Hesketh Hubbard Bursaries
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Hesketh Hubbard Bursaries 2026
Life Drawing bursaries for ages 18 to 30!
London's largest life drawing group, the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society, is offering three free year-long membership bursaries to young artists aged between 18 and 30.
Apply online, free of charge, between Wednesday 22 October and Friday 21 November 2025
The bursaries offer:
• The opportunity to attend weekly life drawing sessions at Mall Galleries free of charge for a year, starting from January 2026.
• Untutored sessions take place on Friday evenings and selected Monday evenings, between 6pm and 8:15pm (understandably there might be times when artists are unable to attend sessions, however frequent absences may result in the bursary being withdrawn).
• Currently there are 44 sessions per year. Usually around 70 artists work from 3 models: the 'quick' 15 / 30 minute nude poses, the two-hour 'long' nude pose and the two-hour clothed portrait pose.
Who is eligible?
• The bursaries are for young artists aged between 18 and 30 at the close of submissions.
• The bursaries are intended for those who have had limited access to life and portrait drawing and painting, rather than artists who are already accomplished in this field.
• Artists can work in any medium or media, except those that cause damage or disruption to the galleries. For example, dip pens and ink are not allowed due to the risk of staining the gallery floor.
The sessions offer an opportunity for serious artists to develop their skills and artistic interpretation of the human figure in a stimulating and supportive atmosphere.
Key Dates
Submissions open: Wednesday 22 October 2025, 12 noon
Submissions close: Friday 21 November, 12 noon
Notification of shortlisted artists: Friday 28 November, 12 noon
Interviews with shortlisted artists: Wednesday 3 December at Mall Galleries, London
Winners announced: Friday 5 December, 12 noon
Bursaries begin: January 2026
Since receiving the bursary and attending Friday’s life drawing sessions, my artistic practice has developed immensely. Even in just the first few weeks, I noticed a huge difference in my speed of capturing form and learnt a great deal from the fellow artists.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted online, free of charge via Jotform, following which shortlisted artists will be invited for interview:
Step One
Upload up to four example images of your work and an artist statement between Wednesday 22 October and Friday 21 November 2025.
Images must be in JPEG or PNG format, under 5MB, and represent the human figure.
Your artist statement should be up to 300 words and answer the question: How will the bursary help to develop your artistic practice?
Applications will be shortlisted by a panel of selectors, including:
• Simon Whittle, President of the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society
• Pauline Cushnie, Vice President of the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society
• Paul Majek, 2025 Winner of the Hesketh Hubbard Bursaries
• Calum Bayne, Exhibitions Coordinator at Mall Galleries
Step Two
Submitting artists will be contacted via email as to the outcome of shortlisting at 12 noon on Friday 28 November.
Those shortlisted will be invited for interview at Mall Galleries with the selection panel on Wednesday 3 December.
Shortlisted artists will be asked to present a small portfolio to help with the discussion of their practice during the face-to-face interview.
Step Three
The three winners will be announced on the Mall Galleries website at 12 noon on Friday 5 December, before the bursaries begin in January 2026.
Everyone is very welcoming and excited to get drawing, the two hours fly by each week! I am incredibly grateful to have had access to such a diverse range of models and poses, which has brought my figurative drawing to a whole new level.
About the Hesketh Hubbard Art Society
The Hesketh Hubbard Art Society is the largest and most prestigious life drawing society in London, with over 120 members.
The Society was established in 1930 by a committee of the Royal Society of British Artists to address the shortage of life drawing opportunities at the time. The committee was chaired by Eric Hesketh Hubbard (1892–1957), who went on to become president of the RBA. The Society was originally known as the RBA Drawing Club. After Hesketh Hubbard’s death in 1957, the Society was renamed in his honour.
Today, as then, the Society offers both amateur and professional artists the opportunity to draw and paint a wide selection of life models in a stunning gallery setting.
Pictured: Images by past recipients of the Hesketh Hubbard Bursaries, Amelia Lovell, Olly Williamson, Poppy Field, Stefan Tiburcio, Amelia Cross, and Chloe Barnes