Yorkshire Union of Artists

The formation of the YUA goes back to the late 1880’s when a conference was staged in Bradford in 1887 attended by many of the then doyens of Yorkshire painting. Most of the biggest names in Yorkshire art between 1888 and 1922 were associated with the YUA, and there were indeed nearly 600 artists of most persuasions recorded as having shown at their exhibitions. The YUA attracted nationally known Yorkshiremen such as Atkinson Grimshaw and Lord Leighton, Reginald Brundrit, Arthur Friedenson, F. W. Jackson, Jacob Kramer, Fred Lawson, Henry Moore, Philip Naviasky, Herbert Royle, and many more. The geographically nearby Staithes Group became allied to the YUA for a while in the early 1900’s. In 2001 an exhibition entitled 'Yorkshire’s Finest – a Celebration of the Yorkshire Union of Artists 1888-1922' was staged at Cartwright Hall Museum. To coincide with this event the book mention below was published.

It is probable that after its demise as the YUA in the early 1920's, it underwent a name change to the Society of Yorkshire Artists. It was eventually wound up in 1957. Detailed and informative information can be gleaned from the book mentioned below.