The Association of British Naïve Artists

We hope you enjoy browsing through our three sections of members’ work and capture some of the magic encapsulated by the world of Primitive/ Naïve Art.

Our aim is to promote Naïve Art throughout Great Britain and abroad, to promote each other, and to educate people about this unique style of painting.

Because we are mostly self-taught and have often not had any formal training, you will recognise a simplicity, innocence and honesty about our work that you will find nowhere else.

During the last few years there has been a growing world-wide interest in Primitive/ Naïve paintings and many public and private galleries are now devoting special sections to this genre.

The Association of British Naïve Artists, or ABNA, was formed in 2002 by Peter Denham and Mervyn Clingan. Shortly after Peter wrote an article in the leading art magazine Artist & Illustrator, some hitherto unknown Naïve painters, as well as some better-known painters, wrote to ask about becoming members of the new Association.  

He dreamed of giving Naïve Art more credibility in the art world and of striving to have a museum for British Naïve Art somewhere in the British Isles.

Sadly, Peter became ill in the summer and died on Christmas Day of the same year. He still had so much to achieve, and so the members pulled together to carry on with his dream and strive to make the vision a reality.