We would like to thank all of our sponsors for 2026 

Please see list below.

Princess Michael of Kent Award - A signed certificate 
President and Vice Presidents’ Award - A signed certificate

Special Non-Members Award - Free Entry the following Year
The Tom Urwin Special Fine Art Award - £2000 
Karin Walker Young Artist Award - 2 x £500 & £250 best student

The Contemporary Figurative Painting Award - £500 

Helen Sinclair Sculpture Award - £500
The Circles of Art Award £1000 & Feature in their Magazine (Artists under 30)

The Catto Gallery Award £500 and an exhibiting opportunity

The Artist Editor’s Choice Award, Feature in The Artist magazine

The Christopher Seow Student Award £300 & £250 runner-up prize

The SWA Members' Award £250

Derwent Special Fine Art Award   £200 & £100 commendation (vouchers)​

Ohuhu Award £250 Ohuhu Gift Card

Parker Harris Award  One year’s subscription to The Art Ladder mentoring

programme, worth £325

Cass Art Award £250 Cass Art E-Gift Card

Dave Clay Award£250 awarded for body of work

Rosemary & Co Award £100 (Brushes voucher)

Visitor's Choice Award £50

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Exhibition Demonstrations

During the Exhibition we have demonstrations by some of our talented members artists on the following day.  

Thursday AM - Ginny Page     How to draw and paint realistic water droplets (using various mediums)

Using inspiration from the highly skilled Dutch and Flemish floral painters of the 17th century, Ginny will be showing you how to draw and paint realistic water drops using simple instructions using few materials.

You are invited to try your hand at drawing or painting the illusion of a water drop using reference photos. Working on tinted paper or prepared panels using both graphite and white pencil, gouache, and oil paint.

Take a visit to the National Gallery (Room 28 Level 2) and gather inspiration from amongst others, Jan Van Huysum, Rachel Ruysch and Ambrosius Bosschaert to see their masterful rendering of water droplets!

Thursday PM - Kayla Marell    Painting the Bathroom

How to paint porcelain, keeping whites vibrant and bringing a little magic into everything — even a sink.

Friday AM - Caroline de Peyrecave     Empowering Her: Empowering US

Caroline de Peyrecave presents a live conversation on the latest works from her Empowering Her collection,
followed by Feeling Seen, a portrait-based workshop exploring identity and connection. Working in pairs,
participants use a simple drawing process to move beyond skill and focus on presence, observation and what it
means to feel seen. To prepare  for this workshop we will need to know numbers, so we are asking those attending to register.  To Register for this Event please click here.

Friday PM - Sera Knight   Quick loose watercolours

A series of small, spontaneous watercolour studies painted in around half an hour or less. Moving between dancers, flowers, street scenes, musicians and landscapes, these works focus on instinct rather than perfection. They’re about energy, movement and the freedom of letting the brush lead. Not masterpieces in the traditional sense, but lively snapshots that celebrate the joy of painting without overthinking.

Friday PM - Cathy Read    Expressive Architecture - Painting Foundations with a Flourish

Clean white lines define architectural details against the organic beauty of watercolour paint set free. Witness the process of structural reality being transformed into expressive art. 

Cathy Read’s demonstration reveals how she translates the essence of familiar buildings, bridges, and urban landscapes into dynamic paintings using watercolour, acrylic ink, and masking fluid techniques. A simple image evolves, using layers of transparent colour and texture. The masking fluid preserves crucial architectural details yet allowing paint to pool, bleed, and create atmospheric effects. 

Balance is captured by disciplined architectural forms against the unpredictable magic of mixed media. Read will share her unique process while working on multiple images to reveal paintings that honour both the structure and spirit of the built environment.

Saturday AM - Justine Lois Thorpe    Approach to Abstraction

How to combine land and seascapes in an abstract form. Exploring using oils and other mediums in new way. 

Saturday PM - Lucy Marks - Loose Landscapes in Oils – Demonstration

Join Lucy Marks for a fun approach to painting loose, expressive landscapes in oils. Working from a photo, she will bring her plein air process into the studio, sharing tips on capturing light, atmosphere, and movement with confident, economical brushwork. A practical and energetic insight into painting with freedom.

Saturday PM - Gail Reid   Sharing a simple approach for capturing a quick likeness, and the essence of a sitter, using the most basic materials.

Gail will introduce her materials, followed by a series of 20 minute portrait sketches from life, explaining the process throughout. 

There will be a small number of slots for sitters with the option of the portraits being available to take away at the end of the day. An optional donation to this year's charity would be very welcome.