The Seacoast Artist Association is a group of artists and people interested in art, based in the seacoast area of New Hampshire. Our gallery, located at 130 Water Street in downtown Exeter, is open:
Wednesday-Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 10am – 2pm
We offer new body of work and theme show exhibitions every month by local artists, public art receptions every second Friday evening, classes and demonstrations, and scholarship programs.
See About to learn more about our all-volunteer non-profit organization.
November & December Events
The Exeter Fall Art Tour 2026 is right around the corner!
Once again the SAA will be a stop along the way! Our artists will have works at TWO LOCATIONS: The SAA Gallery at 130 Water Street, and our Fall Member’s Show at the Exeter Town Hall. We look forward to seeing you!
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
Body of Work Exhibit
October 2026
Michele Fennell: By the Way
(Left: Marshland)
With rare exception, this body of work was begun on site. The connection between my easel and the scene before me provide a spontaneity I don’t find attainable from a picture. Challenges of weather and ever-changing light are the price paid for these first impressions but they also deliver an invaluable experience for all the senses that contribute to the work.
Back in the studio, I take the time to assess the work done. It’s at this time that I might adjust or refine the image to enhance my first impression. The risk here is an overworking of the image that then becomes static. My hope is that you will find these works thoughtfully spontaneous and compelling. More of my work and information about my artistic background can be found at www.michelefennell.com. Commissions are gladly accepted.
My thoughts on framing have evolved. For years I selected frames for my work according to my own aesthetic. I have found the better decision to be minimalistic framing. These unique frames eliminate the distraction of a secondary feature and allow singular focus on the art itself. You, the collector, have the choice to leave them in place or frame the works according to your own taste and décor.
Body of Work Exhibit
October 2026
Cheryl Sager: When Fall Comes to New England
(Left: Apple Season)
I love watercolor painting. Painting has become a passion and is very much my “zen” time. The world goes away when I am painting. For this October BOW show, I want to capture the beauty of autumn, the vibrant colors, the changes that occur in our world before winter sets in and lets us sleep.
Currently, I am an exhibiting member with Seacoast Artist Association in Exeter, NH. I like to present my work at SAA, monthly Theme Shows, Body of Work shows, at libraries, and at various Art Show events in the seacoast area. In 2025, I was selected as the August Artist in Residence on Star Island and plan to apply for other residencies in the future.
Body of Work Exhibit
November 2026
Laura Cassinari-King: Echoes of Time
(Left: Winterlude)
Each moment in nature is unique and leaves us amazed if we allow it. Laura strives to capture these moments in her landscape paintings whether created En Plein Air or in the studio from a reference photo. This show contains a few large and many small works ideal for holiday giving.
Body of Work Exhibit
November 2026
Sandy Hazelton: Flirting with Waves
(Left: Sunlit Wave)
Water commands a presence that is equal parts mesmerizing and formidable. The seed for Flirting with Waves was planted while standing on a black sand beach in Iceland watching massive, hypnotic waves crash against the dark shore—waters so dangerously powerful that stepping into them meant being swept
instantly out to sea. You couldn’t touch the ocean; you could only watch, respect, and yield to its force. That sense of awe followed me back to New England, where I spent five weeks along the coast contemplating our relationship with the water’s edge.
Over the past year in the studio, I have used watercolor and pastel to explore that delicate boundary—capturing the fluid dance between light, motion, and the magnetic pull of the sea. Each painting reflects both the serene beauty and the undeniable weight of the tide, inviting viewers to stand at the edge and feel the power of the coast.
Body of Work Exhibit
December 2026
Ann Brown: Nature’s Quiet
(Left: Lighting the Way)
A sense of awe can be found in the simplest moments. I’ve always been drawn to the landscape at dusk: the mystery, the loss of detail, the soft shapes that let the imagination wander into near darkness while everything grows quiet and still, waiting for nightfall. Often lit only by the changing moon, these overlooked moments are where my eye searches for shadows, shapes, and a little magic. The materials are just as simple. On unfinished wood panels, I build layer upon layer of charcoal, fixative and soft pastel, then finish each piece with cold wax for a final layer of depth. The process is slow and I’ve come to love that. It has taught me to breathe, slow down, and surround myself with the organic simplicity of the work. In a sometimes chaotic world, we all need to just breathe and enjoy Nature’s Quiet.
Body of Work Exhibit
December 2026
Seacoast Open Studios: Our Favorite Things
(Top Left to Right: High Country Snow by Susan Long, Rye Beach Rocks by Barbara McGrath, Seaside Garden and Chapel by Susan Scott. Bottom: Great Bay, Helene Alland)
Seacoast Open Studio (SOS) is an eclectic group of visual artists from the Seacoast NH area that has been meeting weekly for the last 15 years in Exeter, NH to create art and share ideas, critiques, and inspiration. Our member artists’ styles range from abstract to the more traditional. The mediums and subjects are diverse; even the size of our work stretches from miniature to murals. The theme for our show is “Our Favorite Things” which encompasses our favorite people, places and things that we love to paint.
Participating artists represented in this show are: Helene Alland, Gerry Bresnahan, Cori Caputo, Judy Kopen, Lynn Krumholtz, Susan Long, Barbara McGrath, Carol Poitras, Nancy Reiss, Marjorie Rizzo, and Susan Scott.
Monthly Theme Show
November & December 2026
Small Art, Big Ideas
The beauty and skill of small scale artwork can hold immense depth and meaning. This show spans the upcoming holiday months with small works priced $150 and under, perfect for thoughtful and accessible gifts!
Monthly theme shows are open to both members and non-members! If you’d like to participate, please see our SAA 2026 Theme Show brochure (PDF) and entry form (PDF) for upcoming themes, important dates, and deadlines.
Upcoming Classes and Workshops
Glazing In Watercolor: Margaret Dwyer
Cost: $100
Date & Time: See below.
The glazing technique with watercolor allows for unique and saturated colors to emerge. When glazing is used effectively, it’s like turning on a light within the image and will take your paintings to a new level. Start something new, and feel free to bring in some pieces in progress that may benefit from this magical, transformative technique.
See Margaret’s instructor profile on our Classes page and contact her directly for class days and times.
The Art of Negative Painting: Margaret Dwyer
Cost: $100
Date & Time: See below.
Negative painting, lost & found edges, and glazing work together to create a sense of depth and mystery, organically blending subject matter with the space around it. Learn to create rich, clean darks by layering colors. Save lights in your images to produce a luminous glow. See how negative painting is a game-changer when used effectively.
See Margaret’s instructor profile on our Classes page and contact her directly for class days and times.
Art Class: Doris Rice
Thursdays 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Cost: $35 / class or $168 for a 6-class card
Each week features a new subject designed to teach both technique and topic – open to all levels. Visit dorisrice.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter for updates on classes and workshops.
See Doris’ instructor profile on our Classes page.
Plein Air Opportunities: Carol Poitras
Times and locations vary
Are you a plein air painter? Or is creating art en plein air something you’d like to try? SAA member Carol Poitras organizes several plein air meet-ups in various locations around the seacoast area for artists who enjoy painting outdoors.
View our Plein Air Schedule for the dates, locations, and contact information for the current offerings!