Monday, January 19, 2026

Last Call for Entries for Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours Annual Exhibition 2026

You have 4 DAYS LEFT to submit an entry to the OPEN Annual Exhibition 2026 of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours.

Alongside the work of its elected members, leading figures in contemporary watercolour and water-based media, the RI welcomes both emerging and established artists who push the boundaries of the medium through traditional and experimental approaches.

 

Why enter this exhibition?

  • This is the biggest exhibition dedicated to paintings in water colours in the UK.
  • around 50% of the artworks are from the Open Submission
The exhibition is the largest of its kind, featuring over 400 of the finest works from around the world.
  • displays a wide diversity in approaches to paintings using watercolour media and subject matter - from traditional to the more contemporary.
  • although more contemporary artwork has a lower profile in the show and tends to favour acrylic and mixed media.
  • relatively little of what I tend to term the "can't draw, can't paint, won't sell" school of painting which lacks application to both concept and craft
The overall impression is that most of the artists in the show, on the whole, are very much more inclined to paint natural scenes associated with the outdoors - and have a distinct preference for more traditional media.

To be more precise, last year:
  • more than a third paint landscapes or cityscapes
  • just under 20% painted portraits and human figures
  • 14% painted still life and interiors
  • less than 10% painted Marine and Coastal OR Wildlife and Animals OR other topics.
  • very few people created abstract paintings
This is worth a study - in terms of what subjects get painted in what media
(from my review of the 2025 exhibition - see link above)
 

Call for Entries for RI Annual Exhibition 2026


The deadline for entries for the 214th Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours is 2pm on Friday 23 January 2026
  • Information about how to enter starts on the Mall Galleries website
  • Submission is via the OESS website
  • There is a single-stage virtual judging process for ALL submitted works.
  • Selected works should be delivered to Mall Galleries, London, for inclusion in the exhibition by Saturday 16th March (10am-5pm)
  • The Annual Exhibition opens on 25 March and closes on 11 April 2026

Who can enter

  • Any artist aged 18 or over may enter, from anywhere in the world.
  • BUT - a word of caution - make sure you understand what's involved with international art shipping, customs paperwork and VAT before you submit OR you may have a nasty surprise.

What can you enter

  • many of the artworks in the exhibition are of a very high standard and
  • some are absolutely amazing in terms of the expertise on display an observation I made about last year's exhibition 
TIPS
More details about what you can enter
  • Acceptable media; Watercolour or water-soluble mediums including watercolour, acrylic, ink or gouache (excluding water-soluble oils) on any appropriate support (define).
  • all artwork must be 
    • for sale
    • completed within the last two years
    • NOT previously exhibited in London
    • an original creation of the artist
  • Works should not be larger than 240 cm high and 150 cm wide including the frame. 
  • A maximum of six works may be submitted - however a maximum of four works may be selected.
  • All paintings must be well presented i.e. should be suitably framed (no metal or clips frames are permitted)
    • All works submitted to the exhibition should be framed unless there is a genuine aesthetic reason for the work to remain unframed. If entering unframed work, please indicate it will be unframed in the artwork description. Artists entering unframed work do so at their own risk.
    • glazed with picture glass (except in special circumstances as below, or by prior arrangement with the RI).
      • Glazing in perspex and other similar transparent acrylic materials may be accepted, but only on works arriving from abroad or
      • large works in frames exceeding 100 cm on the longest side.
If selected works arrive damaged, with unacceptable framing, size discrepancies from the original submission, not as shown online, or in the opinion of the Selection Committee as not being in the spirit of watercolour painting, then these will be withdrawn. All withdrawn artworks will need to be collected from Mall Galleries by the artist at their expense.

What is the financial info I need to know?

  • Pricing: minimum price of £350
  • 45% commission + VAT charged on all sales including commissioned works, before, during, or as a result of the exhibition.
  • Entry Fee:
    • non-refundable submission fee of £20 per work
    • £14 per work for any artists aged 35 or under  

How to Submit


The process works as follows
  • READ the full terms and conditions
  • READ the specific entry requirements
  • REGISTER for digital submission - if you have never entered before
  • SUBMIT: ALL Selection is based on online entries and associated digital images. The selectors' decisions are final and no feedback is offered.
TIP: The quality of the image of your artwork counts for a lot when selectors are looking for reasons not to select an artwork. How to photograph art - for artists (on my Art Business Info for Artists website) provides detailed information about how to produce a good quality digital image.

This is what you need to do to submit and entry and then deliver the artwork if you get a positive result.
  • Login to the Open Exhibition Entry website
  • Select the correct call for entries (AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE)
  • Complete the form
  • Pay the fee (£20 per artwork submitted or £14 per work for artists aged 35 or under).
  • Upload images of work [Note: Images must be in JPEG format and under 5MB]
  • Submit your entry ONLINE prior to the deadline (Friday 2nd February 2024, 12 noon).
  • Wait to be notified of your success in being selected
  • Deliver your unwrapped work to the Mall Galleries as per instructions which will be sent to you

International Exhibitors

All work must be for sale - which means all International Artists from outside the UK need to register for VAT - because that's a UK requirement re work for sale.

Please check with
  • HM Revenue and Customs: https://www.gov.uk
  • (Also see VAT for Artists on my Art Business Info website)
Artists sending work from abroad should use a picture carrier.

Summary of Key Dates for Artists submitting an Open Entry


These are the key dates for all those wishing to submit work to this open exhibition. More details below.
  • Submissions close: Upload images of work at mallgalleries22.oess1.uk  by 2PM ON Friday 23 January 2026 [Note: Images must be in JPEG format and under 5MB]
  • Notification of selection: Friday 6 February, 12 noon [Log in to see if your work has been pre-selected]
  • Receiving Day (if selected): Saturday 14 March, 10am to 5pm
    • Works should be delivered UNWRAPPED with the relevant form and labels, which are downloadable upon notification of selection.
  • Private View (invite only): Tuesday 24 March, 5pm to 9pm, official opening at 6:30pm
  • Exhibition opens: Wednesday 25 March, 10am to 5pm*
    • *Closed on Easter Sunday 5 April and Easter Monday 6 April
    • Exhibition closes: Saturday 11 April, 5pm
    • Collection of unsold work: Thursday 16 April, 10am to 5pm

More about the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour

The RI started as a group, called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, who broke away from the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) in 1807. The latter had broken away from the Royal Academy of Arts due to its failure to consider watercolour painting as a serious medium.

The RI, under whatever name, has always shown the work of non-members alongside that of members. Which means that artwork to be hung alongside work by members needs to be a very good standard!

Website - http://royalinstituteofpaintersinwatercolours.org/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RIwatercolours/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/royal_institute_watercolours/

ARCHIVE: RI Annual Exhibition 2007-2023


2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
 RI Annual Exhibition 2017 - Candidates and Awards
2016
2015
2014
  • Video: Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours - Annual Exhibition 11 Apr 2014 - The purpose of this video isn't to give you an in-depth view of all the paintings so much as to give you: an idea of the overall size of the exhibition and a notion of how big the paintings are that get selected via the open entry a view of the paintings that were selected this year
2013
2012
 Review: 199th Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (April 2011) - highlights the prizewinners
2010
2008
2007



Posted by Making A Mark on Monday, January 19, 2026
Categories , , , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AGAIN because of too much spam.
My blog posts are always posted to my Making A Mark Facebook Page and you can comment there if you wish.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)