The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW) is a Scottish

art Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

society established in 1878. The current patron is

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

. It is a

registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definitio ...

based in

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

and holds an annual exhibition. The first preliminary meeting of the society took place in Glasgow on 21 December 1877 as a reaction to a lack of interest in watercolour art by existing exhibitors. The society was inaugurated on 4 March 1878 with the election of its first president, Sir Francis Powell and vice president,

Sam Bough Samuel Bough (8 January 1822 – 19 November 1878) was an English-born landscape painter who spent much of his career working in Scotland.''Nuttall Encyclopedia'' (1907) "Samuel Bough". Retrieved 8 June 2011. Life He was born the third of ...

. Its first exhibition of 172 pictures took place in November. It was founded to "promote, through exhibition, the medium of watercolour and encourage the bold, free and colourful qualities of Scottish Painting." The society received permission from

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

to use the prefix "Royal" in February 1888. In around 1894 the society changed its rules to allow female artists to be admitted with the same privileges as male artists. Throughout its history many renowned artists have been members, including David McClure,

William McTaggart William McTaggart (25 October 1835 – 2 April 1910) was a Scottish landscape and marine painter who was influenced by Impressionism. Life and work The son of a crofter, William McTaggart was born in the small village of Aros, near Cam ...

Adam Bruce Thomson Adam Bruce Thomson Order of the British Empire, OBE, Royal Scottish Academy, RSA, Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, PRSW (22 February 1885 – 4 December 1976) or ‘Adam B’ as he was often called at Edinburgh College of ...

, Claire Harrigan,

George Paul Chalmers George Paul Chalmers (1833 – 20 February 1878) was a Scotland, Scottish landscape, Marine biology, marine, Interior portrait, interior and portrait Painting, painter. Life Chalmers was born at Montrose, Angus, Montrose, the son of a captain ...

, Alison Dunlop,

William Somerville Shanks William Somerville Shanks ARSA, RSA, RSW (28 September 1864 – 28 July 1951) was a Scottish artist who was a tutor in painting and drawing at the Glasgow School of Art for 29 years. His painting ''Tiddley Winks'' sold for £181,250 at Sot ...

Elizabeth Blackadder Dame Elizabeth Violet Blackadder, Mrs Houston, (24 September 1931 – 23 August 2021) was a Scottish painter and printmaker. She was the first woman to be elected to both the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy of Arts. In 1962, she ...

and

Barbara Rae Dame Barbara Davis Rae (born 10 December 1943) is a Scottish painter and printmaker. She is a member of the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy of Arts. Biography Rae studied painting at the Edinburgh College of Art from 1961 to 196 ...

. Past presidents include William J. L. Baillie (1975–1988), Ian McKenzie Smith (1988–1998), Philip T L Reeves (1998–2005), John Inglis (2005–2016); the current president is Anthea Gage. Past vice presidents include Alison Dunlop, Helga Chart, Gregor Smith and Iona Montgomery.

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* 19th-century art groups 20th-century art groups 21st-century art groups 1876 establishments in Scotland Scottish art Society of Painters in Watercolour Scottish artist groups and collectives 1876 in art Charities based in Glasgow {{art-stub

See also

References

External links