Riverside Artists Group marks 40 years with new exhibition

Fahad Redha

April 9, 2026
3 min read

Riverside Artists Group marks 40 years with new exhibition

A community art movement that began in west London four decades ago is marking its anniversary with a major retrospective exhibition at Riverside Studios. What started as an open submission exhibition in 1986 on Crisp Road has evolved into the Riverside Artists Group, a collective that has exhibited internationally, collaborated across Europe and adapted through the digital age.

Now, 40 years on, the group is reflecting on its journey through PULL FOCUS, a multi-format exhibition showcasing 48 works spanning the 1980s to today. The exhibition brings together oil paintings, sculptural installations, charcoal drawings, digital prints and video pieces, offering a snapshot of the group’s evolution.

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Stephen Williams, a founding member, said the retrospective has prompted reflection even among the artists themselves. “This is the first time we’ve really stepped back and looked at what we’ve done as a group over the years,” he said. “The reaction has been amazing.”

Curated by artist Katharine Meynell, the show features work from 33 artists, including four original members, and extends throughout the ground floor public spaces of Riverside Studios.

The anniversary programme goes beyond visual art. A 30-minute documentary, Tracing the River, charts the group’s history using archival footage, photographs and interviews. Alongside it, an archive exhibition curated by artist Celia Toler explores decades of creative exchange, including trips to Russia and Spain, through newspaper cuttings, memorabilia and recovered photographs.

“Until very recently, we didn’t have mobile phones to snap photos, so being able to find and share so much of our history has reignited a lot of memories,” said Toler.

Free to visit until Sunday 3 May, PULL FOCUS serves not only as a retrospective but as a record of a grassroots artistic network that has grown alongside London’s cultural landscape. The exhibition highlights how a local initiative evolved into an internationally connected creative community, while remaining rooted in west London.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.