Pastel Society

The Pastel Society seeks to promote the use of pastel and all dry media

PS Logo jpg

The Pastel Society seeks to promote the use of pastel and all dry media, to embrace their immediacy and to celebrate their creative potential within the contemporary art world. Our members are leading artists whose skilled achievements are found in many art collections.

Richard Rees - President

The Pastel Society was founded in 1898 and its first exhibition was held in the Royal Institute in Piccadilly. Founder members and early exhibitors included Brangwyn, Degas, Rodin, Rothenstein, Whistler and G.F. Watts. There are currently over 50 members who are all professional artists living and working in this country and overseas.

The Society pursues its aims through education and example. It is currently responsible for exhibitions, tutorial workshops, demonstrations and lectures.

Call for Entries

Artists are invited to submit work for exhibition alongside members of the Pastel Society at their Annual Exhibition.

Several prizes and awards are available to win.

Prizes & Awards

The Tom Coates Memorial Prize

Winners

2024: Curtis Holder, The Puppet Maker

The Yoshimoto Prize

Winners

2024: Rebecca de Mendonca, Sunlight and Steam

2023: Julie Lawrence, Shadow Crossing

2022: Georgina Potter, Ivy Clad Oak Trees

2021: Tom Hudson-Davies, Self Isolation

The President's Prize

Winners

2024: Thomas Gale, Crystal Back Alley

The Bob Last Prize

Winners

2024: Alex Ayliffe, Coastal I

2023: Jaana Fowler PS, Still Life with Green Grapes

The Anthony J Lester Art Critic Award

Winners

2024: Skye Seipp, Rokuyo

2023: Rebecca de Mendonca, Through the Haze

2022: Curtis Holder, The Talk

2020: Anna Pinkster, Six Bathers, Dorset IV

Caran d'Ache Award

Winners

2024: Ian Rawling PS, Balancing Act Red and Yellow

2023: Olivia Dunn, Under My Wing

2022: Tony Allain PS RSMA, The Ripples on Loch Earm

2021: Margaret Glass PS, Incoming Tide

2020: Tony Allain PS, Otago Sheep Station

2019: Tom Coates RP PPPS Hon RBA PPNEAC RWS, Stables at Keeneland, Kentucky

2018: David Brammeld PS RBA, Autumn Reflections

2017: Jenny Halstead PS, Banana Bunch

2016: Roland Corbin, Babak

2015: Michael Norman PS, Dusk at Turf Locks

2014: Sarah Bee PS, Warm Rocks and Cool Water at Haytor Quarry, Dartmoor

2013: Melodie Cook, Red Monocle

Frank Herring Award

Winners

2024: Louise Diggle PS, Snow - Hyde Park, Early Morning Light

2023: Margaret Glass PS, By the Landing Stage

2022: Curtis Holder, The Talk

2021: Rebecca Hardaker, An Analogue State of Joy

2020: Lyn Gray, Jane

2019: Sophie Amauger, The Plunge

2018: Henry Jabbour, Head

2017: Jaana Fowler, Blue Bottle

2016: Jan Munro, White Stool and Flour Pot

2015: Barry Freeman, Dusk – Spa Hill

2014: Bess Avery PS, Garden I

2013: John Tookey PS, Wells Harbour

Henri Roche Award

Winners

2024: Sandy Fisher, Plainsong 

2023: Lucille Clerc, Moving Windows - Forest 1

2022: Anne Magill

2021: Maximillion Baccanello, Portrait of Rania

2020: Mark Cazalet, Night Watch 3

2019: Halla Shafey, Red Sea

2018: Martin Goold, Mountain Town

2017: Melodie Cook, Samuel Froggatt with Peonies

2016: Patricia Clements, Still Life with Dragons

2015: Matthew Draper PS, Sublime Adventure

2014: Bess Avery PS, Garden

2013: Robin Warnes PS, Nocturne

Mamut Award

Winners

2024: Halla Shafey PS, Garden of England 1

2023: Sarah Bee PS, Winter Sun by the Dart

2022: Norma Stephenson PS, Mr Price's Old Farm Shed

Schmincke Award

Winners

2024: Julie Cross, Klimtesque, Autumn

2023: Ian Rawling PS, Ovaltine Van

2022: John Threlfall SWLA, Winter Stubble

2021: Christine Watson, Fez Scaffolding III

2020: Daniel Munday, Vacant

2019: Henry Jabbour, A Red Head

2018: Malcolm Taylor PS, Bell Bottom Blues

2017: Tony Allain PS, Cape Cod

2016: Linda Penny, Reflection 8

2015: Christine Watson, Purple Shutter

2013: Dave West, Dusk, Cityscape

UART Award

Winners

2024: Roger Dellar PS RI ROI ARSMA, Portugese Bar

Unison Member Award

Winners

2024: Sarah Bee PS, Cool Coombe Lane

2023: Angela A'Court PS, Belonging II

2022: Felicity House PS, Japanese Anemones in a David Garland Jug

2021: Susan Relph PS, Deirdre

2020: Jill Jeffrey PS

2019: Jill Jeffrey PS, Way Back from Strumble

2018: Sarah Bee PS, Aged Oak at West Dean

Unison Non-member Award

Winners

2024: Natalia Libman, Summer II

2023: Kaija Bulbrook, Thought Lines

2022: Hero Johnson, Matthew

2021: Anne Magill, September

2020: Alison Berrett, Seascapes of the Soul - Unleashed

2019: Katrina Wallis-King, Day's End at Priddy

2018: Karen Stone, Crows with Yellow Square

2017: Jennifer Thorpe, Luminosity

2016: Charlie Schaffer, Thomas

2015: Jan Munro, Red Chair and Apples

2014: Janette Summerfield, This Way

2013: Liz Balkwill, Arrangement in Blue & White

Unison Young Artist Award

Winners

2024: Alice Gompels, One Room

2023: Ginny Elston, Archaeological Museum Garden, Piano de Sorrento III 

2022: Tanya Avchinnikova, Crosby Beach, Hiding in the Dunes

2021: Caitlin Heslop, St Agnes II

2020: Toni Frostick, Wheels of the Roving Cafe

2019: Oliver Jones, Gold Leaf Mask II

2018: Maximillion Baccanello, Ornithomancy

2017: Rachel Solani, Mvulana (Boy)

2016: Janine Baldwin, Midwinter Fire

West Design Award

Winners

2024: Tanya Avchinnikova

2023: David Hunt, Earth and Air

2022: Mantas Poderys, Shota 

2021: Dave Roberts, Tree at Dusk

2020: Dominique Houard, Les Metres du Monde

2019: Rosmery Mamani, A Little Humanity

2018: Ian Rawling, Cheese on Toast

2017: Kevin Line, Bowed to the Wheel

2016: Patrick Moffat, The High Window

2015: Melodie Cook, Nancy Trotter Landry and Bobby

2014: Michele Illing, Big Baby

2013: Ken Paine PS, Borton E. Moore

The Pastel Society Visitors' Choice Award

Winners

2024: Maria Kaleta, Sunday Afternoon at St. Paul's Cathedral

2023: Rebecca de Mendonca, Through the Haze

2021: Tony Allain PS ARSMA, Bennybeg Farm, Crieff

2020: Luis Morris ROI, Mia 3

The Artist Magazine Award

Winners

2024: Andrew Barrowman PS, Trenwheal Hedgerow; Forgotten Gate; Morning Snow, Nine Maidens, Cornwall

2023: Fiona Carvell, Wonder

2022: Keith Bennett PS, Mousehole

2021: Janine Baldwin PS, 'Furrowed' and 'Frozen Ground'

2020: Katrina Wallis-King, Woodland Waters, Worthy Combe

2019: Richard Rees PS, Canary Wharf at Night

2018: Melodie Cook PS, Sam at 19

2017: David Brammeld RBA, Autumn Gold; Lonely Tree (Maer Hills); On the Downs - Winter

2016: Matthew Draper PS, A View from St Paul's

2015: Jan Munro, Red Chair and Apples

2014: Tony Allain

2013: Norma Stephenson PS

The Pastel Society Catalogue Award: First Prize

Winners

2024: Barry Lowenhoff, Waterfall III, Inagh Valley

2023: Paul Murray, Arrangement on Black Table

2022: Caitlin Heslop, By Your Side

2021: Anne Magill, September

2020: Susie Prangnell, Escapade

2019: Oliver Jones, Gold Leaf Mask II

2018: Jocelyn Rossiter, Best Friends Forever

2017: Steven King, The Co-Pilot

2016: Susan Brooke, Urban Angel II

2015: Jaana Fowler, Late Night Still Life

2014: Tony Allain, The Colours of Venice

2013: Halla Shafey, Girl from the South of Egypt

The Pastel Society Catalogue Award: Second Prize

Winners

2024: Alex Ayliffe, Coastal I

2023: Les Heywood, Between Showers Derbyshire Village

2022: Maria Kaleta, Magical Covent Garden, London

2021: Janine Shute, Pink Tape Measure

2020: Halla Shafey, Girl Bride

2019: Keith Bennett, Street Kids: Manila

2018: Minty Sainsbury, Bologna Cathedral Facade

2017: Robert Strange, Squashed Dice

2016: Melodie Cook, Tweedy in Centaur Costume

2015: Amanda Palmer, Ascension

2014: Carole Moore, Sardines in a Terracotta Bowl

2013: Simon Page, Fading of the Light

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