5 Reasons to Visit the RSMA Annual Exhibition 2026

The President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Nicholas St John Rosse, recommends five reasons to visit the RSMA Annual Exhibition this September at Mall Galleries:

I’m always aware that the sea as a subject is of particular appeal to the public. You can see in this show how we try to delve into every aspect of the marine environment, from ships to seashells and everything in between. Some of us cover a wide field, others tend to specialise. Many of us paint other subjects too, but we always come back to that magical sound, smell and light of the sea.

We continue to benefit from the inclusion of a higher proportion of non-members showing in our exhibitions, thus encouraging new ideas and hopefully creating younger members. We are also receiving more submissions from abroad, giving added interest to our shows. It all helps to keep us on our toes!

Choosing non-members’ work for the show is the responsibility of our RSMA selection committees, a demanding job and one not taken lightly. 

The sea continues to fire us with renewed inspiration and optimism which we hope to convey to you in our work. Either we’re working in our studios from studies or we’re out ‘en plein air’ frantically trying to capture the moment in often challenging circumstances. You need quick keen observation, good visual memory and a sound technique. To see how some of our paintings evolve, you can visit members’ demos being held during this exhibition. Ask any questions you want. We’re not bound by the Magic Circle!

This year we are honoured to have as our guest speaker Sally Kettle, the celebrated Atlantic rower and adventurer who knows the sea from truly close up. We very much look forward to hearing about her experiences at sea and how they’ve influenced her view on life.

(Friends of Mall Galleries are invited to attend the Private View of the RSMA Annual Exhibition, at which Kettle will speak)

Take your time to wander round the show. You may already have seen it online, but there’s nothing like seeing it in the flesh. You will hopefully find an item that makes the kind of impression that you can’t get out of your head: if you’re tempted to buy a work, try not to resist the temptation!

Banner image: Nicholas St John Rosse PRSMA, Back to the Shore (detail). Installation images © Mark Sepple