Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Call 2027

The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) invites artists from anywhere in the world to submit water-based paintings for its 215th Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries, London, in spring 2027. Over £15,000 in prizes and awards is on offer, led by the Winsor & Newton Award: £3,000 in cash, £1,500 of materials and a two-day residency. Submissions close on 22 January 2027 at 2pm.

Founded in 1831, the RI is one of the oldest watercolour societies in the world, and its annual exhibition is a major event for water-based painting in the UK. Members and selected non-members exhibit together, and many of the prizes are open to non-members.

The call is broader than traditional watercolour. Gouache, ink, acrylic and watercolour pencil are all accepted; only water-soluble oils are excluded.

Who Can Apply to the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Open Call?

Any artist aged 18 or over can enter, from anywhere in the world. Works must have been completed within the last three years.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Watercolour and gouache painters
• Artists working in ink or water-based acrylic
• Illustrators with a painting practice
• Young artists aged 18–25, who have their own award

What Can You Submit?

You can enter up to six works, and up to four can be selected. Accepted media are watercolour and other water-soluble media, including watercolour pencil, acrylic, ink and gouache. State the support (paper, board) for each work.

Size

• Maximum 240cm high and 150cm wide, including the frame

Application Fees

• Standard: £22 per work
• Aged 35 or under: £14.50 per work

The fee is non-refundable and includes free admission to the exhibition.

What Do Selected Artists Receive?

• Exhibition: a place in the RI Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries
• Winsor & Newton Award: £3,000, £1,500 of materials and a two-day residency
• David Barker Award: two prizes of £1,000 (one member, one non-member)
• RI Young Artist Award (ages 18–25): £1,000 plus £1,000 of materials
• President's Choice Award: £750
• Winsor & Newton Emerging Artist Award: £500 of materials and a one-day immersion
• Further prizes in cash, paper and materials, all listed on the official page and subject to final confirmation

Submission Requirements

Entries are made online through the Mall Galleries Open Exhibition Submission System. For each work you need:

• One image of the complete work (JPEG or PNG, under 5MB), plus up to two details
• Title, medium, size in cm, year completed and price

Works are selected from images; selected works are then delivered to Mall Galleries.

When Will Applicants Be Notified?

Results appear in the online system on 5 February 2027 at 12 noon. Selected works are delivered on 13 March 2027.

Why Enter the RI Exhibition?

For watercolour painters, the RI exhibition is one of the few large shows in London dedicated to the medium. Selected non-members hang alongside elected members, sales are handled by Mall Galleries, and the prize list is unusually long for a society show. Artists who show regularly can also be invited to become associates and later members of the Institute.

Things to Consider

• Photograph without glare. Shoot before framing, in soft daylight, so the colours read accurately.
• Show range within the medium. Selectors respond to confident handling of water, whatever the subject.
• Check the size limit. 240 × 150cm includes the frame.
• Use the under-35 rate if you qualify; the Young Artist Award is for ages 18–25.
• Plan delivery. Artists outside the UK need a shipping plan or agent for March.

Apply to the Open Call

Interested in applying?

Apply to the RI Open Call 2027

For the full terms, prize list and submission system, visit the official Mall Galleries website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 15, 2026