1

Irvine Adams at work in his studio
1960s
Summerland

Credits:
Courtesy of Don Adams
Penticton Herald, 1978

2

Adams' pastel, "The Broken Drift Fence"
1961
Between Princeton and Merritt, British Columbia

Credits:
Irvine Adams

3

Unfinished work by Irvine Adams
unknown
Summerland

Credits:
Irvine Adams
Brian Adams

4

Adams' pastel, "Okanagan History"
1962
Summerland

Credits:
Penticton Art Gallery
Glenn Clark

5

Nineteenth century England saw a vast emergence of artistic talent. These artists were the celebrities of their day, made famous by the aristocracy and royalty. The elite of this group were sometimes granted membership in the Royal Academy which would only allow admission of a small number (fifty) of sculptors, printmakers, architects and painters, at any one time. The number of professional artists practicing their trade in 19th century London was in the tens of thousands so there was a real need for an alternative to the Academy's restricted membership. A new society, the Society of British Artists was formed and a new gallery built. Sales from the first exhibition in 1824 totalled Ł4000.

Although it was granted a Charter in 1846, it was not until Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year of 1887 that the Society won the right to the prefix "Royal," due to the efforts of its President, James McNeil Whistler.