who we are
The Thames Group of Artists is a collective of painters, printers, ceramicists, sculptors, mixed media artists, graphic artists, photographers, a milliner, a film maker and more.
SWEET THAMES RUNS SOFTLY (2015)
The Thames Group first appeared on the British art scene with its Arts Council England supported ‘Sweet Thames Run Softly’ exhibition. Inspired by TS Eliot’s modernist masterpiece, ‘The Waste Land’, the exhibition toured to festivals, art galleries and colleges between London and Southend throughout the summer of 2015 in a unique, self assembly cardboard gallery designed by internationally renowned architect John Lyall.
ALL KINDS OF NAUGHTY (2020/21)
The inspiration for the Group’s second major project, came from another pivotal wordsmith of the 20th century, the iconic post-punk musician, lyricist and artist, Ian Dury. March 27th 2020 marked the twentieth anniversary of the passing of Ian Dury. In commemoration and with the full support of his Estate, the Thames Group created ‘All Kinds of Naughty’. Named after an unrecorded Dury song, it was due to open in March 2020 until Covid got in the way. One year later it finally got on the road touring to art galleries across London, Essex and Kent throughout the whole of 2021.
THE SCENE BY THE SEA (2025)
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Thames Group has taken inspiration for its biggest show yet, from a double-sided fold-out map that is the brainchild of native author and musician Will Birch, artist and former ‘Clash’ right-hand man, Kosmo Vinyl and graphic artist Jules Balme. Called ‘The Scene by the Sea’, the map is a guide to many of the hippest clubs, pubs, discotheques, dancehalls, coffee bars, music shops and fashion boutiques that were pivotal in helping to create Southend’s rich pop culture heritage.
THE SCENE BY THE SEA EXHIBITION
The Beecroft Art Gallery
The Old Central Library,
Victoria Ave
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6EX
Saturday 24 May - Sunday 26 October
Opening Times: 11.00 - 5.00pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays