Royal Institute of Oil Painters | Events Programme 2026
- - Times vary | Mall Galleries
Free with gallery admission, no booking required (unless stated otherwise)
EVENTS PROGRAMME
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters presents a series of special events to accompany the upcoming ROI Annual Exhibition 2026 at Mall Galleries. The programme includes a portfolio review day, guided exhibition tours led by Peter Graham and David Curtis, as well as painting demonstrations by ROI artists.
"The ROI Annual Exhibition is always a delight to the eye. It is so rewarding to take a closer look at both artist and style. On the tour I will be highlighting variety of subject, new and emerging painters and Award Winning Artists. Finally, no visit would be complete without homage to the famous ROI small paintings wall."
A Guided Tour of the ROI Annual Exhibition with Peter Graham
Friday 27 November, 12pm to 1pm
Peter Graham ROI hosts a guided tour of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition 2026, where you will discover the finest oil paintings produced in the UK and around the world this year.
ROI Portfolio Review Day
Saturday 28 November
Curated by Natalia Avdeeva ROI
Reviewers: Natalia Avdeeva ROI, plus guest members David Pilgrim ROI, Lotta Teale ROI, Julia Hawkins NEAC ROI, and Roger Ferrin ROI
What to expect
A focused professional conversation about your work with a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters during the ROI Annual Exhibition. Your reviewer may identify strengths, question artistic choices, offer practical guidance and share professional experience. The review offers one individual perspective, rather than a verdict on your work. The aim is to leave with something meaningful to reflect on and renewed enthusiasm to return to your practice.
What to bring
Please bring three to five examples of your work: small or medium-sized original paintings, works on paper, digital images, or a combination. You may also bring a sketchbook to show your ideas and working process. Finished work and projects in progress are welcome. Digital portfolios should be ready to view on your own tablet or laptop, with images saved for offline viewing. Choose work you would particularly like to discuss. You may find it helpful to prepare one or two questions about your practice, technique or artistic direction.
Booking information
£15 per person | 15-minute one-to-one review
Each participant may book and attend only one review during the whole day, with one ROI member. You cannot attend a second review in either the morning or afternoon session. This gives you one focused professional perspective, with space afterwards to reflect and decide what you wish to take forward.
A Guided Tour with David Curtis
Tuesday 1 December, 1pm to 2pm
Join this guided tour of the ROI Annual Exhibition by David Curtis FROI RSMA. David Curtis is a figurative painter working in both oils and watercolours. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the exhibition through David's eyes!
Painting Demonstration by Roger Dellar
Tuesday 1 December, 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Watch Roger Dellar PS RI ROI RSMA paint live in the gallery. Roger Dellar is a plein air and studio painter. He is a painter of the contemporary world, with a keen interest in people, their environment, and the effects of light.
ROI Art Event Evening
Tuesday 1 December, 6pm to 8:30pm
Paint alongside ROI members ‘after hours’ with portrait models, wine, and mince pies. The Art Event Evening Award, a prize of £150 worth of Winsor & Newton art materials, will be presented to the (non-member) artist that produces the best painting on the night!
Participants should bring their own sketchbooks and art materials. Easels and boards will be provided on a first come, first served basis, therefore artists are encouraged to bring small, portable easels if possible.
What to expect
5:30pm: Doors open.
6pm: Artists commence painting from a choice of three clothed portrait models.
7pm: A short break, including a glass of wine and mince pie.
7:15pm: Painting resumes.
8:15pm: Judging commences, after which the winning artist will be announced.
Booking information
Tickets: £12, or spectate for £10 | 10% off for Friends of the ROI and Mall Galleries.
Painting Demonstration by Max White
Wednesday 2 December, 11am to 2pm
Max White ROI will paint live in the gallery.
'I paint scenes and moments which move me, and I paint the visual impression in these moments as that, for me, is the aspect of reality that I believe generates the feeling behind a scene worth painting.' - Max White
Painting Demonstration by Haidee-Jo Summers
Thursday 3 December, 2pm to 4pm
Join the Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI RSMA, for a painting demonstration on the theme of Shape & Suggestion. Hooked on painting and exploring, Haidee-Jo paints anywhere, regardless of how busy or crowded the setting, how complex the scene, or how challenging the weather.
The demonstration will be followed by a book signing of Haidee-Jo's new book, 50 Ways To Break the Rules in Oils (2026). The book is for artists of all abilities and contains 50 fresh, lively ideas for challenging conventional artistic wisdom showing that “you can create something really, really right, even when you do everything wrong.”
Painting Demonstration by Karl Terry
Friday 4 December, 2pm to 4pm
Karl Terry ROI RSMA will paint live in the gallery. Karl is a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Royal Society of Marine Artists.
'I live on the Isle of Oxney in Kent and paint outside in all weathers. My work is an immediate response to what I see and feel when immersed in the everchanging landscape. This process has opened my eyes to the beauty that can be found everywhere, even in the mundane.' - Karl Terry
ROI Paint Live 2026
Saturday 5 December, 10am to 5pm
Take part in the annual ROI Paint Live competition, a friendly and engaging event where you'll have the day to create a painting within a half mile of Mall Galleries. Celebrate painting outdoors from life in the heart of London! Join fellow artists to capture the city’s light, atmosphere and energy—from Trafalgar Square and St James’s Park to quieter streets and views of the Thames.
Ian Cryer ROI, former ROI President and Natalia Avdeeva ROI, ROI Education Officer will welcome participants and coordinate the day.
Judges
• Adebanji Alade, ROI President
• Luis Morris, ROI Honorary Secretary
• Sarah Manolescue, ROI Membership Secretary
Prizes
• First Prize: £250 Cass Art Gift Card for the winner
• Two runner-up prizes of £50 Cass Art Gift Cards
Taking part
• Arrive at 10am, when doors open, to register and collect your 10x14" canvas board, courtesy of Winsor & Newton.
• You may bring your own pre-primed canvas board, but it must be exactly the same size as those provided and marked at registration before you begin.
• Bring your painting materials and equipment. Dress warmly in layers, with a hat, gloves and waterproof clothing.
• Choose a subject within half a mile of Mall Galleries. All work must be produced during the event. Painting on location is encouraged; reference material may also be used.
• Take breaks to warm up and use the gallery’s café and toilet facilities.
• Place your completed painting along the designated wall by 4pm, clearing all belongings and equipment from the judging area. Judging will then begin.
• Participants will be invited back for the prize announcement once judging is complete. The event ends by 5pm, when the gallery closes.
Booking information
Tickets: £18 | £13 for Friends of the ROI and Mall Galleries.
Portrait Demonstration by Ruth Fitton
Saturday 5 December, 2pm to 4:30pm
Ruth Fitton ROI will paint a portrait live in the gallery.
Ruth is a portrait and figurative painter based in London. Self-taught, her journey has shown her the value of dedicated observation combined with expressive simplification. Her live portraits are celebrated internationally for likeness, subtle flesh-tones and exciting brushwork. 'I love to demo, and endeavour to prove to all art enthusiasts that a portrait sketch is not only an exciting process but an achievable one.'
Painting Demonstration by Stewart Beckett
Monday 7 December, 12pm to 3pm
Stewart Beckett ROI will paint live in the gallery. Beckett is a seasoned visual artist, who stands at the intersection of tradition and contemporary expression. For him, 'art is not merely a profession but a vocation—a source of boundless joy and fulfilment. Each stroke of the brush tells a story of resilience and determination, reminding me and others that art is not just about where it begins but the endless possibilities it holds.'
Painting Demonstration by Linda Alexander
Wednesday 9 December, 11am to 12:30pm
Join still life artist Linda Alexander ROI as she shares her painting process. She will talk about all aspects of her work including what she is looking for in a composition, how she paints in layers and the various materials that she uses. To explain her techniques for rendering textures and achieving realistic images she will do a small painting demonstration.
Meet the Artist | Amanda Coleman
Thursday 10 December, 12pm
Amanda Coleman ROI will be painting in the gallery and on hand to talk to visitors about her work and the ROI Annual Exhibition.
Painting Demonstration by Kayoon Anderson
Friday 11 December, 12pm to 3pm
Kayoon Anderson AROI will paint live in the gallery.
Kayoon Anderson is a London-based artist working with oil paint. Having studied architecture before training as a painter, she aims to present structured yet harmonious environments within which her figures sit. Taking inspiration from European medieval paintings and munbangdo still-lives, her imagined domestic scenes call to her mixed heritage, bringing together memories of her childhood in Korea and the UK.
Artist Talk: The Secrets of Painting by Lachlan Goudie
Saturday 12 December, 2pm to 2:45pm
Join Lachlan Goudie ROI for an illustrated talk based upon his latest book, The Secrets of Painting: The Hidden Art of the Masterpiece from Prehistory to Today (2026).
His book offers a lively and engaging perspective on the international story of painting and traces how, over the centuries, a succession of creative big bangs reverberated across generations and continents, helping to transform the story of art itself.
Beginning at the dawn of civilisation with prehistoric cave paintings and ending with the arrival of AI, Goudie unveils the methods and techniques employed by individual artists, bringing their studios to life at the very moment they produced their most celebrated works. Along the way a bigger picture is painted, charting how the evolution of painting materials has changed the course of human creativity.
About the speaker
Lachlan Goudie is a Scottish writer, broadcaster and artist whose work is regularly exhibited in London, Edinburgh and New York.
His latest book, The Secrets of Painting, will be available to buy at the Mall Galleries shop.
Booking information
This event is free with gallery admission, please book your place to attend.
Image credits
Images courtesy of Peter Graham ROI, Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI RSMA, Linda Alexander ROI, and Thames & Hudson.
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