Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2025

About the Open Call

The Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) seeks submissions of art inspired by the sea and marine environment, including harbours and shorelines, traditional craft and contemporary shipping, creeks, beaches, and wildlife. This annual exhibition is a prominent showcase for contemporary marine art, featuring selected open entry works alongside those by RSMA members. The exhibition includes numerous prizes and awards totaling over £5,000, such as The Baltic Exchange Award (£2,000), The Murray's Commercial Fishing Award (£500), The Charles Pears Award (£500), The Kenneth Denton Award (£500), Robert Abraham Memorial Prize (£500), The RSMA Award for the Best Small Painting (£300), The RSMA New Generation Award (£250 for artists aged 35 or under), The Topbond Marine Award (£250), The Winsor & Newton Prize (£250 art materials), The Marine Quarterly “Sea from Seaward” Prize (£100 and potential cover feature), The Artist Magazine Award (interview and feature), and The Classic Boat Prize (subscription and profile feature).

What is Offered

Exhibition opportunity at Mall Galleries alongside Royal Society of Marine Artists members. Numerous prizes and awards totaling over £5,000, including monetary prizes, art materials, magazine features, and publication covers. Opportunity for art sales (subject to 45% +VAT commission).

Requirements

Open to artists aged 18 or over from anywhere in the world. Artists may submit a maximum of six original works, with up to four works being selected. Works should be new and not previously exhibited, and no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension. Subject matter must be marine in nature, specifically relating to tidal waters (non-tidal rivers, lakes are not permissible). Acceptable media include oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints (excluding photography), mixed media, textiles, drawings, pastels, or sculpture. Limited editions not exceeding fifty are allowed. Works must be for sale, with a minimum price of £600 (or £325 for framed prints, £200 for unframed prints). The submitted price must include a 45% +VAT commission. Framing requirements: substantial frames/stretchers, plain/simple framing, no metal frames, unprotected glass edges, or clip frames. All fittings and fixings must be removed from the back of frames. International artists are responsible for registering and accounting for UK VAT if their work is selected and sold.

How to Apply

Artists must submit their work online via the Open Exhibition Submission System (OESS) between Wednesday 16 April 2025 and Friday 25 July 2025. Images should be in JPEG or PNG format and under 5MB. One complete work image is required, with two optional detail images. Notification of selection will be on Friday 8 August 2025. Selected works must be delivered unwrapped with relevant forms and labels to Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD, on Saturday 6 September 2025, between 10am and 5pm. Artists are responsible for delivery and collection costs.