Wood engraving is both an art form and a skilled craft with a history dating from Thomas Bewick (1753 – 1828) through to the many great and influential practitioners of the mid-twentieth century such as David Jones, Clare Leighton, Monica Poole and Eric Ravilious.

Founded in 1920, the Society of Wood Engravers has long championed the practice of this exacting medium by holding annual exhibitions to demonstrate the skill and commitment to excellence of contemporary wood engravers.

The 86th annual exhibition presents over 120 prints selected from an open submission that display a broad diversity of style and subject matter in work by British and overseas artists, and by members and non-members. Primarily a ‘black and white’ medium, the exhibition features notable examples of colour printing from multiple blocks, a technique expertly demonstrated by Neil Bousfield and Julia Timmins, among others.

The Society of Wood Engravers annual exhibitions have always included work by talented new engravers, many of whom go on to become members: Fiona Mackenzie was awarded this year’s Prize for a First-Time Exhibitor; Alexander Hall won the Prize for an Under-21-Year-Old.

The Society’s Exhibitions Secretary (and former Chair) Hilary Paynter was awarded an MBE for services to the Arts in the King’s Birthday Honours last year. Without Hilary’s prolific artistic output and the support she has generously provided to fellow artists for over 40 years, the artform of wood engraving would not have the standing that it does today.

The Society welcomes support from subscribers; please visit the Society of Wood Engravers website to learn more. Please click here to see the exhibition catalogue

Meet the Artist
Friday 13 September 2 – 3.15pm

Duncan Montgomery is from the North-East of England, now based in London. His recent work focuses on the history of outdoor swimming, with a particular focus on Parson’s Pleasure, a men’s bathing place on the river Cherwell in Oxford, active from the 17th century to 1992; and the bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath in London. In May this year, The North Wall hosted an exhibition of his wood engravings on this subject alongside archive material curated by the cultural historian George Townsend.

Free event / no booking required

Free