The Fish Market by Night 1920 E Townsend
In 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, a group of enthusiastic and talented young men held a meeting at the County Hotel in Derby.
William Swindell, F. Booty, A. J. Keene, George Thompson, Charles Terry and Frank Timms aimed to provide a place where they, and others, could meet, work and share their interest in painting and sketching.
With an annual subscription of two shillings and sixpence the Derby Sketching Club was born.
The Piazzas, Market Place A J Keene
The club held its first exhibition in 1889 at the Athenaeum Rooms, followed by a smoking concert at the Royal Hotel. In 1951 the club took part in an open air exhibition in the Riverside Gardens. The club held exhibitions at the City Art Gallery for many years before changes in policy meant this was no longer possible. Hopefuly one day there will be once again a place for local artists to show their work.
Lover's Leap, Dovedale. 1876 W H J Boot
In 1966 the club finally allowed women members and by 1996 the Derby Women's Arts Club formally merged to form the present Club. After a number of venues around the city the club has met since 1997 at the Grange Hall Community Centre, Park Lane, Littleover. Here we have room to run our workshops, demonstrations, talks and studio model sessions. Once a year the club hold a charity fund raising Exhibition at the centre.
The club archives are kept at the Local History Library at Matlock. Contact the Hon Secretary for details:- sketching@clara.co.uk