This well established Frome based group of artists are celebrating 40 years of Frome Art Society.

From its humble beginnings, Frome Art Society has grown into a thriving society, with a membership of over 150. Frome Art Society was conceived and formed by Charles and Vera Appleyard and Charles Hopkins in 1979 with the explicit aim of providing exhibition opportunities for local artists and to provide opportunities for members to meet on a regular basis through social functions, lectures and demonstrations.

Charles Appleyard was the Society’s first Chairman of 25 members and the first exhibition was held in the house of Mrs Marion Williams. In the early 1990’s Frome Art Society was invited to be the first group to exhibit at the then newly renovated, 17th century ‘Black Swan Inn’, today we know affectionately as the Black Swan Arts Long Gallery. Frome Art Society’s success is reflected in the fact that for a number of years it has mounted two exhibitions each year, one in the Long Gallery and the other in the Round Tower Gallery.

The Society has prospered for 40 years because of the dedication and enthusiasm of past and present members. Year-by-year the Society continues to flourish and today is one of the most active in Somerset.