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 workshops with 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 and developed by Natalia Avdeeva ROI
Reviewers: Natalia Avdeeva ROI and guest ROI members
This is a great opportunity to discuss your work with a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Your reviewer will offer an individual professional perspective, exploring your work's strengths, artistic choices and possible directions for further development.
What to bring
Bring three to five examples of your work: small or medium-sized paintings, works on paper, digital images, or a combination. Sketchbooks and work in progress are welcome. Digital portfolios should be ready to view on your own tablet or laptop, with images saved offline.
Booking information
£15 per person | 15-minute one-to-one review
You can attend one review only for the entire day, with a single reviewer. Additional reviews cannot be booked or attended in either session. Please arrive on time with your work ready to discuss. Your reviewer may focus on selected pieces rather than have time to discuss every item in your portfolio.
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 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 proud 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 ROI’s Annual 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. This area includes some of London’s most iconic places such as Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Leicester Square, St James’s Park and Piccadilly Circus, as well as many smaller streets, squares, parks, and views of the Thames.
The judges
• Adebanji Alade, President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
• Luis Morris, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
• Sarah Manolescue, Membership Secretary of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
The prizes: to be announced!
The rules
• Meet at Mall Galleries at 10am to register your arrival.
• You will be provided with a 10x14" canvas board. You may bring a 10x14" support of your own choosing if you wish, but it will need to be marked so as to confirm that the work is produced during the competition period.
• You may wish to bring acrylic colours for toning your ground ahead of starting work.
• Your subject must be within a half mile radius of Mall Galleries.
• The competition is for work produced during the competition period and although we expect many to work on location this is not a rule and references may be used.
• A lunch break may be taken between 12:30pm and 1:30pm in the gallery’s café or elsewhere. You are welcome to speak to the judges and ask their advice during the break.
• Painting resumes at 1:30pm and all works must be completed by 4pm.
• Judging commences at approximately 4:20pm with prizes presented on completion before 5pm.
Booking information
Tickets: £18 | £13 for Friends of the ROI and Mall Galleries.
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.
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.
Image credits
Images (from top to bottom) courtesy of Peter Graham ROI, Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI RSMA, Linda Alexander ROI, and Thames & Hudson.
