The Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers was founded in 1896 by Alyn Williams, who was the first President, a position he occupied until 1898, and then again from 1908-1941. He was succeeded by Sir William Richmond, the artist son of a well-known miniature painter. Three of the seven Presidents served the Society until their death.

At first the R.M.S. relied on rented space in Bond Street, helped by Mr. Freeman who owned the Modern Gallery and was the Society's Secretary. Exhibitions were in the Spring and low costs allowed at least a four week show at the same time as the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, which led to the R.A. and the Miniature R.A. as terms of reference.

The Society weathered two world wars with few gaps in its Minutes and Exhibitions. In fact the 21st Anniversary was celebrated in 1916 at the Grafton Gallery, but the special rejoicings hoped for were dampened by the war and the absence of many Members on military service. By now the Society had become 'Royal', granted in 1904 by the first Royal Patron King Edward VII, followed by every Monarch, including King Edward VIII, since then. Royal visits to Exhibitions came often before the wars and in 1926, by King George V's Royal Command, 'Sculptors and Gravers' were added to our title.

The Society has known several homes: the Arlington Galleries, from which it was removed by a bomb to the R.W.S. Galleries, thence from the Alpine Gallery to a steady haven with the Federation of British Artists at the R.B.A. Galleries. In 1971 the Federation moved to the Mall Galleries, opened by her Majesty the Queen, and in 1987 the Society transferred to the Westminster Gallery in rooms prepared by the Director of the Westminster Central Hall and the President. There it remained and celebrated its Hundredth Anniversary in November 1995 with a special Exhibition opened by the Earl of Gowrie. It hosted the first ever World Exhibition of Miniatures and showed the valuable Diploma Collection for the first time.