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The society started in 1880 as a group for the discussion of the Fine Arts in the studio of Mr T C Barfield at Victoria Chambers, Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, and within twelve months the members were bringing in their own sketches for discussion. Leicester Society of Artists formally came into being at a meeting on 25th July 1881. The sixteen members of Leicester Society of Artists met in rented rooms and with borrowed furniture. Mr Barfield was appointed Hon Secretary and continued in this role until 1922 (see his engraving left, taken from an early catalogue, of ‘Thomas a Beckett 1164 at Northampton’) and the last surviving original member, Mr HW Bates, died in November 1948.

The first exhibition of The Leicester Society of Artists was held in 1882, when each member could show one work. Since 1897 annual exhibitions have regularly been held at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery in New Walk, Leicester, where they continue to be held to this day. The distinction between members and associates was abolished in 1955 and all members have been entitled to submit up to three works from that time, subject to practical size restraints.

A number of awards are presented to artists at the annual exhibition, all made possible by bequests from friends and members, and the early bequests enabled the Society to purchase war bonds and investments which gave the society financial support. The early Ellis Prize and Henton Prize were joined in 1961 by the Society of Artists Prize, then by the Guy Dixon Prize and George Pickard Prize. The selector of the prizes changes each year, but there is always an external judge of the works in the exhibition.

George Moore Henton, who gave his name to the Henton Prize, was an artist and photographer. He was born in Leicester in 1861 and studied at the Leicester School of Art. His watercolours are accurate architectural records and show details of everyday life in both Leicester and Leicestershire in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Guy Dixon JP was a noted collector of German Expressionist works, and President of the LSA between 1958-1962 and 1977-1981. The Guy Dixon prize is awarded for the most outstanding work.

George Pickard (1929-1993) is remembered for his outstanding sculpture. George Pickard was born in Syston, Leicestershire and studied at the Leicester School of Architecture between 1945–1952. He served his National Service in the Royal Artillery from 1952-54 as regimental artist engaged in camouflage design. A practising architect and associate RIBA George Pickard was interested in interior design and sculptural elements in building. From 1966-88 he was senior lecturer in interior design at Leicester Polytechnic. He was a founder-member of the Architectural Sculptors Group in 1972 and made a study of advanced designs and methods in flat glass related sculpture. His work is held in many private and public collections in London, Leicester, Bern, Dusseldorf, and New York. He was President of the LSA from 1977-1981. The George Pickard prize at LSA Annual Exhibitions is awarded for the most innovative and modern work.

In 1983 the LSA started an annual art lecture series, bringing invited speakers into the museum. Talks have covered a wide range of topics from critics, artists and curators. Well known names include Ken Howard RA and Anthony Eyton RA on painting, Michael Howard on Cezanne in his centenary year, and Vivien Heffernan on the Picasso to coincide with the showing of the Attenborough Picasso Ceramics at the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Eric Shanes on Post-War American Abstract Art.

In 1999 the LSA began themed exhibitions in partnership with the museum, drawing inspiration from the rich and varied displays and special exhibitions at the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery. Topics have included German Expressionism, 20th Century British art, Ancient Egypt, Picasso, the City of Leicester. Sport is the theme this year to partner ‘LoveSport’ at the museum as Leicester hosts the Special Olympics in 2009.

The LSA has also taken up some varied challenges for Leicester based events, such as ‘Slapstick’ a themed exhibition with De Montfort University for Leicester Comedy Festival in 2006, and ‘Poetry in Motion’ with Lyric Lounge at the Y Theatre for the Special Olympics in July 2009.

In 2008 and 2009 our Annual Exhibitions were opened by The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Majula Sood, the first Asian female Lord Mayor in the United Kingdom.

Membership has always been of a very high standard. Works by members of Leicester Society of Artists can be seen in many galleries across the Midlands and also in national exhibitions, including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal West of England Academy, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, the Pastel Society, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

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These art lectures were held in Gallery 6 at the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester.