Biography
The National Society of Painters, Sculptors, Engravers and Potters was formed by Ernest Marsh (1863-1945) and Charles Robert Chisman (1877-1955) in 1930 to meet a growing desire among artists of every creed and outlook for an annual exhibition in London, which would embrace all aspects of art under one roof, without prejudice or favour to anyone. This legacy has continued as a guide and inspiration to creative artists ever since, with only a short break between 1940 - 1945. The freedom to experiment and explore new media or techniques has created a society that is very professional while allowing the individual artists to realise their full potential. It was established at the studio of George Harcourt RA (1868-1947) with their first show held at the Grafton Galleries. The society exhibited at Royal Institute galleries from 1931. Bernard Leach, William Staite Murray, Charles Vyse and Miss Parnell, represented the potters but in 1947, the pottery group had to be abandoned because the galleries where they exhibited were let out in the evenings.
