Armed Forces Art Society

The Society was founded in 1925 as The Army Officers’ Art Society. At that time Royal Navy and Royal Air Force officers could only exhibit by invitation. The standard was high from the beginning as the Society included professional artists whose careers had been interrupted by active service during World War I. After remaining inactive during World War II, it was reformed in 1947 as the Army Art Society and all ranks were eligible to exhibit. The present title was adopted in 1964. Past members include such illustrious names as Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, Ken Howard, David Shepherd, Michael Noakes and others. Current members include well-known artists who are also members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Society of Marine Artists, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal Institute of Oil Painters etc. Today the Society is open to skilled amateur and professional painters and sculptors. Members and Associate Members come from all ranks of the three Services, both serving, retired and the Reserves and their spouses.

HRH The Prince of Wales, (now King Charles III) is the society Patron and occasional exhibits. The aptly named Palette is a newspaper produced irregularly. Exhibitions have always taken place in central London, initially in Westminster, the Mall Galleries, for several years at the National Army Museum, then at Painters’ Hall in the City before returning to the Mall Galleries from 2001 to 2015.