New English Art Club | 140th Anniversary

Celebrating its 140th anniversary, the New English Art Club (NEAC) stands as one of Britain’s most enduring champions of drawing and painting grounded in direct observation. Founded in 1886 by a group of young London artists seeking an alternative to the academic traditions of the Royal Academy of Arts, the Club quickly became a vital platform for a new generation influenced by modern European painting. From early exhibitors like John Singer Sargent and Walter Sickert to later members such as Paul Nash and Stanley Spencer, the NEAC has nurtured artists committed to figurative practice while remaining open to evolving approaches.

This year's exhibition honours the legacy of past masters and highlights the ongoing relevance of observational painting in a contemporary context. It will feature works by John Nash and his brother, Paul, both of whom exemplify the NEAC's commitment to close observation of the world around us. Both brothers’ work, shaped by direct experience and themes of conflict and the human condition, will be the focus of the NEAC Annual Lecture. In light of the current climate crisis, the NEAC is also emphasising the urgent need to engage with our changing environment. This will be reflected through the NEAC Climate Emergency Prize, open to all artists and addressing art, nature, and the pressing issues of our time.