Purpose

The Brotherhood of Ruralists Information Website is intended to provide free information for collectors, researchers, commercial organisations and the general public about the work, lives and activities of the group of artists known as The Brotherhood of Ruralists.

Ownership

The website is privately owned and maintained with the assistance of Aztec Consulting Ltd and Aznet Online Ltd.

Scope

Currently, The Brotherhood of Ruralists consists of Ann Arnold, Graham Arnold, Graham Ovenden and Annie Ovenden. Additionally, Peter Blake, who was a full time member for many years from the inception, continues to play an important role, and frequently exhibits with the Brotherhood.

David Inshaw and Jann Haworth were both members from the beginning, but left in the 1980s. Their work is occasionally exhibited alongside the remaining members, and their historical place in the evolution of the group is significant.

In accordance with this history, this website aims at being the leading source of information about the four remaining members in all aspects of their life, works and activities. It is not the intention for this site to achieve such a level of detail and completeness with regard to the other three founding members, except for the parts of their lives and works which are associated with the Ruralists.

The Brotherhood have worked closely with a wide range of artists - whose life and work are considered to be within the scope of this website.

Affiliation

Whilst the site has no direct affiliation with the Brotherhood of Ruralists, the artists have given their full support and have shown a willingness to help with information and images. This co-operation is regarded as an important aspect of the site.

Independence

The site is maintained and financed by people who are independent of the Brotherhood of Ruralists. Thus it is not the "official Ruralists Website" and the Brotherhood have no direct control over its content, nor responsibility for it. The site is not a vehicle for expressing or supporting the views of the artists except where this happens as a side-effect of publicising their work and reporting of news.

Much of the content of the site might be construed as publicity for the group or advertising of their work or enterprises. This aspect of the site is regarded as important and is carried out for the benefit of those who collect and enjoy the work - not as a service to the artists.

Commercial Interests

The developers of the site may, from time to time, promote ventures which are of commercial interest to themselves or other parties. The support of these ventures is not the purpose of the site and only information which is genuinely believed to be of interest to the audience will be included. In this respect, the site itself is not a commercial venture and its existence and continured development rely on the sponsorship and support of the directors of the two companies list under "Ownership" and various other parties, including the artists themselves.

Access

In keeping with the nature of the work of the Ruralists, the site is intended to be decent, in good taste and accessible to all.