Ulster Watercolour Society

22/03/2026

Tracie Corry and Rosalind McConaghy were joint winners of the Artisann Prize at the 2025 UWS exhibition at Portview. Many thanks to Artisann for providing this award and congratulations again to Tracie and Rosalind.

15/02/2026

Grahame will be tutoring a painting holiday in Olhao, 22-29 April 2026.
This is an area of Portugal that Grahame knows very well and this time the holiday is operated by Friendship Travel, a Northern Ireland based company. There are still places available.

15/02/2026

Ulster Watercolour Society President, Grahame Booth demonstrating at Dundonald Library as part of their special events programme. Grahame entertained his audience much to the amusement of his daughter Jill, who manages the library.

08/02/2026

APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE ULSTER WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY

How do I apply for membership of the Ulster Watercolour Society?

Download the Application Form from our website UWS.org.uk

Membership is by selection and will next take place on 28th. March 2026. The selection process lasts for about one hour, depending on the number of submissions. You must submit three framed and three unframed pieces of work in transparent watercolour, pen and wash, or gouache. All work must have been completed within the last three years. You may also submit a sketchbook and CV, but this is not essential. Applications should be made by emailing the application form to the secretary, Alison McQuade: [email protected] . There is a non-refundable application fee of £20.00, payable on submission day. The business of the society is carried out electronically, so you must have an active email address in order to apply for membership. When applying, please include your name, address, email, and mobile number.

Acceptance will entitle the applicant to Associate membership of the Society for a period of three years, during which time their work must have been selected for those years' annual exhibitions. After this period, full membership of the Society will be conferred. The annual membership fee, currently £50.00, will be due on acceptance.

What mediums are acceptable?

Watercolour, Gouache, and Pen & Wash only. No additional media such as, but not limited to, metallic leaf, fabric, pastel, acrylic paint, or oil paint is permitted.

How is my application considered?

Your application will be considered by a membership panel drawn from the Society. If a majority of the panel assess that your work meets the technical and artistic standards of the Society, you will be invited to accept membership. The panel’s decision will be conveyed to you by email. You will then be eligible to exhibit in the exhibition following your acceptance. Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to re-apply in subsequent years.

The Ulster Watercolour Society represents watercolour painters from the province of Ulster as well as other parts of Ireland

07/02/2026

ULSTER WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY AGM

The 2026 AGM is to be held in THE ISLAND ARTS CENTRE, Lisburn, BT27 4RL on Saturday 28th March @ 10am, doors open @9.45. Our AGM is followed by our prospective new member intake, details of which will be on our website, Facebook and Instagram. If you know of someone whom may be interested in joining, please let them know about the post AGM selection procedure and where to get the relevant forms or contact the UWS Secretary at [email protected] .

12/12/2025

Last night UWS President Grahame Booth presented a cheque for £1700 to Sandra Sloan of Marie Curie. Also present were UWS council members Alison McQuade and Margery Lavery.
The Ulster Watercolour Society would like to thank visitors to their recent exhibition at Portview Trade Centre for their generous support in aid of this very worthy charity.

26/11/2025

The Ulster Watercolour Society would like to thank the visitors to their recent Portview exhibition for their very generous support to the society’s fund raising for Marie Curie. Total amount raised was £1692.86 rounded up to a donation of £1700 for the charity. This consisted of contributions to Marie Curie collecting boxes and the sale of raffle tickets for the wonderful painting by Grahame Booth.

29/10/2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZa1V-ikHy/?igsh=a3pyaWdwZzk1NWhu

The Ulster Watercolour Society proudly sponsors an award at the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

This year's winner was Samantha Ellis Fox

29/10/2025

Opening next Wednesday!

HOMEWARD
An exhibition by Ulster Watercolour Society member and RUA Academician Barbara Allen

At ArtisAnn Gallery

24/09/2025

The September edition of the “Ulster Tatler” includes a page of photos of our recent exhibition at Portview, showing the Lord Mayor of Belfast and representatives of Marie Curie, and guests and Prizewinners at the opening evening.

14/09/2025

The public voted the exhibition favourite painting to be “View from Portview” by Alison McQuade. Well done to Alison for winning this very coveted prize and making the other UWS artists extremely envious. Thanks to all of our visitors who contributed by voting.