Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 2017
Andy Wood PPRI RBA (1947-2016)
a professional artist, including stage electrician at The London Palladium and running an Arts Centre. When he moved to Charmouth, Dorset, in 1977 he joined the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and started painting professionally. He opened a gallery in nearby Lyme Regis, and remained a fire fighter until moving with his wife, Kate and two children, Arthur and Freya, to Rye, East Sussex in 2002.
Archie was elected as a Member in 1987. His work, humour and unique style proved very popular. He was a prolific artist and produced an incredible body of work after retiring early from the advertising industry.
Bill Toop RI MSCD AOI (1943-2016)
Andy passed away on 19 November 2016, after a short illness. Although he had only been President for a short time, he and the RI Council had introduced many new initiatives including RI Workshops, RI fRIends and more social events for members. His sense of humour and dedication to the RI was unquestionable and he will be greatly missed by us all.
Andy Wood was elected President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) in 2014, the 15th President elect. Born in Porlock, Somerset in 1947. In the 1960s he attended Croydon College of Art and Newport College of Art and attained a degree in Fine Art and Film. He became a Member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) in 1980 and a Member of the RI a year later. In 2009 he was elected RI Honorary Secretary and in 2014, as RI President, he was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS). Andy had many varied jobs before becoming
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C J Archer Hon Rtd RI (1928-2016)
RI Member C J Archer affectionately known as ‘Archie’ sadly passed away peacefully just before Christmas 2016.
Bill Toop had a long career in the Arts and Education. He was born in Bere Regis, Dorset, in 1943 and opened his own gallery in Wiltshire in 1976 which he later moved to Dorset. Bill exhibited widely and worked as an illustrator for many publishers. I think he spoke for many RI Members in saying ‘I love watercolour, it has a wonderful life of its own, everyday something new happens’. Bill passed away suddenly on 30 December 2016. He leaves his wife Elizabeth, two children Oliver and Lucy and two grandchildren. We will all remember him, not only for his paintings and his personal involvement and enthusiasm for the RI, but also for his warm and gentle character.