The British Art Medal Society has commissioned medals from many distinguished contemporary sculptors, including Lynn Chadwick, Nigel Hall, John Maine, Paul Neagu and Michael Sandle, gun and glass engravers such as Malcom Appleby and Ronald Pennell; medallists and coin designers such as Ron Dutton, Robert Elderton and Michael Rizzello; jewellers such as Kevin Coates, Jacqueline Stieger and Fred Rich; the cartoonist Ronald Searle and the poet, gardener and moralist Ian Hamilton Finlay.
The medals are sold to BAMS members only, at very little more than the cost of production. In this way, the British Art Medal Society has made original work from a wide range of artists affordable.
Each medal issued has a limited edition up to a maximum of 100. The issue is open for 18 months after which it is closed and the edition number declared. Past issues have varied from about 10 to 100.
The British Art Medal Society is a registered charity. Our journal, The Medal, is published twice yearly in Spring and Autumn. The Medal contains in-depth illustrated articles on historical and contemporary medals and medal-related news from around the world. The Society organises regular meetings and conferences, and gives advice to individuals or companies who wish to commission medals. The Society particularly supports student and early-career medallists through The New Medallist Scheme, The BAMS Medal Makers Award and The Student Medal Project.
The Society also recognises outstanding contributions made to the promotion and understanding of medallic art by the award of the society’s highest honour, the President’s Medal. The society also presents The Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art. A full list of award winners can be seen here