How To Submit
The RI Annual Exhibition uses a single-stage online selection process through the Open Exhibition Submission System (OESS).
When submissions open:
• Register or log in to the Open Exhibition Submission System (OESS)
• Upload images of your work in JPEG or PNG format
• Submit title, medium, dimensions, year of completion and price information
• Optional additional detail images and artwork descriptions may also be included
• Selection is made from digital submissions
• Selected works are then delivered to Mall Galleries, London for the exhibition
The judges make their decisions from submitted images, so artists are encouraged to ensure photographs accurately represent their work.
Prizes And Awards
The RI Annual Exhibition offers a wide range of prizes and awards recognising excellence in watercolour and water-based media, including financial awards, art materials, publication opportunities and professional development support.
There are many prizes and awards available to win:
NEW The Winsor & Newton Award £3,000 cash award, £1,500 of materials, plus a two-day residency valued at £1,000
NEW The Winsor & Newton Materials Prize £1,500 worth of materials
NEW The Winsor & Newton Emerging Artist Award £500 of materials, plus a one-day immersion at the sponsor's London Head Office to include an archive tour, the opportunity to explore materials research, and a paint-making experience with a specialist chemist
NEW The YUPO Co-creator Prize £500 awarded at the judges’ discretion to an outstanding work incorporating a YUPO product. The prize is open to RI members and non-members.
The Baohong Artists' Watercolour Paper Prizes Two prizes of £250 worth of watercolour paper, awarded to a member and non-member for excellence
The Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle Prize Two financial prizes of £250 each – one for a member and one for a non-member – for works created wholly or partially using watercolour pencil. Each winner will also receive a set of Caran d'Ache watercolour pencils. (Please ensure you specify your media clearly when entering)
The Cass Art Colour Award £200 of art supplies from Cass Art, awarded to a work demonstrating innovative use of colour
The Chaoshan Watercolour Award £250 for the best classically inspired watercolour
The David Barker Award Two prizes of £1,000 each – one for an RI member and one for a non-member. The prizes will be awarded to works created from observed experience, with the condition that recipients commit to using the award to further their artistic development and education by undertaking residencies or courses of their choice.
The Debra Manifold RI Memorial Award Presented by the Linda Blackstone Gallery, an award for the most innovative work in the exhibition
The Dry Red Press Award The winning work will be published as a greeting card in the Dry Red Press 'Prize Winners' range, with royalties from the sale of the cards going to the artist
The Escoda Barcelona Award A set of Escoda's finest brushes for an outstanding landscape painting
The Frank Herring Easel Award An easel presented by Frank Herring & Sons for an outstanding work
The James Fletcher-Watson RI Award £500 for the best use of watercolour in the exhibition
The John Purcell Paper Prize Paper to the value of £100, awarded by John Purcell Paper
The Michael Harding Award A varied selection of Michael Harding watercolour sets
The President’s Choice Award An award of £750
The RI Young Artist Award sponsored by Daler-Rowney £1,000 and art materials to the value of £1,000 RRP to be awarded to an artist aged between 18 and 25
The Richard Plincke RI Prize for Colour An award of £250 for creative use of colour
The Schmincke Prize A Horadam Aquarell Artists’ Watercolours set to an outstanding exhibitor
Subject to final confirmation.
RI Annual Exhibition Call For Entries
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Annual Exhibition celebrates the very best in contemporary watercolour and water-based media. Bringing together works by both members and non-members, the exhibition showcases a broad range of approaches — from traditional techniques to innovative and experimental practices.
Held annually at Mall Galleries, London, the exhibition is one of the largest and most significant showcases of contemporary watercolour painting, presenting over 400 works by artists from the UK and around the world.
Submissions are currently closed.
Information for the next exhibition, including key dates, selectors and entry details, will be announced here when the next open call launches.
