SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS
The Society of Painters in Water Colours was established in 1804 in the Stafford Coffee House, Oxford Street, London, it was the first professional exhibiting body formed specifically to advance the interests of painters in water-colour. Founder members included William Sawrey Gilpin (4 October 1762–4 April 1843), Robert Hills (26 June 1769–14 May 1844), John Claude Nattes (c.1765–14 September 1839), Francis Nicholson (14 November 1753–6 March 1844), Nicholas Pocock (2 March 1740–9 March 1821), William Henry Pyne (21 April 1769–29 May 1843), Samuel Shelley (1750/56–22 December 1808), Cornelius Varley (21 November 1781–2 October 1873) and John Varley (17 August 1778–17 November 1842). It held theirfirst exhibition in 1805, which was so successful that it became an annual event with the Fourth at the Great Rooms, 16 Old Bond-Street, opposite Stafford-Street, (removed from Pall-Mall) which exhibited some 334 paintings. The society was a cooperative, with profits being shared among the exhibitors. Poor financial management and declining visitor numbers led to its collapse in 1812, but later that year it was re-formed, with largely the same membership but with a new name The Society of Painters in Oil and Watercolours. From its founding, the society accepted female exhibitors, later admitting a few women as associates, a Miss Byrne is noted as an Associate Exhibitor in 1808. Its successor became the Royal Watercolour Society