Founded in 1919, the Society promotes fine drawing skills in both traditional and contemporary media. Today there are more than 160 elected members of the SGFA across the UK — professional artists from all areas of the art world who work in all drawing and printmaking media.

The Society organises events through the year, culminating in the Annual Open Exhibition with outstanding drawings by some of Britain’s finest professional artists, members and non-members alike. The Society also stages regional members-only exhibitions.

The SGFA is funded solely by members’ subscriptions and is governed by an elected Council which meets regularly to administer its affairs. Membership applications are welcome and are reviewed once a year. Join us.

Limited edition illustrated hardback book – “The Society of Graphic Fine Art, 100 Years”. The first such publication in the history of the SGFA. To purchase your copy (£30+p&p) email: enquiries@sgfa.org.uk

At the turn of the 20th century modernism was on the rise, and realism and traditional drawing skills were threatened with eclipse as abstract painting became the darling of the avant-garde.

In 1919 students and teachers in the etching class at the London Central School of Arts formed a breakaway group to establish a society that would ‘uphold and maintain the interests of all those forms of art that do not use colour as a form of expression’; which was another way of saying that drawing counts and, in one form or another, always will.

Their first exhibition in 1921 was supported by members of the Royal Academy of Arts, together with many of the leading draughtsmen of the day. Thus the Society of Graphic Art was born (the word “Fine” was incorporated into the Society’s name some 65 years later). Sir Frank Brangwyn RA RE, the renowned muralist, painter, architect, illustrator and designer, became the Society’s first President in a line of distinguished leaders that continues today.

Both Ronald Searle and the painter-printmaker John Piper exhibited with the society. Royal Academician Dame Laura Knight was one of the Society’s prominent past members.

Honorary members today include Alade Adebanji President, The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Anita Klein, Past President of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers and George Butler, reportage artist and illustrator.

Past Honorary members include Royal Academician Prof Ken Howard OBE, the award-winning illustrator Victor Ambrus, and Ronald Maddox, President Emeritus of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour.

Nowadays, in addition to black and white work and traditional drawing skills, the society encourages the use of colour and non-figurative art. The main criterion of membership, regardless of media discipline, is drawing excellence.