The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers is one of the livery companies of the City of London. An organisation of painters of metals and wood is known to have existed as early as 1283. A similar organisation of stainers, who generally worked on staining cloth for decorative wall hangings, existed as early as 1400. The two bodies merged in 1502; the new organisation was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1581.
Today, the company is less an association of painters and more a charitable company, with the promotion of education in the fine and decorative arts and crafts as its main theme. The Painters' Company Scholarship Scheme was established in 2012 to support undergraduates every year at London Art Colleges. Each student receives £5,000 annually from the beginning of their second year until they complete their studies, and they are known as a Painters' Company Scholar. The students are selected entirely on merit, and this is the most meritocratically awarded scholarship for art students in London today.[citation needed]
The Painters Company also co-sponsors one of the largest UK open art competitions: the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize was created in 2005 by the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers and the Lynn Foundation to encourage the very best creative representational painting and promote the skill of draftsmanship. It awards prize money of £30,000.
Twelve Liverymen have held the office of Lord mayor of London since 1922.
The Company ranks twenty-eighth in the order of precedence of livery companies. The company's motto is Amor Queat Obedientiam, Latin for Love Can Compel Obedience.
The Master for the year ensuing 19 October 2015 is Anthony John Ward, son of the late Liveryman and scribe to the company, John Ward. The Clerk is Christopher John Twyman.
The livery company's hall is situated between Huggin Hill and Little Trinity Lane, in the ward of Queenhithe.
The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize was created in 2005 by the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers and the Lynn Foundation for representational painting and draughtsmanship.[1]
Winner and Second Prize Winner
The Winner receives £15,000. A Second Prize Winner is awarded £4,000.[1]
This Prize was established in 2015 with a bequest following the death of Brian Botting. A prize of £5,000 is awarded annually to a young artist who is 30 years of age or under.[1] Originally a stand-alone Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers prize,[2] brought under the umbrella of the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize in 2017.[1]
New English Art Club Prize
This Prize of £200 is awarded to an exhibitor at the Annual Exhibition of the New English Art Club.[3]
This Prize of £2,000 is awarded to a Graduate or Postgraduate student in the fine art of painting to assist the winner to become commercially viable. The winner is selected from candidates exhibiting at the final year shows of the Royal College of Art, the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Academy Schools. There are also two Runners-up Prizes of £500.[2] Possibly no longer awarded.
In 2014 the winner was Marlene Steyne from the Royal College of Art and the Runners-up Prizes were awarded to Alex Clarke from Royal Academy Schools, and Chao Lu of the Royal College of Art.[2]
Distinguished members
Through the centuries many distinguished artists have been members of the company, including:
Coat of arms of Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
Crest
On a wreath Or and gules, a phoenix proper. Mantled azure, doubled ermine.
Escutcheon
Quarterly first and fourth azure, three escutcheons, two and one, argent; second and third, azure a chevron between three phoenix heads erased Or beaked gules.
Supporters
On either side a panther argent spotted with various colours, ducally crowned, collared and chained Or.
