The Aberdeen Artists Society was founded in 1827 and aims to raise awareness of contemporary visual arts in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

and the North of Scotland.

History

The Aberdeen Artists' Society was founded in 1827 by local artists associated with Scottish painter James Giles and noted Scottish architect

Archibald Simpson Archibald Simpson (4 May 1790 – 23 March 1847) was a Scottish architect, who along with his rival John Smith, is regarded as having fashioned the character of Aberdeen as "The Granite City".Simpson, William Douglas, (1947) ''The Archibald S ...

. Giles would become the President with Simpson presiding as Vice President. Having organised some exhibitions the society ceased activity at this point, however, by 1885 the society experienced a revival with the establishment of an annual exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery. These exhibitions would go on to become the Gallery's main activity until such time that they, themselves, could build up a permanent collection. These regular exhibitions would remain on an annual and bi-annual basis up until 1912 when exhibitions became sporadic. Notably, there were no exhibitions from 1920–1922 and again from 1938–1957, in 1939, notable artist and engraver Ian Fleming played a key role in the revival of the Society. From the early 1930s the Society listed their clubhouse as being 1 Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen. The main aim of the society was and remains to facilitate "the Mutual improvement of Painting and the furtherance of Art in general in Aberdeen." Despite having re-invented itself many times over the past 187 years the society has resolutely remained true to its original aims, "the promotion of Art in the NorthEast of Scotland and the placing of Aberdeen as a culturally relevant centre for the arts." The Society would establish three main rules: # To hold annual exhibitions # To facilitate the intercourse of those connected to and interested in Art # To promote the practical and theoretical study of art...through forming a collection of costumes and armour and by providing a library of art literature, and a studio for the use of members. Today, the society consists of three levels of membership: * Professional * Ordinary * Honorary In total, they boast 540 members. Archibald Simpson Portrait

Notable exhibitors and artists

Augustus John Augustus Edwin John (4 January 1878 – 31 October 1961) was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a time he was considered the most important artist at work in Britain: Virginia Woolf remarked that by 1908 the era of John Singer Sarg ...

(1878-1961) * Ian Fleming (1908-1964) *

Douglas Strachan Douglas Strachan (26 May 1875, Aberdeen, Scotland – 20 November 1950) is considered the most significant Scottish designer of stained glass windows in the 20th century. He is best known for his windows at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherl ...

(1875-1950) *

George Frampton Sir George James Frampton, (18 June 1860 – 21 May 1928) was a British sculptor. He was a leading member of the New Sculpture movement in his early career when he created sculptures with elements of Art Nouveau and Symbolism, often combining ...

(1860-1928) *

George Henry (painter) George Henry (1858–1943) was a Scottish Painting, painter, one of the most prominent of the Glasgow School. Life Henry was born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Irvine, North Ayrshire, and studied at the Glasgow School of Art, later in William ...

(1858-1943) *

James Pittendrigh Macgillivray James Pittendrigh MacGillivray (1856 – 29 April 1938) was a Scottish sculptor. He was also a keen artist, musician and poet. He was born in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, the son of a sculptor, and studied under William Brodie and John Mossman ...

(1856-1938) *

John Lavery Sir John Lavery (20 March 1856 – 10 January 1941) was a Northern Irish painter best known for his portraits and wartime depictions. Life and career John Lavery was born in inner North Belfast, baptised at St Patrick's Church, Belfast a ...

(1856-1941) * Joyce W. Cairns (born 1947) *

Robert Sivell Robert Sivell (1888–1958) was a Scottish portrait artist active in the first half of the 20th century. He was a founder member of the Glasgow Society of Artists and Sculptors in 1919. Biography Sivell was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, but l ...

(1888-1958) * Stephen Shankland *

Walter Sickert Walter Richard Sickert (31 May 1860 – 22 January 1942) was a German-born British painter and printmaker who was a member of the Camden Town Group of Post-Impressionist artists in early 20th-century London. He was an important influence on d ...

(1860-1942)

Publications

Particles of Light: A History of Aberdeen Artists' Society, 1927-2000 by John Morrison and Ian Baird.

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.aberdeenartistssociety.co.uk Art societies Arts organisations based in Scotland Scottish art