History

The Arundel Art Society was formed by Thelma Hall on March 9th 1977. A resident of Yapton Thelma often held committee meetings in her own home. The Society met in the Norfolk Centre in Arundel.

Thelma started as secretary with Percy Ward as the Chairman and her husband Max was the first treasurer. An example of Thelma’s art is featured here, The thatched cottage is the Twelfth of Never, Church Lane , Yapton, commissioned by Juliet (Jill) Robertson Macdonald. I lived next door but one to The Twelfth of Never for thirty years and I can confirm that it is absolute likeness as it was in 1977.

The first President of the Arundel Art Society was the English portait painter Juliet Pannett, MBE, FRSA, d2005. Juliet lived in Angmering, often attending AAS meetings and regularly giving talks and demonstrations to the Society. Juliet was commissioned to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, she also painted portraits of Princes Andrew and Edward. Prince Philip commissioned her to paint a pastel portrait of the Queen. A most prestigious president who painted portaits of several prime ministers including Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. 

Juliet was succeeded in 1991 by Neil Holland the local and well-respected architect and watercolourist.