Royal Society of Marine Artists
Submit artwork inspired by the sea and marine environment for consideration in the RSMA Annual Exhibition 2026, with the chance to win prizes and awards worth over £5,000.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- annual cycle, check dates
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $5,000
- Location
- Mall Galleries, London
- Exhibition window
- Sep 16, 2026 → Sep 26, 2026
- Applicants notified
- Aug 7, 2026
About
About the Call
The Royal Society of Marine Artists invites submissions of art inspired by the sea and marine environment, including harbours and shorelines, traditional craft and contemporary shipping, creeks, beaches, wildlife—anything that involves tidal water. The RSMA Annual Exhibition is widely recognised as a showcase for the best in contemporary marine art, with selected work hung alongside the work of members.
Key Dates
- Submissions open: Monday 13 April 2026, 12 noon
- Submissions close: Friday 24 July 2026, 12 noon
- Notification of selection: Friday 7 August 2026, 12 noon
- Receiving Day (if selected): Saturday 5 September 2026, 10am to 5pm
- Exhibition opens: Wednesday 16 September 2026, 10am to 5pm daily
- Private View (invite only): Wednesday 16 September 2026, 5pm to 8:30pm
- Exhibition closes: Saturday 26 September 2026, 5pm
- Collection of unsold work: Thursday 1 October 2026, 10am to 5pm
Prizes & Awards
- The Baltic Exchange Award: £2,000 for an outstanding work related to the maritime industry
- The Charles Pears Award: £500 for an outstanding work by a non-member
- Murray's Commercial Fishing Award: £500 first prize, £100 second prize
- Daler-Rowney Prize: £500 worth of art materials for a work inspired by where the sea meets the land
- The Kenneth Denton Award: £500 for a work on the theme 'The Sea in all its Moods'
- Robert Abraham Memorial Prize: £500 for the best oil painting by a full RSMA member
- The RSMA New Generation Award: £500, open to artists 35 or under
- The Sonia Robinson Award for the Best Small Painting: £400 for a work no more than 30 cm along its longest dimension
- The Topbond Marine Award: £250 for works depicting marine engineering or construction in UK waters
- Winsor & Newton Prize: £250 worth of art materials
- Mall Galleries/FBA Award: Ten free submissions to FBA exhibitions (worth up to £220)
- The Painters Online Award: Feature in The Artist magazine
- The Classic Boat Prize: Year's subscription to Classic Boat magazine and profile feature
Eligibility
Open to all artists. Non-members are eligible for specific prizes including The Charles Pears Award. Artists aged 35 or under at the close of submissions are eligible for The RSMA New Generation Award. Full RSMA members are eligible for the Robert Abraham Memorial Prize.
How to Submit
- Upload image/s in JPEG or PNG format, under 5MB each
- One image per submission showing the complete work must be submitted
- Optional: two additional images per work showing details
- Required information: title, medium, size (cm), year of completion, price per work
- Optional: artwork description
Exhibition Details
- Receiving Day: Saturday 5 September 2026
- Exhibition venue: Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD
- Works should be delivered unwrapped with relevant form and labels
About the RSMA
The Royal Society of Marine Artists is a network of exhibiting artists dating back to 1939 when the Society was founded.
- Award
- Prizes and awards worth over £5,000, including: The Baltic Exchange Award (£2,000), The Charles Pears Award (£500), Daler-Rowney Prize (£500 art materials), The Kenneth Denton Award (£500), Robert Abraham Memorial Prize (£500), The RSMA New Generation Award (£500), The Sonia Robinson Award (£400), The Topbond Marine Award (£250), Winsor & Newton Prize (£250 art materials), Murray's Commercial Fishing Award (£500 first, £100 second), Mall Galleries/FBA Award (ten free submissions worth up to £220), plus magazine features and subscriptions.
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
- Theme
- Work inspired by the sea and marine environment, including harbours and shorelines, traditional craft and contemporary shipping, creeks, beaches, and wildlife—anything involving tidal water.
- Eligibility
- Open to artists worldwide; non-members, members, and artists 35 or under all eligible for various prizes.
- Audience
- Open to all artists; non-members eligible; artists 35 or under eligible for New Generation Award.
- Format
- Ship your work in
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.