http://www.society-women-artists.org.uk/

Founded as the Society of Female Artists, this unique group has held an annual exhibition in London of the work of women artists ever since 1857. In the process, it has introduced many famous names to the world of fine art appreciation, and their works to well-known art galleries and public places. In the mid-nineteenth century, women were not considered to be serious contributors to the field of art and had great difficulty in obtaining a public showing.

 The SFA was involved in education for women artists, effectively excluded by the mores of the time from professional training. Even for those who did gain a place at art school, the model in the women's class would be decorously draped on grounds of propriety. With increasing access to professional training came higher standards or the Society's exhibitions and a name change (in 1869) to the Society of Lady Artists. Appropriately, in the last year of the century, the mid-Victorian persona was discarded and the twentieth century was embraced by the Society with the new name: The Society of Women Artists. The patron is HRH Princess Michael of Kent but the Society has enjoyed Royal patronage since 1865. The Society has had many famous artists among its members. 

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