Call for Entries: Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026

The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 is now OPEN for entries

• from artists and drawing practitioners 
• from anywhere in the world
• for a chance to be of the UK’s leading open exhibition dedicated to drawing,
• with a new first prize of £15,000.

This is one way of reading what you need to do ALL ON ONE PAGE!

You are

• you are invited to submit up to three drawings 
• Deadline for entries: Stage 1 digital submissions online must be completed by Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 5pm.

Things you need to know 

(the) exhibition has an established reputation for its commitment to championing excellence and promoting and celebrating current drawing practice in the UK.

The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize

....offering artists the opportunity to showcase their drawings in the UK’s leading open exhibition dedicated to contemporary drawing,

The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize exhibition and awards are supported by the Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust.

It's a prize which has had many names in its time - see the end for more about its background.

The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 Exhibition

The selected drawings will be included in a high-profile exhibition held as follows

• VENUE:  Buoy Store, Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JY from Thursday 
• DATES: 17 September – Sunday 4 October 2026 
• TIME: open daily from 11am to 6pm.

It will also tour to various venues in the UK until 2027.

• The annual open exhibition is led by its Director, artist, curator and educator, Professor Anita Taylor who has held various posts in art education. 
• The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated publication and a programme of educational and engagement activities, including a symposium at Trinity Buoy Wharf.

View of the exhibition in 2024

The Prizes

In 2026, there will be a new prize structure and awards with a total value of £18,000:

• Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 - £15,000 - open to all artists with drawings shortlisted for the prize
• Trinity Buoy Wharf Student Award - £2,000 - All students registered on a degree programme in the Academic Year 2025/26 who submit an entry
• Three Boroughs Award - £1,000 - open to all those living and/or working in the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham and Greenwich boroughs 

How to Enter

Review: The 6th John Ruskin Prize

Yesterday I went to the exhibition for The 6th John Ruskin Prize at Trinity Buoy Wharf - and I was VERY impressed! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND paying this a visit if you like artwork which has been made by thoughtful artists who make you think!

Below you can find out about:

• what is the John Ruskin Prize
• why it's worth a visit 
• how to see it
• who won the prizes on offer
• names of artists shortlisted for the exhibition

What is the John Ruskin Prize? (In a nutshell)

Selected from over 4000 entries, the final shortlist of 78 pieces from 68 artists, makers and innovators have been given a platform for the unseen to be seen and the unspoken to be heard. 

The John Ruskin Prize:

• is a multi-disciplinary biennial art prize in the UK
• was inaugurated in 2012 by The Guild of St. George and visual literacy charity, The Big Draw. 
• Entry is eligible for all artists, designers and makers - especially those whose artwork defies easy categorisation
• encourages entries in a wide array of media
• requires all submissions to respond to the theme of the biennial exhibition
• The judging panel consisted of Narinder Sagoo MBE, Cornelia Parker CBE RA, Bob and Roberta Smith RA, Gary Hill, Julian Stair OBE, Dr Rachel Dickinson and Jane Barnes.
• Organised and delivered by The Big Draw

The prize aims to reflect a central thread of John Ruskin’s thought; as a writer and artist - and as an impassioned critic, not only of art but of society and life - he believed that art has the power to reveal and celebrate universal truths, and that a good artist and maker in any medium should always be guided by that search.

The Prize used to hold an exhibition every other year - but the pandemic made sure that didn't happen so this is the first one since 2019.

These are links to the past exhibitions on The John Ruskin Prize website

• 2012 (1st) A New Look at Nature - https://www.ruskinprize.co.uk/the-1st-john-ruskin-prize
• 2014 (2nd) Recording Britain Now - https://www.ruskinprize.co.uk/the-2nd-john-ruskin-prize
• 2016 (3rd) Recording Britain Now (Society) - https://www.ruskinprize.co.uk/the-3rd-john-ruskin-prize
• 2017 (4th) Master of all Trades - https://www.ruskinprize.co.uk/the-4th-john-ruskin-prize
• 2019 (5th) Agent of Change - https://www.ruskinprize.co.uk/the-5th-john-ruskin-prize - this attracted over 1260 entries / 3000 artworks.

If after reading this review and/or visiting the exhibition you're interested in entering the next one - in 2025 for an exhibition in 2026 - you may like to read the Submission Guidelines & FAQS for the 6th Exhibition

The 6th John Ruskin Exhibition

In summary:

• Artists were invited to respond to the theme for the 6th John Ruskin Prize Exhibition in 2024, Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken. This could be explored and interpreted in many different ways. 
• Artwork for the 2024 Exhibition was selected from over 4000 entries from UK and international artists. You can see the Judges here.
• The final  shortlisted artworks of 78 pieces from 68 artists, makers and innovators can be seen at The Buoy Store, Trinity Buoy Wharf, until February 17th (more details below)

Entries were welcomed from artists, designers, architects and makers, at all stages of their careers. For the first time, entries were open to 

• the medium of photography 
• creatives across the globe (but only in respect of digital entries).

Why this exhibition is worth a visit

The 2024 John Ruskin Theme - Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken

The theme for the 6th John Ruskin Prize

One of the requirements of this exhibition is that ALL artworks must respond to the set theme. 

WHAT DO I NEED TO SUBMIT FOR THE JOHN RUSKIN PRIZE? 

Make sure your work responds to the theme, Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken? Submission Guidelines and FAQs

The exhibition theme is a major characteristic of The John Ruskin Prize. 

• It's very much NOT just a "send us your artwork" exhibition. 
• Hence, by definition, it appeals to a certain type of artist who has no problem creating artwork based on a concept.

It also means that the exhibition can include artwork which comment on current or recent topical issues.

The standard of artwork in this exhibition is unusual. In terms of thoughtfulness, imagination and creativity, in my opinion, it far exceeds artwork typically seen in most open art exhibitions.