In 1948 six local artists decided to hold an exhibition of their work and invited other artists working in a radius of Axminster to participate – the response was immediate and enthusiastic and resulted in a very successful exhibition held in the Church Rooms in Axminster. Over 1000 people came to see the exhibition. It was apparent from this that meetings for artists to discuss their work and to exchange information about techniques and artistic subjects would be desirable and so Mr William Gill and Col Tyte with others held a meeting in July 1948 to form Axminster Art Society. The aims of the society were to further interests in the fine arts and crafts excluding photography. Perhaps it was felt that the latter was too mechanical to be of appeal to artists!
At this time the nearest art society was in Exeter, unlike today when almost every town has a society of its own.
Mrs. L.M. Robertson, Chairman of the U.D.C., became the first President and continued for the amazing period of 30 years. She was obviously a very energetic and enthusiastic person and one of her first ideas was to invite the great and good to become vice presidents with no executive duties but to
try and further the interests and objectives of the society. There was an excellent response and several Lords of the Manor and Church dignitaries including Viscount Sidmouth, Vice Admiral Sir Francis Pridham and Geoffrey Roper of Forde Abbey became vice presidents. Unfortunately the minutes do not record details but as the membership was 79 by 1950 and grew rapidly to 120 it seems that the stratagem worked well.
However one of the most interesting members was Mr. William Gill, who was not one of these, but nevertheless did a great deal for the society. He was a local baker, working with his father and brother in a family business. They also ran cafes in Axminster, Honiton and Chard and grew the vegetables for these in the garden behind their cottage. Somehow he found the time to paint and exhibited 6 or 7 times at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Tragically he died in 1959 at the relatively young age of 52, but was so well thought of that a memorial exhibition of his work was arranged by the society that was well attended.
In the early years the subscription was ten shillings and sixpence for full members and five shillings for associate members – quite a lot of money at that time.
