Associate of the Royal Watercolour Society The Royal Watercolour Society originated as a protest group of artists who felt themselves poorly represented by the Royal Academy. In 1804, when the RA was only about 35 years old, the painters who used watercolour became dissatisfied by the way in which their pictures were hung disadvantageously amongst the oil paintings. Also, the RA would not elect an artist who painted only in watercolour. They therefore decided to form their own society for watercolours only. They held their first exhibition in 1805, which was an immediate success with excellent sales and attendance. Another society calling itself the 'New Society of Painters in Miniature and Watercolour' was set up a couple of years later, and from this time the original group was called the 'Old' Watercolour Society (OWS). Later on they were given permission by Queen Victoria to use 'Royal' in their title, hence RWS.