“Welcome to the 16th World of Coloured Pencil exhibition. The UKCPS has been exhibiting in the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick since the very early days of the society and we are extremely pleased to still be invited here every year – to the place where pencils began.
We are grateful to the Museum Manager, Tracy Strong, for making this year’s exhibition bigger and better than ever before and for hosting a private view, a new and exciting development in the Keswick annual exhibition. We hope to continue to exhibit here for many more years, continuing the bond that we all have as a pencil family.
I am also grateful to Tracy and her team for judging and selecting the award winners and to Derwent for sponsoring the awards.”
Barbara Murray, President, UKCPS
This is a UKCPS members only exhibition with the following awards:
- Derwent - Best in Show and People's Award.
- UKCPS - 'Reserve Best in Show' plus award for a 'Best Local Group Member'.
- Leisure Painter - 'Best Newcomer to Coloured Pencil'.
- People's Prize based on votes from exhibition visitors.
Notes about UKCPS:
The UK Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS) was founded in 2001 by Bob Ebdon, spurred by a letter in A&I magazine from Pat Heffer (who became a founder member, enthusiastic supporter and finally President). A few people sharing their interest of coloured pencil art, who had never met except via the internet, started the Society and it was launched at Patchings Art Centre in Nottinghamshire. The Society has grown over the years: the second issue of the quarterly magazine (September 2001) reported they had just reached the 100 member mark, and now there are over 600 members.
Three main aims are at the heart of the Society: to promote coloured pencils as a fine art medium, to support UK-based artists who use coloured pencils, and to educate artists and the public in general about coloured pencils. It has enabled professional coloured pencil artists to promote their artistry within this specialisation and share their expertise with amateur members.
All the committee members of the UKCPS are volunteers. The Society co-ordinates local groups around the country, trying to link upmembers in the same area to meet regularly to encourage use of this medium.
Coloured pencil (CP) is often recognised as an essential tool for the intricacies of botanical, wildlife and animal works, but is now equally widely applied to portraiture, still life and landscapes as well as experimental modern pieces. All subject matter is covered by artists showing at the annual exhibition.
In 2017 we were granted Charitable Status by the Charities Commission.
