Welcome to the Art Society
We are a community of individuals passionate about the Visual Arts, including painting, ceramics, wood carving, textiles, mixed-media, and jewellery. Our members range from beginners to professionals, all sharing a common goal to develop their knowledge and skills.
Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, we host regular activities which include professional artist demonstrations, courses, workshops, member-led art history talks, as well as gallery/exhibition trips. We also hold an annual two-week exhibition and sale every August.
Please explore our website for further information and feel free to reach out with any questions on stratfordartsociety@gmail.com
Our Aims
To promote an interest in the fine arts and to encourage members of all ages to develop their skills and creativity.
To promote contact with like-minded people whether interests are traditional or modern.
To provide artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work.
To provide the opportunity to attend workshops and painting days.
To enjoy a full year’s programme of events loaded with interesting demonstrations, lectures and visits.
To promote the principles of equality and diversity throughout our membership.
Our History
The Stratford upon Avon Art Society was born after a meeting on the 8th May 1959 between W.T. Rawlinson, Wilfred Puddephat, Louise Bomford and others who thought it would be a good idea to form an art group. An open exhibition was held at the NFU Insurance Society’s sports day at Tiddington to advertise, inform and encourage people to join what they decided to call the Stratford Arts Circle. The Society aimed to be open to everyone who practised or appreciated visual art. An inaugural meeting was planned for Friday18th September 1959. 87 people turned up, and at the end of the meeting, 70 people had paid their subscription of 10/6d. The Stratford Art Circle held its first exhibition in Stratford in September 1959 with 171 works submitted by local artists. After one year, the membership had risen to 96. In 1968 the Art Circle renamed itself the Stratford upon Avon Art Society, and in 1970 the group decided to transfer its annual exhibition to King Edward VI Grammar School (William Shakespeare’s School), where it is still held today.
Membership Benefits
We offer a variety of programs designed to support and inspire artists, including:
- Demonstrations and Lectures: Monthly sessions led by professional artists on diverse subjects.
- Exhibition Visits: Regularly arranged coach trips from Stratford-upon-Avon to major exhibitions in London and other locations.
- Workshops, Courses and Studio Time: Professional workshops, alongside dedicated time for members to create and collaborate.
- Monthly Competitions: Opportunities to win vouchers and qualify for the President’s Prize, with winning entries displayed at our Annual Summer Exhibition.
- Annual Art Exhibition: A well-established event held in August showcasing members' work.
- Annual General Meeting: Held in March and followed by an artistic demonstration. Detailed schedules are available on our 'Courses' and 'Calendar' pages.
Additionally, members enjoy substantial discounts at local businesses, including Foster Frames and Papersky in Stratford. Both provide high-quality services tailored to artists of all mediums.
Levels of Membership
Full Membership £40 - attend all our events, exhibit at the exhibition, vote at our AGM.
Student Membership £15 - must be between 16 and 22 years of age and in full time education. Same privileges as full member.
PAL Membership £20 - (Pure Art Lover) attend demonstrations and Looking At Art Evening Meetings, go on our Art Appreciation Trips but not able to attend workshops, courses, exhibit at our exhibition or vote.
After registration for the exhibition has closed in early July, any membership bought will last until the end of the next calendar year so effectively you can get up to seventeen months of membership for the price of twelve months.
After you purchase membership click here to register your account. This will be required for exhibition registration/participation.
The Society hosts "studio time" sessions designed for members to collaborate, share inspiration, and provide mutual support.
Furthermore, several members offer classes. While some of these sessions are available for purchase directly through our store, others require contacting the artist personally to arrange enrollment.
Competitions provide a valuable platform to evaluate your skills, gain recognition and build confidence. The process of participating encourages you to refine your work to a high standard and offers the experience of overcoming unique challenges.
We highly encourage you to participate, you could win vouchers for art materials to help in your next project.
Our Annual Summer Exhibition is held every August at King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon. As our premier event, it features hundreds of original 2D and 3D works across various media, including oils, watercolours, glass, wood, resin, and ceramics.
The exhibition includes awards judged by professional artists/critics, with all artwork available for purchase.
Stay up to date with our community’s current activities. Learn about the latest achievements of our members, stay informed about upcoming local events and explore all manner of art-related news and initiatives.
Keeping connected ensures we can all support one another and remain active participants in our vibrant creative community.
We have curated a large variety of demonstrations, art evenings and workshops expressly designed to provide opportunities for all our members.
Whether you are looking to refine your skills or explore new creative avenues, we encourage you to participate in these sessions. Let us know if you have any questions or would like further details on any event.
We are pleased to share a dedicated website designed specifically for our members. This platform allows you to take advantage of many additional features and facilities and provides a space to showcase your work to the community.
You can access the site here: https://members.stratforduponavonartsociety.co.uk/
Paul - President
Indy - Secretary
Phil - Website Manager
Lisa - Treasurer,
Workshops & Courses
Rosemary - Trip Coordinator
Mike - Membership Secretary
Sue - Asst. Membership Secretary
Rupert - IT Manager
Charli - Workshops Manager
Sue - Programme Manager
Greg - Competitions Manager
Bob - Exhibition Lead
The Management Team
Learn more about who runs the Stratford upon Avon Art Society.
All committee members can be contacted via stratfordartsociety@gmail.com. Find out more about Committee Members & their roles via the Members page.
Rachel - Asst. Treasurer
Jo - Vice President
The Presidents
Founder of the Society - Louise Bomford
Past Presidents
1958 – 1974 Wilfred Puddiphat A.T.D.
1974 – 1988 William T Rawlinson A.T.D.,F.R.S.A.
1988 – 1990 Arnold Suttleworth A.T.D.,F.R.S.A.
1990 – 1990 Dorothy Cross
1991 – 1992 David Phillips A.T.D.
1993 – 1994 Stanhope Hodson Dip. Arch., RIBA
1994 – 1996 Claire Austin–Rich
1996 – 1998 Ronald Robinson
1998 – 2000 Stanley Morris
2000 – 2003 Pauline Bamber
2003 – 2005 Kate Carr
2005 – 2007 James Henly
2007 – 2012 Prunella Webb
2012 – 2015 John Freeth
2015 – 2023 Michael Culverwell
2023 – 2025 Andis Levins
Current President
2025 – Paul Garrison