A Year In The Life of Royal Albert Hall

Chiswick artists, Francis Bowyer PPRWS, William Bowyer RA RWS, and Liz Butler RWS, take part in prestigious exhibition

Three Chiswick artists, Francis Bowyer PPRWS, William Bowyer RA RWS, and Liz Butler RWS, will be involved in the prestigious exhibition that sees two royal institutions coming together to celebrate a year in the life of the Royal Albert Hall.

The Royal Albert Hall has partnered with the Royal Watercolour Society to commission a year in the life of the Hall through a series of watercolour paintings, which will be displayed as part of the Hall’s Reflect exhibition series from Saturday 23 April – Tuesday 7 June.

2010 saw another hugely successful year for the Hall, with 381 events in the main auditorium and hundreds more throughout the building, including the return of Cirque du Soleil and the Teenage Cancer Trust series, Cinderella on Ice, and the continued development of the non-auditorium event programme. From the grace of the prima ballerina in Swan Lake to the flair of virtuoso pianist Lang Lang; the excitement of Last Night of the Proms to the stark beauty of the Hall in the snow, Members of the Royal Watercolour Society have been resident in the Hall throughout the year, capturing the events and their audiences as they happen.

This review of a year in the life of the Hall is unique not only in the medium in which it is captured and the absorbing artists’ impression it offers, but also in the different perspectives of the building it explores. The project represents the first time that artists have been able to study backstage and behind the scenes of the working venue. The result, a collection of large watercolours, provides a captivating, evocative and vibrant portrait of all aspects of life at the Hall, including its many and varied performances, but also its staff, restaurants, and even the boiler room in the depths of the building.

Chris Cotton, Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall said: “It is a privilege for us to hang these illuminating paintings as part of our free exhibition series. The exhibition is an example of two great Royal institutions collaborating together and it will provide a fascinating insight for the reviewer of another successful year at the Hall. Do come and see for yourself.”

David Paskett, President of the Royal Watercolour Society said: “Over the past twelve months, artists from the Royal Watercolour Society have been responding to the sounds, drama and visual excitement both inside and outside the Royal Albert Hall. From grand events like the Remembrance Day Service and the Last Night of the Proms, to intimate jazz in the café, brass bands and ballroom competitions. The performers, the audience and staff, even the lights and the boiler room have come under the brush. Figurative or abstract, lyrical or edgy, the vibrant work produced by current Members of the Royal Watercolour Society is as diverse as its Membership today.”

The exhibition is free and runs from Saturday 23 April – Tuesday 7 June around the ground floor corridor of the Royal Albert Hall. It can be viewed when attending performances at the Hall or during these free open days:

Sat 23 April 11am – 3pm
Sun 15 May 11am – 3pm
Sat 21 May 11am – 3pm

A range of merchandise using the exhibition’s collection will be available to purchase.

April 18, 2011