East Anglian Friends of the Royal Watercolour Society 

Background

• The RWS Friends in East Anglia (RWSFEA) is the first regional group of Friends of the Royal Watercolour Society. The President of the RWS - Richard Sorrell is also the President of the RWSFEA.
• The inaugural meeting was held in January 2007, and members are drawn from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Currently there are 130 members covering a wide range of abilities, including some professional painters and some who do not paint at all. 
• We have adopted the RWS definition of watercolour as any water-based medium on a paper support. So, for example, acrylic paints and gouache are included if painted on paper.

 Objectives

• To further the understanding of watercolour painting and enjoyment of those who paint or just simply love looking at watercolour paintings. 
• To bring together artists throughout the region through the organisation of annual programmes of events including courses and exhibitions.
• To provide opportunities for RWSFEA members and the general public to see paintings by some of the best watercolour painters in the country by bringing to the region exhibitions of work by members of the Royal Watercolour Society.

Programme

• Annual Exhibition The Guildhall, Cambridge | 6th - 15th October 2009
• Drawing and Still Life Course Tutor: Philip Rundall | Hethersett Village Hall, Wymondham, Norwich | 14th / 15th November 2009

Exhibitions

• An exhibition of members work is held in the Autumn each year and is open to every RWSFEA member. However, in order to achieve as high a standard as possible, the pictures to be hung are selected by a panel of three, comprising two RWS members and one independent art expert.
• The exhibition is held in a different county each year. The first exhibition was held at Anstey Hall in Cambridge in 2007. The 2008 exhibition will be at the Assembly House in Norwich from 30th October to 8th November.
• Two prizes are offered: The President's award is for the best picture in the exhibition in the opinion of the President of the RWS and this picture is given free entry into the RWS 21st Century Watercolour exhibition at the Bankside Gallery in London, which is an open exhibition but subject to rigorous selection. The other prize is the Tindalls Trophy and is chosen by HM Lord-Lieutenant of the county in which the exhibition is held. The Tindalls Trophy is sponsored by Tindalls Arts and Graphics. 

Picnic a la France by Tessa Shedley-Jordan	Lighthouse Repairs by Moyra Byford
Winner of the President's Award	Winner of Tindalls Trophy

Membership

• Any person residing temporarily or permanently in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire or Bedfordshire may be eligible for membership of RWSFEA. Any other person may be eligible if deemed so by the Committee. No other qualifications are required.

For further information and application forms please contact the Secretary Jill Coleman.

Jill Coleman, 3 Field Row, Kingston, Cambridge CB23 2NH / coleman117@btinternet.com

Patrons

• HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, S.C. Whitbread Esq.
• HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Hugh Duberly Esq. CBE
• HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, The Lord Petre
• HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, Richard Jewson Esq. JP
• HM Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, The Lord Tollemache