The Group’s 71^st exhibition opened on Sunday 12 March at the Mall Galleries, closing at 4pm on Saturday 18th.  138 framed works were shown by the members and candidates. As usual, many different places were visited by the membership last summer, so the subject matter was very varied depicting not only the River Thames, but subjects further afield such as Faversham and Maldon, as well as a few City of London scenes.

The exhibition was opened by our retiring President Robin Mackervoy who is standing down after 25 years’ service to the Group. Robin thanked Exhibition Organisers Derek Daniells and Rob Adams and their hanging committee, and also to John Deston and the Mall staff for their excellent work in getting the exhibition on the wall from a 10am start to all finished and labelled by 2pm.

The exhibition was very well attended throughout. At the final count 31 pictures were sold, together a number of unframed prints, cards, and some superb booklets of work by Trevor Chamberlain and Bert Wright.

There were two noteworthy events during the exhibition. The first, arranged at very short notice, was a live interview on London Live television at midday on the Private View, with Geoff Hunt answering questions about the Group and the exhibition. The second event was an all-day workshop on Wednesday 15^th March conducted by Roger Deller on behalf of the Friends of the Mall Galleries. Roger took his eleven students to the Hungerford Bridge area for a ‘plein air’ painting session before returning to the gallery to look at the exhibition and discuss their  work.

13th March – 17th March 10am – 5pm, Saturday 18th March 10am – 4pm

“Members of the Wapping Group have been painting “en plein air” in London and along the banks of the Thames since 1946.

During the summer once a week, come rain or shine, the group meets and paints at an agreed venue. From Windsor to Faversham,

from riverbank to city street each subject is seen and recorded through the member’s eyes. Each year they exhibit the year’s delights

and sights of riverbank, estuary and city. A unique exhibition of over a hundred works ranging from the expressive plein air sketch to the

more considered studio pieces. All works are for sale.”

‘Maldon Still Morning’  by John Killens

History was made at the Group’s Annual General Meeting on April 6 2016 when Rosemary Miller was elected to full membership of the Group on a unanimous vote. This earns Rosemary the distinction of being the first woman member to join the Wapping group since its formation in 1946.

Rosemary  lives in Guildford and had a career in display and exhibition work before becoming a professional artist some 15 years ago. She works predominantly in watercolour and enjoys looking for the unusual viewpoint when painting en plein air. She is a full member of the Society of Women Artists where she has won the Anthony J Lester award and the Rosemary and Co. Award, and she serves on the SWA’s Council.  She has exhibited with the RSMA and the RI, as well as at various private galleries.

We offer Rosemary our warmest congratulations on her historic achievement. Rosemary’s work can be seen in our next general exhibition at the Rye gallery in October this year, and in our next annual exhibition at the Mall galleries in 2017.

In other news from the AGM, Anthony Flemming, who has been a dedicated Wapper since 1990, was made an Honorary Member. New Candidates for the comimg year are Chris Burdett, Graham Davies , and John Walsom.

A selection of photos from our exhibition at the Mall Galleries 2016

This is to announce the 2016 exhibition of the Wapping Group of Artists in the Threadneedle Space at the Mall Galleries, which will be our 70th show. We were formed in 1946 by a group of keen plein air painters to record the sights of the busy Port of London and the surrounding city. Each year the exhibition brings together the varied sights of today’s city along with some memories of the old. Although we are united in our subject matter each of the 25 exhibiting members brings their own unique vision to bear giving a very broad and varied view of our changing city.

The Wapping Group is delighted to welcome Chris Burdett and John Walsom as Candidates.

They will be joining us for the painting programme and all other Group activities during the 2016 season, beginning next April.

Trevor Chamberlain’s oils and watercolours will be featured in The Artist Magazine to celebrate

70 years of painting, written by Tony Frazer Price.

The article will appear in the January 2016 edition, available in mid – December.

Trevor is a well – established Wapping Group member having been elected in 1969, in the days

when all the docks were still active and the mighty Thames was a working waterway.

1. ‘Dusty Road, Ghanerao, India’ (oil)  On site painting depicting the bustle and activity of this dusty street, late one evening.

2. ‘Early morning, Euston Road’ (oil)  Painted on site one morning in Autumn, standing on a traffic island.

An exhibition of oil paintings, gouaches & drawings by Roy Glanville RBA RSMA (1914 – 1965)

will be held at the Roland Goslet Gallery, 139 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2PN

from Saturday 21st November 2015 – Sunday 29th November 2015  11am – 7pm each day.

Images of the paintings can be viewed at www.rolandgoslettgallery.co.uk

Most years we try and have an exhibition other than our annual show at the Mall. This year we are very pleased to be at the Minster Gallery in Winchester. The show runs until the 21st of November 2015 so plenty of time to see it if you are in the region.

Each year we join with guests for our annual dinner. As usual we were in the Mall Galleries appropriately surrounded by this year’s RSMA show. No more description is needed except a picture to set the scene as our President Robin Mackervoy stands to deliver a few words!