About Us

The very first meeting of Ealing Art Group took place on 15th November, 1910. This being over a century ago makes us one of the oldest amateur groups in England and we are also proud to say that we have held an annual exhibition every year since our inception, apart from the war years 1939–1940 and the year 2020 due to Covid pandemic.

We have a lively and active membership and our aim has always been to encourage art in all its forms and those who practise it or simply enjoy it. Our Annual Exhibitions have taken place all over Ealing from local churches to the Town Hall, Pitzhanger Manor Gallery (which we were privileged to have for 9 years) and recently Gunnersbury Park Museum (another glorious location).

Ealing Art Group Information

In our centenary year 2015, we held eight exhibitions all over Ealing, including one in the Old Fire Station which lasted six weeks and proved very popular.

Ealing Art Group

In recent years, we have undertaken three joint art exhibitions with our twin town Marcq-en-Baroeul in France. The last exhibition included work from a Belgian Art Group as well (we are becoming truly international). These visits have been largely thanks to the great generosity of their Town Council and the help and support of the Twin Town Association, without whom it would not have been possible.

An average of 30 painters and craft artists have regularly taken part and all our work has been very well received and from a goodwill point of view and a public relations exercise, the importance of these events cannot be underestimated.

Our membership has always covered all levels of ability, from hobby painters to professionals and has included some distinguished names. Our President during the late 1940s was Gilbert Bayes, the sculptor whose design for Selfridges clock nicknamed "the Queen of Time" is a London landmark.

Images c/o Andrew Meredith at Selfridges.

Queen of Time at The Selfridges Building

Another past President was Bert Wright who is still an active painter in his 90s! Here is an example of his work, a watercolour painting of Walpole Park.

Bert Wright Walpole Park

One of our most important names from the past was the figurative painter, Madeline Green (1884–1947).

Raised in Ealing, she was one of the founder members of the Ealing Art Guild which eventually became Ealing Art Group. She studied at the Royal Academy from 1906–1911, exhibiting 24 times and was famous for her uncompromising self-portraits and dreamy renderings of early 20th century parties, mimes and theatrical costumes. Gunnersbury Park Museum recently mounted an exhibition of her work in 2020 "Reflections of an Artist".

Recently, one of our members, Maud Wellington took part in the BBC Painting Challenge.

Image © BBC

In 2020, Ealing Art Group member Vivien Phelan took part in and was the winner of her episode of the BBC show “Home is Where the Art Is”. Leading to this commission as her winning piece.

Home is Where the Art Is

Following our aims of sharing creative ideas and experience, we have always held regular demonstrations and illustrated talks, together with studio evenings. Currently we are offering art lectures remotely, and planning to hold regular online exhibitions to complement our actual exhibitions in local venues.

The Art Group is currently run by a collective committee, whose members include:

Penny Duszynski
Celia Busby
June Gould
Sarah Knight
Peter Filbey
Brenda Elvin
Maud Wellington
Greta Wakil