ESSA ~ about us

ESSA is a partnership organisation of three of Scotland’s premiere societies of artists - the Society of Scottish Artists. Visual Arts Scotland and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. Exhibitions, mostly open, are held annually in the Royal Scottish Academy Building in Edinburgh which ESSA leases from the National Galleries of Scotland.

Brief history of our member societies >
Tour the galleries >
Member society websites click SSA VAS or RSW

Our aims ~
to show the work of contemporary Scottish artists at national level
to raise funds to support these exhibitions.

The directors of ESSA are Elaine Shemilt, President of the Society of Scottish Artists, Chris Wood VPSSA, Philip Archer, President of Visual Arts Scotland, Sandy Robb VPVAS, John Inglis, President of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, Helga Chart RSW and Treasurer of ESSA, Hugh Henderson WS Hon Sec. and David Colvin CBE Chairman.

Elaine Shemilt

Chair Dr David Colvin CBE HSSA
Hon. Secretary Hugh Henderson WS
ESSA is a Scottish Charitable Company No. SC242637