Society of Wildlife Artists

In 1960 Robert Gillmor and Eric Ennion with the help of Peter Scott and Keith Shackleton, organised an exhibition of contemporary bird paintings in the Reading Art Gallery. So well received was the exhibition that it toured for about two years and artists Talbot-Kelly and Maurice Wilson came on board with the aim of forming a Society. The Society was founded in 1964 and its inaugural exhibition was held at the Mall Galleries and featured nearly 150 exhibits by its 35 original members. By the millennium the annual exhibits had more than trebled. The aim of the Society is to foster contact and co-ordination of activities among the UK's many wildlife artists. The annual exhibition, which is held in mid-summer (June or July) at the Mall Galleries, is open to non-members. In addition to artist members, the Society also welcomes lay members who, although not necessarily artists themselves, share its interests and provide a supporting role. The SWLA is a member of the Federation of British Artists.