Regulars brush up on their life' skills

by Claire Hu

Nude models are helping regulars at a Tyneside pub explore their artistic side.

Life drawing is just one of the classes launched by licensee Steve Ronchetti, and they are proving a big hit with customers as well as boosting business.

Over a pint or two in the main bar of the Bisley, in Blaydon-upon-Tyne, drinkers can also try their hand at silk painting, drawing, and a pottery wheel has even been installed in the last week (life drawing classes are in a more secluded upstairs room).

Ronchetti, who is also a councillor, has managed to attract funding from the Lottery, police and local authority to launch the Blaydon Arts Group and provides classes free of charge.

He said the scheme, which has won him an award from InnSpired, has helped him establish the pub in the community.

"At last I can ask people to come upstairs and see my etchings and really mean it!," he joked.

"This is a community pub, with a rough edge, but people have taken to the classes really well and amazed us with their work.

We'll put easels in the pub and the customers will draw each other.

There really is no such thing as a bad picture."

He said the classes had attracted people who would not normally visit pubs, and events hosted by the arts group had also proved a big draw.

The pub also runs graffiti workshops for local youngsters and kids' art classes in the holidays.

The aim is to encourage people to explore art, especially those with no previous experience.

The Bisley came second in an InnSpired Innovation competition.

First prize went to the Waverley, in Ilfracombe, which has created a beach scene in one of its rooms.