The future of watercolour
T
ABOVE LEFT Deborah Walker RI, Handfast Point, watercolour ABOVE RIGHT Anne McCormack RI, Moroccan Window, acrylic, 53x72cm
22 Artists & Illustrators
he forthcoming Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) display at the Mall Galleries will be its 200th major exhibition in 181 years. The society has become famous for its stylistic range, displaying
“The importance of watercolour has grown… We developed it in the 18th century and we’d like to continue”
highly skilled workmanship within the parameters of water-based media. “Over the years our exhibition has become much wider because of all of the other styles and techniques on offer,” says RI president Ronald Maddox, pointing out that they accept not only paintings made with pure watercolour and gouache, but also watered-down acrylics. “Variations like that add contrast in the exhibition. In
the past, it had to be pure watercolour but watercolour varies so much these days and it brings so much more excitement to the exhibitions.” The RI was founded in 1831 and the first exhibition
took place the following year in Pall Mall. Their base has since moved to Piccadilly and then the Mall Galleries where it has been based since 1971. “It was formed as an alternative to another society, which is now the Royal Watercolour Society,” says RI council member Delia Cardnell. “Both societies were founded at a time when the Royal Academy was refusing to accept watercolours,
As the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours celebrates its 200th exhibition, current council
members reflect on how far the group has come – and what the future has in store WORDS: MARTHA ALEXANDER
despite its use by painters like Turner, Cotman, de Wint, Cox and Bonington.” According to Maddox, the society’s gala event has
been restricted somewhat by the current refurbishment of the Mall Galleries. “It has handicapped us to a certain degree as we are limited to two rooms. We’ve had to reduce our overall number to about 350 paintings, but we are still able to put a wide variety of styles and techniques of watercolour painting on show.” Nevertheless, the exhibition will feature some
fascinating material that explores the RI’s rich history. “We are featuring a painting of the old RI galleries on Piccadilly by the late Catherine Brennand,” reveals Maddox. That building is now the headquarters of BAFTA, but the façade still bears the RI’s name. While it’s hard to know what the next 200 exhibitions
will offer, the society certainly has clear objectives. “What we want to do is strengthen then consolidate the position of watercolour within in the art world,” says Andy Wood, the RI’s honorary secretary. “The importance of watercolour has grown since we started. It had been around for a long time – but we developed it in the 18th century and we’d like to continue. We are not a backwards-looking society and the vast majority of us are professional painters. We give our work a lot of thought with an eye to the future.” The RI’s 200th exhibition runs from 14-25 March at Mall Galleries, London SW1.
www.mallgalleries.org.uk
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