About Guildford
Art Society
Welcome to Guildford Art Society, a vibrant community dedicated to artists of all backgrounds. Join us in exploring the world of creativity through our monthly classes, engaging workshops, and exciting exhibitions that showcase the talent of our members. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, there's a place for you here as we celebrate and nurture artistic expression together.
Our story
Guildford Art Society must be one of the oldest creative societies in the country with its early beginnings in 1923. The first exhibition was held in November 1925. The annual subscription was 5/-‐ .
The exhibition was opened by Mrs Watts from Compton and two paintings by her late husband, Mr G.F. Watts, were exhibited for the first time. The most expensive painting at £30 was by Mr S.H.Sime. It is interesting to note that there is an exhibition of works by Mr S.H.Sime permanently on display at the Sime Memorial Gallery in Worplesdon, a Guildford parish.
Other exhibitors in 1925 included Mr E.H. Shepard and his wife.
Mr Shepard is famous of course for his illustrations in Winnie the Pooh and Punch Magazine. And Margaret Tarrant, a talented illustrator, well recognised for her fairy like images in children’s books and postcard designs for Medici Cards. In 1928, it was agreed that as the annual exhibition was now so popular that nothing smaller than the Borough Hall would do.
Early exhibitions
It is worth noting that six entries were by Sir Edwin Lutyens but were not for sale! In 1930 the exhibition was opened by General Lord Baden Powell. From then until 1937 the Society was very active and apart from the war years continued with annual exhibitions. For 1960 the annual exhibition arrived at its present home at Guildford House Gallery, 155, High Street, a fascinating 17th century Grade 1 Listed town house, where it has remained until today.
The new Chairman was Edward Wesson, one of the greatest watercolourists of the twentieth century. Ted Wesson remained as Chairman for many years. Several of his paintings are now in the Guildford Borough Collection. Other members of the Society also have work in the Borough Collection, including Pauline Dean, botanical artist and holder of 7 gold medals from the RHS, Margaret Howarth and her superb drawings of old Guildford, Margaret Palmer, portraitist, Juliet Renny, local artist, book designer and illustrator, and our President Jane Allison a National portraitist having recently completed works of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Archbishop Sentinou.
That is a quick summary of our illustrious past!
Fast forward to the 21st Century
Today the Society has over 200 members: painters, sculptors, ceramicists and craftsmen, both professional and amateur. Talent abounds and many of our members exhibit at national exhibitions including: Roger Dellar ROI RIPS, Christine Charlesworth RBS SWA, and Sera Knight SWA to name but a few. We have a busy programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops and many members are active on our Facebook page and on Instagram.
We hang one major exhibition annually for artworks in all media. . Our exhibitions are free to visit, well attended, with good sales and lots of positive feedback from the community.
In 1960 annual exhibition moved to the Guildford House Gallery, in Guildford's high street, where it remained for almost 60 years. The Chairman at that time was Edward Wesson, one of the greatest watercolourists of the twentieth century.
More recently we have exhibited at Shalford village hall, the cricket pavilion in Guildford and in 2025 for the first time and with great success at St John's centre in Merrow.
We also hold two Pop-Up exhibitions a year, one in the Spring and one in the Autumn, usually held at Holy Trinity church, in Guildford High street.
We have been privileged to be invited for the last few years to West Horsley Place's Art &Craft fair which runs for three days in November and we hope to continue to be able to exhibit at this fantastic venue in the years to come.
If you would like to join us, just go to the Membership page for information.
