New English Art Club | Annual Exhibition 2026

The NEAC Annual Exhibition is a showcase not only for its members but also for aspiring artists: with a history going back more than a hundred years, it is an opportunity to see some of the best artists painting today.

A special feature of the show is The NEAC Climate Emergency Prize, an award of £2,000 for an artwork that addresses the climate crisis and a prize of £500 for a runner up.

'The NEAC does many things throughout the year, but this annual show is the highlight. It’s the thing that, in a way, everything else has been leading up to. There is a huge amount of pride that we all feel, members and non-members alike, exhibiting with this society, aware as we are of its rich history and famous past members.' - Patrick Cullen, President

The NEAC is committed to artistic authenticity grounded in the observation of life and articulated with the beauty of skilful language and craftsmanship.

Historically, the New English Art Club was founded by a group of artists dissatisfied with the entrenched attitudes of the Royal Academy. They mounted their first show in 1886 and increasingly attracted younger artists, bringing with them the influence of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Many diverse styles of art have developed since its founding, adding richness and variety.

'We were founded in 1886 inspired by the fresh vision offered by French Impressionism,' says the NEAC. 'We continue to represent art that is about visual inquisitiveness and looking anew.'