171 Annual Open Exhibition Prize Winners Announced!
We are delighted to celebrate the exceptional work of this year's prize winning artists, selected by our generous sponsors, with prizes valued at an impressive £10,000.
Prize Winners
Nicola Turner, Klipp Und Klapp – Winner of The Academy Award, sponsored by the RWA and RWA Academicians.
This prestigious award, with a prize of £5,000, celebrates an outstanding work in any medium that has captivated the selectors. Open exclusively to non-RWA Academicians.
Anna Gillespie RWA, The UnWise – Winner of The Steele Art Prize, awarded by Tony Steele.
This award, with a prize of £3,000, recognises a work that powerfully reflects contemporary society, capturing themes about people, place, and the world around us.
PJ Crook RWA, Sisterhood – Winner of The Steele Art Prize, awarded by Tony Steele.
This prize, valued at £1,000, honors a work that thoughtfully reflects contemporary society, offering insight into people, place, and the events shaping our world.
Martyn Grimmer, Ebb – Winner of the Niche Print Makers Award, sponsored by Niche Frames.
This award, with a prize of £250 in printing and framing services plus £250 in cash, celebrates excellence in any work created using printmaking techniques.
Highly Commended: Michaela Wheater, Pelhamia I & II
Highly Commended: Leonie Bradley, Text Prompt: A General History of Quadrupeds II and II
Nathaniel Stevenson, Trefusis Community Centre – Winner of the Sto Emerging Architecture Prize at the RWA, sponsored by Sto.
This award, with a £500 cash prize, celebrates outstanding architectural work by a student or recent graduate (class of 2020 or later).
Highly Commended: Ade Olaosebikan, Reconstituted Planes_Villa Savoye 002
Highly Commended: Michael Paul Lewis, An Architect's Sketchbook
Lucinda Burgess, Timeline – Winner of The Drawing Prize, sponsored by Fiona Robinson PRWA.
This prize, with a £300 cash award, honors excellence in drawing, recognising exceptional skill and creativity in this medium.
Stephen Jacobson RWA, The Last of the Leaves – Winner of The Painting Prize, sponsored by Derek Balmer PPRWA.
This award, which includes a £300 cash prize and a copy of Derek Balmer: A Singular Vision by Andrew Lambirth, celebrates outstanding achievement in painting.
Freya Valie Dobson Roberts, Aunty Francisca, Dominica 2007 – Winner of The Floating Circle Prize, sponsored by Friends of the RWA .
This award included a £250 cash prize and and feature in the Friend's magazine Floating Circle celebrates outstanding work by a student.
Highly Commended: Yoichi Ishida, Untitled (Solstice 2024)
Brian Smith, Pigments of the Medina – Winner of St Cuthberts Mill Work on Paper Prize, sponsored by St Cuthberts Paper Mill.
This award of 20 sheets of Saunders Waterford 300gsm 56x76cm paper worth over £120 is awarded to an exceptional work on paper.
Yoshihiro Watanabe, 3 Elephants – Winner of Pangolin Sculpture Prize, sponsored by Pangolin Digital.
This award, which is a 3D digital scan of work is awarded to an exceptional piece of sculpture.
Amanda Wallwork RWA, Will Stones Close - Portland Lost Fields 1857 - Winner of Cass Art Materials Awards, sponsored by Cass Art
An award of £50 Cass Art vouchers celebrates an outstanding piece of artwork. 
Zoe Williams, Morphosis: Series I - Winner of Cass Art Materials Awards, sponsored by Cass Art
An award of £50 Cass Art vouchers celebrates an outstanding piece of artwork.
Miriam Sheppard, Liminality viii - Winner of Cass Art Solo Show Award, sponsored by Cass Art
This award of a solo show in Cass Art, Park Street, Bristol store celebrates outstanding work by an artist.
Gina Soden, Statia Voltaj – Winner of Evolver Magazine Cover Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine |
This award of a cover image for the November/December issue of Evolver magazine is awarded to an artwork with dynamic impact.
Jemma Gunning RWA, all works - Winner of Evolver Magazine Feature Award, sponsored by Evolver Magazine.
This award of a feature article in the November/December issue of Evolver magazine celebrates an outstanding artist.
We want to say a HUGE thank you to all of the people, organisations and businesses that sponsored one or more of our prizes this year. Your support has helped to make the 171 Annual Open Exhibition truly special.
With additional thanks to our exhibition sponsor:
