Vivienne started teaching absolute beginners about 18 months ago.  Groups of 6 members met in the conservatory fortnightly.  A second group started about a year ago, and a third 6 months ago. The first group meets monthly now, and the other groups fortnightly.  Most of the 18 in the classes were absolute beginners, but some had used pencil and brush and paint a little, without any teaching since schooldays.  "This is a momentous occasion" said Muriel Jones with her brush poised for the first time!  She is now, along with others, a competent painter, as you will have seen at the U3A Exhibition morning. The two hour lessons are taught by Vivienne, and much homework is given.  The homework becomes the beginning of the next lesson, as we all look at work done, and discuss good and bad points, techniques, equipment, and look at work by established artists. Each member of the group pays £2 per lesson into Vivienne's Africa fund, which is used for educational projects in the village area where she and Alan have their motel in Tanzania, and which they visit twice yearly.