Worple Art Group

The Worple Art Group exhibits twice annually, in spring and autumn. On display and for sale are original works, normally about 200 paintings and drawings, by the 20 members of the group and invited guest artists. The group was formed in 1983 and as vacancies occur the membership is maintained by invitation to artists living in Wimbledon area who have made themselves known to the group. These may be established artists or talented artists with the potential to become recognised through exhibiting their work regularly.

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A requirement of membership is that each artist must offer a minimum number of new works at each exhibition of the group, thereby ensuring a commitment of the exhibitors and a freshness of the exhibits. The group's exhibitions have become known for the variety of work displayed, and the maintenance and broadening of that variety in the full range of styles from traditional to innovative abstract, in the media used and in the subject chosen.

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History of the group

​On the occasion of Worple Art Group turning 40 in 2023, Moya Hogarth, who joined at the group’s inception, provided these words:

 

The Worple Group of Artists was founded in 1983 by Charles Shannon. Having retired a few years earlier, Charles had taken up painting as a hobby. He decided to start his own group of fellow artists, as all the Wimbledon groups at that time had no vacancies for new members.

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​Initially there were about twelve members who all lived locally. Quite a few of them lived on or near Worple Road, so Charles named the group ‘ The Worple Group of Artists’. 

 

The exhibitions were held twice a year- in the spring and winter. The first exhibition was at Wimbledon Library and opened by the Mayor of Merton at that time. Charles always knew that a Private View would be very popular- and so that first exhibition was a great success, and a Private View for every exhibition continued. (The only time where there was no Private View was during the Pandemic!)

 

The exhibitions carried on at that venue until 1992, when both exhibitions were held at the Red Cross Hall in Worple Road. 

 

In Spring 1993, the permanent venue became St.Mark’s Church, Wimbledon.

 

In November 1994, Charles died, having seen just eleven years of his art group flourish. John Field took over the helm for about another twenty years; and two other members until the present day.

 

During the nineties the Winter Exhibition became the Autumn Exhibition, as the church was used to sell charity Christmas cards from November. 

The Worple Group has become well known over the years and there have been many members-  about twenty at any one time; countless sales of great paintings; and friendships formed and happy times enjoyed by all.

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