Royal Society of Marine Artists
Widely recognised for...
showcasing Britain's finest contemporary marine art, the Royal Society of Marine Artists was founded in 1939 with this in mind.
The sea, a source of inspiration to artists for centuries, constant yet ever changing. It has the power to evoke varied responses expressed in many individual ways. Throughout history the sea has represented a highway for exploration and trade, also the arena for conflict, adventure and romance. The challenges confronting Marine Artists are infinite, the motivation compelling and obsessive.
Founded in 1939 as the Society of Marine Artists, the Society was granted its royal status in 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the Royal Society of Marine Artists.
The RSMA Annual Exhibition is open to non-members and the Society welcomes entries from all artists interested in celebrating some aspect of the sea and tidal waters. The common theme is the sea and tidal waters although, within that remit, work is wide and varied. Subjects range from deep water shipping to coastal scenes, competitive sailing to quiet harbours, marine wildlife to still life. The work is representational in the broadest sense and includes a vast range of media.
The Society has links with the maritime world, including the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Navy, the RNLI, sail training organisations and publishing.
Video: RSMA Open Call and Exhibition
Call for Entries
Artists are invited to submit work for exhibition alongside members of the Royal Society of Marine Artists at the RSMA Annual Exhibition.
Several prizes and awards are available to win.
Prizes & Awards
The Artist Magazine Award
Winners
2024: Ann Flynn, View from Hawk Cliff, Killiney
2023: Nick Grove ARSMA, Bright Light, Burnham Overy Staithe
2022: Tom Marsh ARSMA AROI
2021: Lucy Clayton, Spidercrab No. 9
2020: Gareth Brown RSMA, Sea Flora V
2019: Brian Fleming ARSMA
2018: Pete Nance
2017: Natalia Avdeeva ROI
2016: James Bartholomew RSMA
2015: Jamel Akib, Pull 2
2014: Douglas Gray RSMA, Cromer Point
BAE Systems Naval Ships Award
Winners
2024: Tony Williams RSMA, Leaving the Amber Pacific
2023: Richard Dack RSMA, The Shipwright
2022: Geoff Hunt PPRSMA, Stormy End to the Day Shift, BAE Govan
Baltic Exchange Award
Winners
2024: Geoffrey Huband VPRSMA, Scillonian III, The End of the Voyage
2023: Jenny Aitken ARSMA, Sundown from Harwich Quay
2022: John Lines RSMA, Early Start
2021: William Carney ROI, Britannia, Pool of London
2020: John Walsom ARSMA ROI, Mylor Yacht Harbour, Low Tide
2019: Matthew Draper PS, Nocturne with a Polluted Light (Part VI)
2018: David Atkins, The Sea at Portland Bill
The Charles Pears Award
Winners
2024: Jiaxuan Yi, Castle on a Cloud
2023: Alison Holt, Between the Rock Pools
2022: Terry Lord, Evening Light
2021: Frances Bell RP, Howick
2020: Srirangam Mohankumar, Reflections, Pin Mill
2019: Tony Allain PS, Low Water, Porthleven
2018: Pete Nance, Reflections, Polperro Harbour
2017: David Hawthorne, Low Tide
2016: Matthew Draper PS, Nocturne with Reflections, Falmouth Harbour
2015: Tony Williams, Ship with Moon
2014: Jamel Akib, Pull
2013: Deborah Walker RI, North Easterly; Farne Islands
The Classic Boat Award
Winners
2024: Peter Wood, Boatbuilder at Barton
2023: Clare Bowen, Falmouth Classics II
2022: Srirangam Mohankumar, Sailing Midday
2021: J F Morgan RSMA, A Freshening Wind - Victorian Yachts
2020: Kevin Clarkson, A Breeze on the Blackwater
2019: Tim Hall RSMA, Butterfly, Rose of Argyll, Mousehole
2018: Maarten Platje, Racing in the Solent 1926
2017: J F Morgan RSMA
2016: Geoff Hunt PPRSMA
2015: Sheena Bevis-White, Juno
2014: Brian J Jones, Lulworth, Mariquita and Moonbeam
2013: Brian J Jones, Shamrock Powering to Windward
The Kenneth Denton Award
Winners
2024: Jenny Aitken RSMA, On the Edge of the World
2023: John Stillman RSMA, Grey Day, Cowes, Isle of Wight
2022: Martin Swan RSMA, The Foredeck of Mariette
2021: Mark Myers PPRSMA, The "Billy Ruffian" Running in a Blow
2020: James Bartholomew RSMA, Sun on the Solent
2019: Deborah Walker RSMA RI, Sunlight and Shadows
2018: James Bartholomew RSMA, Atlantic Blue 4
The Marine Quarterly "Sea from Seaward" Prize
Winners
2024: Srirangam Mohankumar ARSMA, Sailing Home
Murray's Commercial Fishing Award
Winners
2024: Madeleine Davenport ARSMA, Mending Nets, Fraserburgh (First Prize); Caroline Armstrong, Albion (Second Prize)
2023: Duncan Palmar RSMA, Sunlight and Shadows, Cadgwith Cove (First Prize); Gillian Roberts RSMA, Parkol Marine Whitby, Trawler Builders on a Break (Second Prize)
2022: Alistair Butt RSMA, Evening Light on the Shell Fishing Fleet at Kings Lynn (First Prize); Michael Salt RSMA, Whitby Fishing Boats (Second Prize)
2021: Henrietta Graham, Twilight Sardine Landing (First Prize); Alistair Butt RSMA, Between Shell Fishing Trips - Brancaster Staithe (Second Prize)
2020: Jenny Morgan RSMA, Hauling the Trawl - Sidewinder Trawlers (First Prize); Alistair Butt RSMA, Banding the Lobsters (Second Prize)
2019: Neil Faulkner RSMA, Offloading, Tenby Harbour
Pegasus Art Prize
Winners
2023: Alice Hole, Against the Weathered Wall, Cadgwith
Robert Abraham Memorial Prize
Winners
2024: David Curtis FROI RSMA, Harbourside Moorings, St Abbs
RSMA Award for the Best Small Painting
Winners
2024: Richard Swann, Shrouded
2023: Raymond Leech RSMA, Evening Crabbing Session Blakeney
2022: Gillian Roberts RSMA, Crab Success, Whitby
2021: Tom Marsh, RX56 and Friends, Hastings, Sussex
2020: John Lines RSMA, Waiting
2019: Benjamin Mowll PRSMA, Dawn Light, Venice
The RSMA New Generation Award
Winners
2024: Tanya Avchinnikova PS, Surface 29. Cornwall
2023: Kayla Martell, Hey Sailor
2022: Max White, Albert Bridge, Sun Effect, 2pm
2021: Ollie Tuck, Fresh from the Fishmongers
2020: Gregory Smith
2019: Andrzej Szymczyk, Large Seahorse
2018: Frances Bell RP, Bamburgh Cattle in the Snow
The Sea Pictures Gallery Award
Winners
2024: Trevor Chamberlain FROI RSMA, Morning Light, Southwold Seafront; Lesley McKenzie, Hunting Grounds
2023: Kate Bentley RI, Sail Loft
2022: Benjamin Hope RSMA NEAC PS ROI RP, Blues from Southwark Bridge
2019: Simon Conolly, A Day at the Seaside
2018: Henrietta Graham, Newlyn Fish Market
2017: Martin Swan VPRSMA, St Helens Fort
2016: Brian Smith, Fighting the Elements
2015: David Nixon, Highrise
2014: Brian A Collins, Sea Trials II
2013: Tim Hall, Maritime Festival, Mousehole
The Topbond Marine Award
Winners
2024: Andrew Hird, The Walberswick Ferry
2023: Martin Swan RSMA & Paul Woods, A Suffolk Coast
2022: Jenny Aitken ARSMA, Evening Light at Harwich Harbour
2021: Robert Brindley RSMA, Hazy Light, Fisher Fleet, Kings Lynn
2020: John Maule-ffinch, The Old Cranes at Bristol Docks
2019: Tony Williams ARSMA, Swinging a Plate
2018: Tony Feld, Portslade Dock Crane
2017: Tony Feld, Offshore
2016: Mick Dean, Under the Wharf
The Winsor & Newton Oil Prize
Winners
2024: Jamie Medlin ARSMA, Morning Light - Falmouth Inner Harbour
2023: Peter Goodhall, Serenity
2022: Greg Ramsden, Salcombe Boatyard
2021: Gareth Brown RSMA, Harbour Reflections II
2020: Richard Dack RSMA RWA, Hebridean Recollections
2019: Tom Marsh, Early Morning - Hastings Fishing Fleet
2018: Lucinda Storm, Storm Ahead, Polzeath Beach, Cornwall
2017: Gillian Roberts, Staithes Roofs
2016: Charles Inge, Tethered Beach Hut
2015: Bruce Williams, Breakwater and Neptune
2014: Tony Feld, Fishing Floats – Staithes
2013: Rowena Wright RSMA, Gurnard Cardinal Mark
