The RBSA Permanent Collection consists of over 850 works by past and present Members & Associates of the RBSA, and artists who have a connection with the Society or the Midlands.
The RBSA Permanent Collection
The Collection aims to gather and conserve objects significant to the history of the RBSA and to Birmingham’s wider artistic heritage. In addition to ongoing acquisitions, each new elected Member of the RBSA donates one ‘Diploma Work’ to the RBSA Archive to ensure the collection continues to grow.
The Permanent Collection includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery. These objects are kept securely in temperature and humidity controlled conditions and the RBSA follows rigorous procedures to maintain Accredited Museum status.
Highlights of the Collection
Usually, the archive is run by a team of volunteers who look after the collection, conduct research and respond to archive enquiries. While the RBSA Gallery is closed, we reflect on the Collections Highlights project developed to celebrate 200 years of Art, Artists and Audiences in Birmingham.
The Highlights of the Collection was selected and researched by members of the RBSA’s Volunteer Archive Team in 2012-14.
Enjoying the Collection from home
Click on the images below to enlarge them and scroll down to see the comments for more information about each piece of art.
Anthony Sawbridge PPRBSA, The Balloon Seller 
Aubrey Beardlsey, How Sir Belvidere Cast the Sword Excalibur into the Water 
Benjamin Creswick RBSA, John Ruskin 
Bernard Fleetwood-Walker PPRBSA, Caroline 
Bernard Fleetwood-Walker PPRBSA, Joan Woollard 
Bernard Sleigh RBSA, Rough Sea at Tintagel 
David Cox Senior, Bolton Abbey 
David Cox, Lane at Harborne 
David Harban, RBSA, A Different View Lichfield Cathedral 
Dawn Imogen Sallie Cookson, The Old Florentine 
Elaine Hind, Blue Pot with Iris 
Elizabeth Ridgway RBSA, Summer nap 
Emmy Bridgwater, Stark Encounter 
Frederick Thomas Lines, Self portrait 
Frederick Thomas Lines, Tettenhall Church 
Harold Henry Holden RBSA, March 
Heinke Jenkins RBSA, We never had it so good 
Henry Harris Lines, Bridgnorth 
Hilary Paynter Hon. RBSA, Snowdonia 
Jacqué Wakely RBSA, Tidal Wave 
Joan Woollard PPRBSA, Jonah and the big fish 
Joan Woollard PPRBSA, The Races 
John Salt Hon. RBSA, Pink Trailer 
John Shakespeare RBSA, The Square Brush Technique 
Joseph Southall PPRBSA, The Old Portico 
June Dudleston, Forest in Fall 
Lyall Watson, Portrait of Henry Moore 
Percy Hipkiss RBSA, Design for a matching set of costume jewellery entitled ‘Sea Fantasy’ 
Peter Gross RBSA, Peter Gross 
Peter Wareing RBSA, Tall Vase 
Rachel Ricketts RBSA, Caprice 
Richard Chattock, Tabbing the Blast Furnace 
Robert Ball, The Quarry at Rowley Regis 
Sir Henry Rushbury (1889-1968), La Rochelle 
Trevor Denning RBSA, RBSA Gallery, New Street 
Usha Khosla RBSA, Bowl 
Walter Jenks Morgan RBSA, The Meeting Place 
William Breakspeare, Newlyn Woman 
William John Wainwright PPRBSA, Portrait of John Keeley RBSA 
William Roden RBSA (1817-1892), Head of a woman
Would you like to learn more about the RBSA Archive Collection? Tell us in the comments.
About Us
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which supports artists and promotes engagement with the visual arts through a range of exhibitions, events and workshops.
The RBSA runs an exhibition venue – the RBSA Gallery – in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, a short walk from the city centre.
The gallery is currently closed due to Covid-19.
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