Our Story
The origins of the Royal Watercolour Society can be traced back to the formation of the Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1804. Born out of a sense of grievance by a number of such artists who practised in watercolour and felt that they were discriminated against by the Royal Academy, the only professional artistic body of the day.
On Friday 30 November 1804 the first meeting of ‘The Society Associated for the purpose of Establishing an Annual Exhibition of Paintings in Water Colours’ was held at The Stratford Coffee House on Oxford Street, London. Founder Members include Samuel Shelley, William Frederick Wells, William Sawrey Gilpin and brothers, John and Cornelius Varley.
The Royal Watercolour Society was born!
In 1823 the Society was offered a lease at 6 Pall Mall East which they gladly accepted and remained there for 115 years. When that lease came to an end in 1938, little did the Members at that time know, that they would return less than 100 years later when the Society would sign a further lease in 2020, for 250 years no less!
In 1881 Queen Victoria granted the Society a Royal Charter, and agreed to sign the certificates that each RWS Member receives on election to the Society. This tradition continues to the present day. King Charles III became Patron of the Royal Watercolour Society on 3rd May 2024.
Today, the RWS is an artist-led society made up of an elected Membership who are amongst the finest practitioners in contemporary water-based painting. Artists work in a variety of water media including gouache, acrylic, pen & ink, pigment, collage, mixed media as well as traditional watercolour. The aim of the Society is to promote, by example and education, the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of these exciting media.
Archives & Diploma Collection
The RWS has a rich history which is documented through the Archives & Diploma Collection containing artworks and ephemera by past Members including Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, E.R. Hughes, William Hunt and John Singer Sargent. The Collection continues to grow with each elected Member donating a work, as well as donations of artworks and documents from generous donors.
The Whitcomb Street Project
Since its founding in the early 19th Century, the RWS has been based in a number of London locations including Conduit Street in the West End, Pall Mall East, and since 1980 at Bankside Gallery next to Tate Modern.
In 2015 the Society was approached by a developer whose research had found that the RWS had held a lease in the same building undergoing development, all the way back in the early 1800s. The developer offered the RWS a new 250 year peppercorn lease so they could occupy the space once again. After many years of renovation works and delays caused by the Pandemic, the new RWS Gallery at Whitcomb Street opened it's doors for a 'soft launch' in May 2022 with an exhibition of watercolours by RWS Member David Remfry.
The RWS is now proud to be able to call two London galleries its home, both Bankside Gallery near Blackfriars and the RWS Gallery near Trafalgar Square.
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The Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 258348
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Artists
Artists of the RWS work in a variety of styles and in any water-based media. They are elected on merit by the existing membership and are given the opportunity to exhibit regularly with the society and take part in the programme.
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Galleries
The RWS are based across two locations in London, Bankside Gallery and the RWS Gallery. Her Late Majesty The Queen opened Bankside Gallery in 1980 and the Society have held regular exhibitions and events there since. In 2020 the RWS signed the lease on the new RWS Gallery which is located just off Trafalgar Square.
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Events
The RWS delivers a series of educational adult workshops, talks, family activities, demonstrations, social gatherings and interactive events throughout the year across both of its venues.
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Opportunities
Opportunities for artists to take part and exhibit their own work are available each year. The RWS Open takes place annually and provides emerging and established artists a platform to show their work in a central London gallery.
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Archives & Diploma Collection
Upon election to the Society, each artist donates one of their works to the RWS Diploma Collection. The Archives & Diploma Collection contain artworks by almost every member of the RWS since the founding of the Society in 1804 along with archival documents such as letters, postcards and catalogues relating to members and their exhibitions.