Bewick Club

In 1843, the Government School of Design was established in Newcastle upon Tyne and art training in the region became part of a growing national system. Ralph Hedley was one of many artists who studied there and in the latter years of the 19th century, Newcastle artists set up a series of art groups, including the Bewick Club which was established in 1884 and was named after Thomas Bewick, (1753-1828) the famous Northumbrian wood engraver . As a consequence, exhibitions held under the Club's auspices attracted large numbers of artists from the region, and continued into the 20th century. Local artists' contributions ranged from landscapes through genre to seascapes. The Club's primary function was to promote the needs of professional artists and to encourage not only the patronage of rich individuals but of the interested less wealthy local population. Its headquarters at that time were located at Lovaine Hall in St. Mary's Place now on the site of Northumbria University. The original committee was comprised of 19 members with at least 10 being professional practising painters by profession. a strong bias ensured that the majority of exhibiting artists were based in Northumberland roughly in a ratio of 2:1. Other than Hedly artists who were heavily involved included W.K.Blacklock, W. H. Charlton, B.B. Hemy, Wilson Hepple and J. F. Slater.