Welcome to
Upper Deeside Art Society
Our aim is to encourage an interest in art by providing opportunities to practise and exhibit art on Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire.
Who We Are
Artistic Souls
Upper Deeside Art Society (UDAS) was founded in 1992 by a small group of art enthusiasts from the Ballater area.
We now have members from postal areas AB31, AB34, AB35 and AB36, who work in an ever-widening range of media, including acrylics, oils, watercolour, pastels, graphite, ceramics, print making, wood and textiles.
Our workshops and talks are usually held in Aboyne, but our annual art exhibition takes place in Ballater.
To become a member, please contact the membership secretary via the button below.
"Every child is an Artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up"
- Pablo Picasso
What We Offer Members
Creative Confidence
All abilities are welcome, with the Society offering a regular programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops that introduce newcomers to art and creativity, and refine the techniques of even the most accomplished artists.
Most importantly, it offers the chance to meet fellow creatives on a friendly, welcoming and informal basis.
What We Offer Members
Creative Confidence
All abilities are welcome, with the Society offering a regular programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops that introduce newcomers to art and creativity, and refine the techniques of even the most accomplished artists.
Most importantly, it offers the chance to meet fellow creatives on a friendly, welcoming and informal basis.
Art Talks
Invited speakers give our monthly Friday afternoon talks starting at 14:00 at the Aboyne Bowling Club
Admission is free for members and £3 for non-members, who are always most welcome.
Workshops
We aim to run one or two-day (weekend) tutored workshop sessions for members, with
a practising Artist most months.
These workshops cover a variety of media and are usually held in the Aboyne Bowling Club Hall.
Printing Press
As a member of the society, you will have privileged access to a printing press, located in the studio of one of our members, for water-based etching, mono print and
allied techniques. Small, supportive groups meet on a monthly basis.
Exhibition
Presently the committee organise and run an annual exhibition, open to all of our members, at the Victoria Hall, Station Square in Ballater for a week at the end of August, offering members an ideal opportunity to show and sell their work.
Art Talks
Invited speakers give our monthly Friday afternoon talks starting at 14:00 at the Aboyne Bowling Club
Admission is free for members and £3 for non-members, who are always most welcome.
Workshops
We aim to run one or two-day (weekend) tutored workshop sessions for members, with
a practising Artist most months.
These workshops cover a variety of media and are usually held in the Aboyne Bowling Club Hall.
Printing Press
As a member of the society, you will have privileged access to a printing press, located in the studio of one of our members, for water-based etching, mono print and
allied techniques. Small, supportive groups meet on a monthly basis.
Exhibition
Presently the committee organise and run an annual exhibition, open to all of our members, at the Victoria Hall, Station Square in Ballater for a week at the end of August, offering members an ideal opportunity to show and sell their work.
UDAS Printing Sessions
The UDAS printing sessions are open to all UDAS members. We meet once a month, usually on the last Saturday of the month, 10am to 1pm, in the studio of local artist, Myrtle Watt, Torran Darroch, Ballater Road, Aboyne AB34 5HY. Participants work on their own projects and use a variety of printing techniques, such as monoprint, linocut, dry point etching and tetrapak engraving, with guidance from artist and printer, Anna Sedgwick. Paper, ink and printing materials are provided, sometimes at a charge of £5 per person per year. Myrtle has kindly agreed to house the UDAS printer in her studio. There is room for 8 participants per session, on a first come, first served basis. The date of each printing session will be confirmed on the UDAS website a week in advance. If you would like to attend, please notify Anna by email in advance: anna7sedgwick@gmail.com
Calendar Of Events
(Subject to amendment)
Gel Plate printing workshop
Saturday 21st February, 2026, 10am – 4pm in the Aboyne Bowling Club Hut
UDAS Printing Sessions
The next meeting of the UDAS printing group will be on:
Saturday 28th February, 10am-1pm, at Myrtle’s house
(Torran Darroch, Ballater Road, Aboyne AB34 5HY). If you are interested in attending, please let Myrtle know as space is limited.
The UDAS printing sessions are open to all UDAS members. We meet once a month, usually on the last Saturday of the month, 10am to 1pm, in the studio of local artist, Myrtle Watt, Torran Darroch, Ballater Road, Aboyne AB34 5HY. Participants work on their own projects and use a variety of printing techniques, such as monoprint, linocut, dry point etching and tetrapak engraving, with guidance from artist and printer, Anna Sedgwick. Paper, ink and printing materials are provided, sometimes at a charge of £5 per person per year. Myrtle has kindly agreed to house the UDAS printer in her studio. There is room for 8 participants per session, on a first come, first served basis. The date of each printing session will be confirmed on the UDAS website a week in advance. If you would like to attend, please notify Anna by email in advance: anna7sedgwick@gmail.com
Helen Bruce Workshop!
Saturday 21st March, 2026, 10am – 4pm in the Aboyne Bowling Club Hut
For those few not familiar with Helen’s style, its what I would term “emotive abstract”: Helen reduces landscapes to a few simple shapes and rough lines and yet her pictures still manage to capture and convey the pleasure one gets from a picturesque scene, see below. I just wish I could do the same!
If you are a UDAS Member, check out the posts and members artwork on the Forum.
To access click - Log in - top right of this page and type your email address and password.
Once logged in, click on - Members Area - scroll down and click on - Forum.
(Please note the Forum page is private and cannot be accessed by non members.)
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”
- Thomas Merton
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”
- Thomas Merton
Contact Us
Use the contact form opposite to contact our Membership Secretary or to become a member.
To become a member, you must be 16 years or over and living in the AB31, AB34, AB35 and AB36 postal areas.
Our membership fee is currently £20 per year.