Crinan Residency
Crinan Residency 2026
The Federation of British Artists at Mall Galleries and the Crinan Hotel present the Crinan Residency.
Newly graduated artists are invited to apply for a week-long residency in Crinan, an artist's haven on the west coast of Scotland, taking place between September and October 2026 (the exact week is to be agreed mutually between the winning artist and the Crinan Hotel).
What is the Crinan Residency?
• This week-long residency for a new graduate is based in Crinan, a beautiful fishing village situated on the remote west coast of Scotland.
• The resident artist will stay in the award-winning Crinan Hotel. Complimentary single accommodation will be provided for one week with breakfast included. The Crinan Hotel was awarded the European Luxury Sea View Hotel of the Year Award by the Luxury Travel Guide. For more information, visit www.crinanhotel.com
• A studio space will be available to the artist.
• Artist and owner of the Crinan Hotel, Frances Macdonald, and her artist son Ross Ryan will be glad to answer any questions and offer advice on what to do in the local area.
• The selected resident will receive art materials from Michael Harding to the value of £500, including Michael Harding Artists Watercolours (Gem Set), Michael Harding Artists Oil Colours (Plein Air Master Set), plus Primer, Linseed Oil, Varnish, and Miracle Medium.
• A stipend of £500 will be given to the resident towards travel and other expenses.
• The resident will be interviewed for a feature on the Mall Galleries website and Instagram (@mallgalleries).
• Ten shortlisted artists will receive a complimentary one-year ArtRabbit Artist Plan, worth £99. The plan is designed to help artists build visibility, present their work professionally, sell commission-free, and access curated opportunities, commissions and industry connections through ArtRabbit. Read more here.
Bypass Glencoe and Loch Ness for this west-coast spot, which has all the good looks and none of the crowds. Two hours from Glasgow, it’s saturated with 5,000 years of human history. But it’s the natural landscape that steals the show, from rugged hills and craggy coast to one of the largest whirlpools in the world
Who is eligible to apply?
The Crinan Residency is open to new graduates who meet one of the following criteria:
— Graduates from either an Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree in fine arts at a UK college in 2026. 'College' here refers to Higher Education institutions that offer recognised degree qualifications at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Note that Foundation Diploma courses are not eligible.
— Those who have completed a fine arts course at an alternative learning programme in the UK in 2026. 'Alternative learning programme' refers to programmes that operate broadly as alternatives to BA or MA study.
What is the submission process?
Submissions are online only, free of charge, and open from 1 July to 31 July 2026.
Eligibility
The Crinan Residency is open to new fine art graduates only, please see 'Who is eligible to apply?'
Any type of artwork is eligible, although you may note that Mall Galleries focuses on figurative art, especially painting, sculpture, printmaking, and drawing.
We encourage artists to apply who have not historically benefited from many opportunities to engage with us.
How to Apply
All submissions must be made via Jotform from 12 noon on 1 July.
The form requires the following information:
• Your name, address, email, and telephone number
• Institution and course of study, and year of graduation (which must be 2026)
• A short statement (maximum 500 words) introducing yourself, your background, and what interests you about the Crinan Residency
• Three example images of your work (in JPEG or PNG format and under 5MB), including title, medium, and size
The deadline to submit is 12 noon on 31 July.
The winner will be announced online and by email on 14 August, in time for the residency to take place between September and October.
Selection Panel
The winning artist will be chosen by a panel of three selectors:
• Ross Ryan, artist, sailor and surfer, on behalf of the Crinan Hotel
• Calum Bayne, Exhibitions Coordinator at Mall Galleries / Federation of British Artists
• Vivi Kallinikou, Managing Director of ArtRabbit, a global platform connecting people with art, events and experiences. Vivi is passionate about rethinking how audiences engage with art and culture, expanding access, and fostering more inclusive and collaborative forms of participation. At ArtRabbit, Vivi leads the organisation’s strategic vision and development, working with a diverse range of voices from within and beyond the art world to explore new ways of connecting people with art. She finds purpose in this continual process of exchange, collaboration and community-building.
I had a wonderful time! This was the ideal opportunity to refocus and get creative juices flowing again!
I was captivated by the village’s quiet rhythms: birds singing overhead, sunsets dancing across rippling water, and sailboats drifting in the distance
Key Dates
Online submission opens: Wednesday 1 July 2026, 12 noon
Online submission closes: Friday 31 July, 12 noon
Winner announced: Friday 14 August, 12 noon, by email and on the Mall Galleries website
Week-long residency: A one-week period between 1 September and 31 October, to be agreed mutually between the winner and the Crinan Hotel
Contact Us
If you require any assistance, please contact Mall Galleries via exhibitions@mallgalleries.com
With thanks to
