Gail Simpson has been painting since she was a young girl, and is now president of the Aldergrove Art Club. 

She joined the club nine years, but the club was formed 53 years ago. 

"I do just about every medium. I was a potter for about 20 years too," Simpson shared. 

Simpson was invited to the club by a current member at the time, and she said the group has been more than welcoming. 

"They inspire me. It's nice to go out and see what someone else is doing," she said. 

Members of the club come from all different types of backgrounds, and have various skill sets. 

There are beginners, hobby painters, and even some professionals, Simpson said. 

One such member is Ron Honey, who began painting four years ago during the pandemic. 

He still considers himself a beginner, but his work has come a long way since he first started. 

"I'm always improving," Honey said. 

Honey had ordered a small beginner painting kit online, and was doing a new piece every couple of days, he recalled. 

Both Simpson and Honey were at the Aldergrove Fair with members' work on display.

The club meets every Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. at the OAP Hall located at 3015 273 St. 

It began in 1971 with meetings at Helen Poppy's home on 248 Street, and the members asked Doris Swensson and Audrey Fatkin to show what they had learned about painting and art.

This went on for several weeks until the membership grew so large that the Poppy home could not accommodate the meetings and the club moved to the OAP Hall.