The Rye Society of Artists is an artist led society that has been holding an annual summer show in Rye since the 1950’s. For the past 5 years the show has been held at the Dance Hall on Conduit Hill.

For this 70th anniversary show the selection is smaller than past years, but still offers “many fabulous delights” for visitors to enjoy and buy.

The Rye Arts Club was originally formed in the early 1920s based at Lamb House, with Henry James the writer listed as an early president. Between the wars the club had a tantalising roll-call of members including Augustus John, Dame Laura Knight and Edward Burra, even though Burra described Rye, none too flatteringly, as ‘Tinkerbell Town’.

After the Second World War there was an influx of artists to Rye and in1951 a visionary and idealistic new group of eight artists appeared in Rye and launched their own modern movement (RX8) which was mirrored in the opening of the Festival of Britain in the same year. In 1952, RX8 merged with a newer group which included Ken Townsend and Wally Cole and the Rye Society of Artists was born.

Vincent is exhibiting “The Red Roof” (featured); an Indian ink drawing and watercolour. See Shop for more