THE SOCIETY’S OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE INTEREST AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ONE OF ENGLAND’S GREATEST IMPRESSIONIST ARTISTS.

Dame Laura Knight was the first woman to be honoured with a retrospective Exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1965.  Sir W. Russell Flint wrote the introduction in the Catalogue of the Exhibition:
“….If we consider the careers of women artists throughout the centuries, it soon becomes plain that Laura Knight surpasses them all in sheer variety of achievement.  Where, in the boundless field of art, has any woman – or how many men – shown such a wide range?…….”

For many years it has not been fully appreciated, except from a small growing number, the pure genius of Dame Laura Knight and what she achieved as an artist; despite the difficulties of coming from a poor background and particularly in the period she lived, when women were not fully accepted in many circles in which she moved, nor for a major portion of her time even had a vote.  Notwithstanding this, the artist became greatly traveled, easily making friends and quickly becoming highly respected in such a wide and diverse circle of people that ranged from gypsies and circus performers for famous ballerinas, actors, musicians and the aristocracy in both the United Kingdom and USA.

The artist experimented and developed a wide range of artistic techniques, her wide range of subjects in paintings, drawings and various forms of etchings included for example Children, Landscapes, Coastlines, Ballet, Theatre, Circus, Gypsies, Portraits and War Commissions.
The artist also wrote three books, poetry, and plays; made designs for ceramics; created jewellery and enamel work; made theatre and ballet costumes (as well as assisting in the make of such costumes).

So what does the Society do?
In a move to revive and promote interest and to provide more informative factual information on the artist's life and work, Dame Laura Knight's great nephew R. John Croft has created the Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society ("The Society").

The Society's Activities and Objectives are:
• The prime objective is to promote and create greater interest in the lives and works of the artists Dame Laura Knight DBE RA RWS and her husband Harold Knight RA.
• To obtain further information to compile a Catalogue Raisonné to be recognised worldwide as the most informative document on the artists, that will also try to expose myths created since the deaths of the artists.
• To maintain a website on the artists, to provide an informative venue to assist students in their studies, collectors of he artist's works, others interested in the artists and as a means to obtain further information on the artists and their works.
• To act as the artist copyright agents for the five beneficiaries of the Artist's Estate, that includes the Artists' General Benevolent Institution for poor and distressed artists and their families; that includes protecting the Estate's Intellectual Property interests by aiming to mitigate copyright infringements.
• To encourage talks and exhibitions on the artists for those interested to learn more about the artists.

BRANCH SOCIETIES
Those interested in the works of Dame Laura Knight and that of her husband and wishing to assist the Society in its Activities and Objectives are encouraged to set up a local area / regional branches of The Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society.
It is hoped that local area societies will blossom in the principal areas associated with the artist, namely Nottingham - Staithes - Cornwall - Malvern and any other national or international areas where there is a group of people interested in the artist.

Branch Society Objectives and the Aims of it's members are:
• To assist the Society in achieving it's main objective, namely - "to promote and create greater interest in the lives and works of the artists Dame Laura Knight DBE RA RWS and her husband Harold Knight RA".
• To publicise the Branch Society and it's Objectives to recruit new members and expand membership.
• To assist the Patron R. John Croft when ever possible and to encourage others to provide further information, particularly local information, that may be useful in compiling his Catalogue Raisonné.
• To organise local talks and discussions for the branch members and others interested in the works of Dame Laura Knight and Harold Knight, and also on occasion to include talks on the works of the artist's contemporary friends and associates.
• To organise visits/trips to Galleries, Museums and exhibitions to view and learn more about the artist's works.
• To engender a local social fraternity with the end objective of providing a means for people with the common interest in the artists, to meet, to learn more about the artists and create new friendships.

MALVERN LOCAL BRANCH OF THE FRIENDS OF LAURA KNIGHT SOCIETY

In the summer of 2008 the Malvern Branch Society was created, mainly due to the strenuous and enthusiastic efforts of Heather Whatley together with a small group of like minded enthusiastic people in the area of Colwall village, Herefordshire.
On September 28th 2009 the Society held its first AGM at the Village Hall, Colwall, electing a committee with Heather Whatley as chair of the Society and R. John Croft its Patron. The second AGM will be held at the same place on Monday 27th September @ 7:30pm. The patron gives his apologies for not being able to attend.

Recent Activities - Trips 2009
5th August 2009: The Malvern branch organised a coach trip for 45 members and friends to the Castle Museum, Nottingham for a conducted tour of Laura Knight and Harold Knight works held on display at the museum. This tour was arranged by Sarah Skinner the Keeper of Art for the Museum.
All those who attended found the trip very interesting, learning more about the artists and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
9th February 2010: The Malvern branch plannned another coach trip to visit the Birmingham Museum and gallery to see the works held by the museum and also the works loaned to the museum by the Sir Barry Jackson Trust. Tessa Sidey, Keeper of art at the museum gave a talk.

Proposed Activities - Trips 2010
The Malvern local branch of the Friends of Dame laura Knight put on a local promotion of Laura Knight memorabilia in April 2010 in the Colwall village library.

Walk the scenes of Dame Laura Knights Malvern landscapes: 10th July 2010 - Meeting place Colwall Village Hall at 6.30pm. The well known local “Rustic sheep farmer” – John Bishop will advise and take people interested to many places from where Dame Laura painted many of her famous Malvern and surrounding area landscapes.
Further details? - Call local Branch Chair – Heather Whatley as to - transport arrangements – Food afterwards arrangements - costs - on 01684-561592

Recent and Proposed Talks
The Malvern Branch organise several talks during the year. For details see 'News' page under heading "Illustrated Talks".

Interested?
If you are interested in joining and participating in events at the Malvern branch,  please contact the Society Membership Secretary - Rosemary Harwood by email rosemary@theharwoods.co.uk and ask for a membership application form. Annual subscription is currently £10.00 per annum.

IF INTERESTED IN SETTING UP YOUR OWN LOCAL FRIENDS OF LAURA KNIGHT SOCIETY IN YOUR AREA?