evesham Road, Headless Cross, on Wednesday, December 1 at 7.30pm when John Lines will give a demonstration of landscape in oils.

This last meeting before Christmas will end with socialising, mulled wine and mince pies.