The British Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) was established as the Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1804. In 1831 group of its artists branched off to form the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) and the original group became known as as the Old Water Colour Society until they gained royal charter in 1881 and became as they are known today. (Links: the RWS today; the RI today) / (Wikipedia: Royal Watercolour Society; Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours)
