The Presidents

To mark Bankside Gallery’s 45th anniversary we are celebrating the work of the Society Presidents, past and present, who have built upon the historic legacy of the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) and the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) and helped mould the Societies into the highly regarded, forward facing body of artists that we see today.

Below is a list of the fourteen living artists who have served as President over the last 35 years, and who demonstrate the diversity of practice in waterbased painting on paper, and the wide range of approaches in original printmaking.

Both Societies select their membership through a rigorous voting process by their peers, which ensures that the artists elected to each Society are amongst the leading contemporary artists in their field. Each of these featured artists has bought their own vision and influence to their respective Society during their time in office.

RWS featured artists:

Charles Williams PRWS President since 2023

Jill Leman PPRWS 2017 – 2023

Thomas Plunkett PPRWS 2012 – 2017

David Paskett PPRWS 2009 – 2012

Richard Sorrell PPRWS 2006 – 2009

Francis Bowyer PPRWS 2000 – 2003

John Doyle PPRWS 1996 – 2000

RE featured artists: David Ferry PRE President since 2018

Mychael Barratt PPRE 2013 - 2018

Bren Unwin PPRE 2011 - 2013

Hilary Paynter PPRE 2006 - 2011