I went to the private view of the Blackheath Art Society’s 2026 Winter Exhibition at Blackheath Halls on the 5 of November. The Bar was busy, with people chatting, looking at the artwork and catching up with friends and fellow artists over drinks. It felt more like a friendly get òtogether than a formal gallery visit.
The work covers the walls and pillars, so there’s plenty to look at as you move around the room. There’s a real mix of styles and subjects: atmospheric landscapes, bold abstract paintings, portraits, still lifes and studies of areas of Greenwich and Blackheath. Some pieces caught my eye straight away because of their colour, others made me want to look more closely at the details and texture. That great variety is what makes the show interesting, each artist has their own way of seeing things.
The Bar is a relaxed place to see an exhibition, you can wander around at your own pace, have a drink and go back to a piece you liked. The show also gives a sense of what the Society is about. Founded in 1947, it brings together artists from Greenwich and Lewisham. The Society says it has up to 80 local members, and its exhibitions give them a chance to show and sell their work, meet visitors and catch up with other artists. It’s good to see that community still going strong.
The exhibition runs at Blackheath Halls Bar from 6 November to 17 December. It’s free to visit and open Monday to Friday, 10am–5pm. Some of the work is for sale, so you might even find something you’d like to take home.
Blackheath Halls has been bringing people together for a long time. It opened in 1895 after local fundraising led by William Webster, who wanted Blackheath to have a place for concerts and meetings. After the Second World War, the building became government offices. Local people helped save it from demolition, and it reopened as a concert venue in 1985. It seems fitting that it’s still being used as a place for people to meet and enjoy the arts.
The Society’s history includes a few well-known artists. Francis Dodd RA, a painter and etcher, was its first president. Graham Sutherland OM came after him, and Victor Pasmore was president in 1957. Jean Cooke RA, who lived in Blackheath, held the role for many years. Early exhibitors included Rowland Hilder OBE, Anthony Gross RA and Betty Swanwick RA
👇👇👇The Blackheath Art Society are on Instagram click on the Icon👇👇👇