The New English Art Club 2026-27 Scholars
/ New English Art Club
The New English Art Club offers three annual scholarships worth £7,000 for early-career artists working in figurative painting, drawing or original printmaking.
These scholarships are aimed at individuals who have not historically benefited from many opportunities to engage with the NEAC and aim to support those who face financial barriers in pursuing the arts in a professional capacity.
The winners were announced at the NEAC Annual Exhibition Private View this year to be Sarah Muwanga, Vanessa Wilkey and Ollie Marr! We were fortunate enough to catch up with the artists about why they applied and what they are looking forward to.
Sarah Muwanga
Sarah Muwanga is a self-taught figurative painter based between London and Portsmouth, working in oil. Drawing on her dual heritage, her work explores identity, intimacy and belonging, as she develops her practice towards her first solo show.
What made you apply for the NEAC scholarship?
Honestly, it was the people. The NEAC stands for something I really believe in, figurative work that comes from real observation and genuine human experience, and the idea of learning from painters of that calibre felt like a rare thing. But the biggest pull was the mentorship and community side of it. A lot of my journey has been quite solitary, just me painting on my own, so the thought of being around people who speak the same language and care about the same things, that was something I really didn’t want to miss.
What does winning mean to you?
A lot, more than I expected actually. There’s always that quiet voice that wonders if the work is good enough, if you really belong. So to have painters I admire see something worth backing in what I do, that means everything. It makes me feel like I’m on the right track. And having come to this from a completely different career, it feels a bit like arriving somewhere I was always meant to be.
Please could you give an overview of your artistic background, and explain where you are in your career as an emerging artist?
I’m a self-taught figurative painter, based between London and Portsmouth, and I work mostly in oil. Art’s always been part of my life, it started as something quite personal, almost a way of processing things, long before it became my main focus. My work explores identity, intimacy and belonging, a lot of which comes from my own experience of dual heritage and that feeling of being in between. Right now feels like a real turning point. I’ve just shown with the Society of Women Artists, and I’m about to open my first solo show, so it feels like things are really starting to come together, and the timing of this couldn’t be better.
What are you most looking forward to about the next year of the scholarship?
The mentorship, definitely. I can’t wait to actually spend time with the members, talk about process and materials, and all those bigger questions about how you find your way as an artist. I’m also really looking forward to the workshops and just pushing myself, getting out of my comfort zone a bit. And being in the Annual Exhibition next year would be such an honour, that one feels a bit surreal to even say out loud.
Sarah was awarded a Daler-Rowney scholarship, which includes a year of mentorship, free entry to all classes and workshops run by the NEAC, and a selection of her work created during the scholarship year will be displayed at the NEAC Annual Exhibition 2027.
Vanessa Wilkey
Vanessa Wilkey has developed her practice through independent study and courses in drawing, watercolour and oil painting. Over six years, she has focused on developing her skills and exploring the subjects that shape her work, while establishing her practice as a painter.
What made you apply for the NEAC scholarship?
I’ve been following the NEAC for some time, particularly because of painters I admire, including Laura Smith and Mick Kirkbride. Their work, and that of many NEAC members, feels rooted in a genuine, committed painting practice and a real dedication to being artists. I’m inspired by the way many of its members weave memory and personal experience into observational painting, and applying for this scholarship feels like a rare opportunity to learn from a community I respect. My ultimate goal is to continue developing as a painter and, one day, to become a member myself.
What does winning mean to you?
Winning this scholarship has been life-changing for me. I had reached a point in my practice where financial constraints were forcing me to slow down and put ideas aside. After many years of painting without feeling that I had made significant professional progress, I was also beginning to question whether I should continue.
Receiving this scholarship has given me renewed confidence in myself and my work. It feels like an affirmation that what I’ve been working towards matters and has encouraged me to keep pushing forward as a painter. More than anything, it has made me believe in myself and my practice again.
Please could you give an overview of your artistic background, and explain where you are in your career as an emerging artist?
My artistic background has been shaped by a combination of independent study and a number of online and in-person courses in drawing, watercolour, and oil painting. Financial constraints meant that I was never able to fully immerse myself in formal training, so much of my development has come through persistence, self-directed learning, and a deep commitment to improving my skills.
Over the past six years, I have focused on developing my technical abilities as an artist, and for the last three years I have been working on building a more defined artistic practice. This has involved asking myself important questions: what it means to be an artist, what truly inspires me, and what subjects and ideas I return to repeatedly. Through this process, I have become more aware of the themes and obsessions that drive my work.
I have exhibited with the Society of Women Artists and taken part in several small group exhibitions. I still consider myself to be emerging, particularly in professional terms. My aspirations are to build a stronger public presence through a website, secure gallery representation, and exhibit my work regularly.
What are you most looking forward to about the next year of the scholarship?
Over the next year, I am most looking forward to developing my voice as an artist and gaining the confidence to share my work more openly with the public. I see this scholarship as an opportunity not only to improve my skills, but also to become more assured in my identity and direction as a painter.
I am especially excited about the chance to learn from professional artists. I have never had the opportunity to spend time in a professional artist’s studio, so I am eager to see how other artists structure their practice, sustain their creativity, and balance making work with the other demands of life. Being able to observe and learn from their experiences will be invaluable and, I hope, will help me build a sustainable and fulfilling artistic career of my own.
Vanessa was the recipient of the Ken Howard Foundation Scholarship, which offers £5,000 to facilitate the artistic development of an early-career artist, a year of mentorship, free entry to all classes and workshops run by the NEAC, and a selection of her work created during the scholarship year will be displayed at the NEAC Annual Exhibition 2027.
Ollie Marr
Oliver Marr is a figurative painter based in London, whose practice explores the relationship between people and the landscape. Working from life, he combines painting, drawing and printmaking, developing observations made in situ through memory and studio processes.
Born in South Africa in 1995, Oliver graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2020, where his research focused on the interconnections between human society and natural systems. He subsequently spent three years working under the guidance of British artist David Williams-Ellis. He has attended residencies in France and South Africa and exhibits regularly in group exhibitions.
Oliver has exhibited with the New English Art Club for the past two years and held his first UK solo exhibition at North Coast Asylum Gallery in 2023. He is currently studying on the Drawing year at the Royal Drawing School, developing his approach to observational drawing and painting.
Oliver Marr was awarded a Daler-Rowney scholarship, which includes a year of mentorship, free entry to all classes and workshops run by the NEAC, and a selection of his work created during the scholarship year will be displayed at the NEAC Annual Exhibition 2027.
Oliver’s work is currently available to enquire about on our website.
Artist Opportunities
Whilst the NEAC scholarships for 2027-28 do not open for applications until early 2027, the Federation of British Artists offers many opportunities for artists throughout the year.