Cambridge Drawing Society

Cambridge Drawing Society The society must be one of the oldest in the UK, having been founded in 1882.

Despite its name, it does not just show drawings, but a wide range of paintings, mixed media items, batik, sculpture and limited edition prints.

CDS Members Sue Law, Caroline Forward & Marina Yedigaroff, will be taking part in Ely Artists at Home as part of the Ely...
11/06/2026

CDS Members Sue Law, Caroline Forward & Marina Yedigaroff, will be taking part in Ely Artists at Home as part of the Ely Arts Festival. Artists at 18 venues across the city will be welcoming visitors the weekends of 13-14 and/or 20-21 June (11-5pm). For opening times for specific artists, see the flyer or visit https://www.elyartsfestival.org/whats-on-2026-full-programme/ely-artists-at-home

Portraits of Cambridge – a Town in Transition is an exhibition taking place at the Museum of Cambridge from 13 June – 5 ...
05/06/2026

Portraits of Cambridge – a Town in Transition is an exhibition taking place at the Museum of Cambridge from 13 June – 5 October featuring work by four artists, two of whom are significant former members of Cambridge Drawing Society.

The paintings of Mary Charlotte (‘Polly’) Greene will feature prominently in the show and a lovely collection of small watercolours by Marion Seward will also be shown, probably the the first time they have been exhibited publicly. At least two of Greene’s pictures are newly restored – when they were last seen at an exhibition in 2018 they were in a very poor condition and it’ll be good to see them in their restored condition.

Polly Greene was President of the CDS from 1926-29. She studied at the Royal Academy Schools and at the Academie Collarossi in Paris. She taught art to Gwen Raverat (nee Darwin) and they remained lifelong associates. Polly worked in both oil and watercolour. Some of the pictures shown in June will be part of a large group of paintings she made of Cambridge showing many streets and yards shortly before they were demolished in the early 20th century.

Marion Seward was Secretary of the CDS for many years. In 1905, she drew up the Society’s original constitution. She was the wife of the Master of Downing, Sir Alfred Seward.

For more information, including opening times, see: www.museumofcambridge.org.uk/

CDS member Sonia Villiers is one of 3 artists featured in Interiors, at the GalleryAbove, Linton, from June 3rd to June ...
05/06/2026

CDS member Sonia Villiers is one of 3 artists featured in Interiors, at the GalleryAbove, Linton, from June 3rd to June 27th (open 10am-5pm, Wednesday – Saturday).

This exhibition by 3 women artists, explores the lovely theme of interiors, covering quiet still lives, luscious and abundant portraits of fruits and flowers, to quietly beautiful snapshots of domestic corners, both peopled and unpeopled. The three artists are offering a new show of work with three very different responses to this theme.

The exhibition will include an open evening event at the gallery from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm on Thursday June 11th.

CDS Member Fran Godwood has a solo exhibition of her work at the Haddenham Arts Centre from Saturday 6th June – Sunday 2...
05/06/2026

CDS Member Fran Godwood has a solo exhibition of her work at the Haddenham Arts Centre from Saturday 6th June – Sunday 26th July. This includes a selection of her pen, print & watercolour work.

The gallery is open from 10am – 4pm Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 3pm Sunday: closed on Monday. There is also a cafe, gift shop, artist studios and a lovely garden.

Haddenham is 15 mins drive from Ely. See website www.haddenhamartscentre.org.uk

Fran is doing a MEET THE ARTIST event on June 6th from 2pm-4pm where you will be able to see how she does her work.

Nineteen CDS Members and Friends gathered at the Mill Pond for May’s SketchTogether, making the most of one of those glo...
31/05/2026

Nineteen CDS Members and Friends gathered at the Mill Pond for May’s SketchTogether, making the most of one of those glorious sunny days.
As always, it was a lovely, sociable morning, painting and drawing while enjoying good company and the beautiful setting. Several of us continued on to The Granta for lunch.

Main Image: Photos by Susan Abbs apart from middle top row (Sarah Chatterton) & middle bottom row (Iona Howard)

Sketches by: Maureen Mace, Teresa Grady & Sarah Chatterton (top row); Nina Burgess, Charlotte Bedingfeld, Pegah Abanyeh & Yelena Karl (Middle Row); Tim Milner, Charlotte Labalette & Iona Howard (bottom row)

The Cambridgeshire Plein Air Artist of the Year Award is returning for its second year on Saturday 13th June at Histon ...
31/05/2026

The Cambridgeshire Plein Air Artist of the Year Award is returning for its second year on Saturday 13th June at Histon Manor, Cambridge. Cambridge Drawing Society is pleased to support this event.

The event is open to professional and amateur artists who will spend the day painting and competing in this prestigious new competition. The event aims to become one of Cambridgeshire’s key cultural highlights for years to come, with a focus on fundraising and fun. Book your place now!

Date: Saturday 13th June 2026
Location: Histon Manor, Cambridgeshire (4 miles north of Cambridge city centre)
Time: 10:00AM – 4:00PM (Artists can arrive at any time during the day – artworks must be finished & ready to be judged by 3:30PM)
Entry Fee: £30.00 per artist (100% of profits from ticket sales will go to charity)
Sponsored by Cheffins Fine Art and Modo
All funds raised will go directly to Cambridge Acorn Project.

CDS member Maureen Mace Art has 4 paintings in the latest exhibition at Byard Art, on King’s Parade – their ‘Cambridge ...
30/05/2026

CDS member Maureen Mace Art has 4 paintings in the latest exhibition at Byard Art, on King’s Parade – their ‘Cambridge Exhibition‘ which is now open. One of these is based on a sketch of Pembroke College which Maureen did on one of the Society’s SketchTogether outings.

Congratulations to CDS members Elizabeth Jane Taylor & Liz Hartley, who have been shortlisted for the Fen Ditton Gallery...
20/05/2026

Congratulations to CDS members Elizabeth Jane Taylor & Liz Hartley, who have been shortlisted for the Fen Ditton Gallery Contemporary Printmaking Prize 2026 and will be exhibited at the gallery from 23rd May – 14th June 2026.

The artists in the exhibition were selected from over 500 entries to the prize and present a compelling showcase of the creativity, technical expertise and ingenuity of contemporary printmakers. All shortlisted works are for sale. For early access to the catalogue, contact the gallery at [email protected].

The overall winner will be selected in person at the gallery and announced on Thursday 21st May at the opening event.

Exhibition dates: 23rd May – 14th June 2026.
Weekends: 10am – 5pm
Weekdays: by appointment

Fen Ditton Gallery, 23 High Street, Fen Ditton, Cambridge CB5 8ST. For more information, visit fendittongallery.com

The Society of East Anglian Watercolourists, which has many members in common with CDS, will be holding their Spring exh...
19/05/2026

The Society of East Anglian Watercolourists, which has many members in common with CDS, will be holding their Spring exhibition at Clare Castle Country Park, Suffolk, CO10 8NW. This is SEAW’s fifth year exhibiting in The Old Goods Shed gallery. The exhibition will run from 20-31 May 2026 October open daily, 10:30am to 4:30pm. There will be an Open Day on Saturday, 23rd May.

CDS member, Surinder Beerh is one of the artists leading workshops – painting marine watercolours on 30 May.

More information can be found at: www.eastanglianwatercolourists.co.uk/exhibitions

CDS Friend Emily Jolley has curated this year’s Spring Show at the Keate Family Arts Trust, bringing together artwork by...
02/05/2026

CDS Friend Emily Jolley has curated this year’s Spring Show at the Keate Family Arts Trust, bringing together artwork by 13 local artists (including CDS member Laura Chaplin) alongside pieces from the Trust collection including John Piper, Patrick Heron and Gertrude Hermes.

Over 50 featured artworks, ranging from textiles and sculpture, to painting drawing and prints, are presented within the domestic setting of 7 Trafalgar Road, Cambridge, CB4 1EU – home to the late David Keate’s extensive collection of C20th and contemporary art, books, and his former residence.

Opening times: 10am-5pm, Saturday 9 May, Sunday 10 May, Saturday 16 May & Sunday 17 May (May be open by appointment subject to availability. Please enquire.)
Venue: 7 Trafalgar Road, Cambridge, CB4 1EU. Accessed via steps from the street (Just round the corner from lots of lovely cafes!)

Address

Cambridge

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cambridge Drawing Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category