Essex Art Club
President: Prof. Ken Howard, RA, RWS, NEAC, RWA, ROI, RBA, RBSA, ARCA.
Vice President: William Porter
Print by Sandy Connor
100 Plus Years of the Essex Art Club
The Essex Art Club since 1899
The Essex Art Club evolved from a sketch club for tutors and students at the Walthamstow School of Art around 1899, when Walthamstow was part of rural Essex. A few years later it separated from the school and gradually became an art club at a more professional level. Its presidents and vice-presidents have included:- Sir George Clausen RA
- Sir Frank Brangwyn RA
- Sir Alfred Munnings PRA
- Frank Dobson RA (sculptor not MP!)
- Mark Fisher, RA
- Sir Walter Westley Russell, RA
- John Nash RA.
Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Frank Brangwyn and Sir Alfred Munnings exhibited paintings in the annual exhibition at London's Guildhall in 1950.
Walter Spradbery was the most dynamic and longstanding member for about
65 years. , he became chairman and eventually president of the EAC. He
produced some wonderful transport posters during the first half of the
century. He was also a campaigner for local causes which included saving
Vestry House Museum in Walthamstow, encouraging the Brangwyn Gift for
the setting up of the William Morris Gallery, and was instrumental in
the establishment of the Buckhurst Hill Community Association.
Since 1989 the EAC has been fortunate to enjoy having Ken Howard RA as president. Despite a hectic professional life he finds the time to
support exhibitions and AGMs. To mark the club's centenary, members were invited
to spend a most enjoyable afternoon at his London studio, which formerly
belonged to Sir William Orpen.
The Exhibition Display Book is a celebration of the EAC's illustrious
past and offers a glimpse into a fascinating archive which begins in
1900 and continues into the twenty-first century.
One Hundred Years of the Essex Art Club is available for £2.50 including postage from the
Hon
Treasurer.
New members are always welcome.
For further information go to Membership.
Sandy Connor