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 jewelry 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 copyright agent for the Trustees of the Estate of Dame Laura Knight on behalf of the 5 beneficiaries, including The Artists' General Benevolent Institution for poor and distressed artists and The Artists' Orphan Fund, both Public charities.
• To encourage exhibitions and talks 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 Harold Knight 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.

All new members of any branch society should receive a copy of the above branch society objectives and aims together with their membership card from the local branch society.
Accounts showing monies collected and expended by the Branch will be advised at minimum once a year to members.

Interested in setting up a branch of the Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society in their area of the United Kingdom or worldwide?

If so, please email info@damelauraknight.com or
Write to The Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society.
PO Box 4710, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 9JE.