Annual Exhibition 2025
President’s Foreword
Exciting! I have just seen all the works that will eventually be viewable on the walls of the superb Mall Galleries this September. So, I am pleased to confirm that yet again we have a remarkable collection of marine art. We are gratified that the quality of work is maintained, especially noting this is a special year for the Society. This is our 80th annual exhibition of marine art. Perhaps this gives us a little more cause for celebration than usual. Over the past years my predecessors have endeavoured successfully to ensure that our exhibition includes the very best of marine art. This not only goes for Britain today, but more widely Europe.
To achieve this high standard, we always rely on the creative and technical expertise of the RSMA membership. This is valuably supported by the quality of works that result from the open call. Every year we are delighted to see entries of inspirational works by artists both nationally and internationally.
This is my fifth and final year as president. During what now seems to have been quite a short period of time I have noticed an increasing number of works in a range of different media. As always, this exhibition is not just about artists working in oils and watercolours, but now sculpture, printmaking, textiles and even a few works using some elements of digital development. The selection committee volunteer a significant amount of their time to carefully reviewing the large number of entries that result from the open call. We appreciate the delight on receiving the acceptance email; however, there is very
often disappointment finding that yet again your best work has not been selected. Courage, we have all been there. This year you have not been successful, so please try again next year.
At a recent Society AGM one member commented on our recent collaboration with ‘National Historic Ships’ at Greenwich. ‘Not more boats,’ was the remark. To exhibit in the annual exhibition, it is not necessary to depict marine vessels. As works in this exhibition confirm, as long as the water is tidal what is created depends entirely on the quality of the work. In this exhibition you see many wonderful works, with not a boat in sight.
On the gallery walls we celebrate the work of artists whose dedicated skill and many hours have been devoted to creating what you see, and admire, and we hope may sometimes buy. Admiration is happily confirmed by a purchase. The result that surrounds us is initially the result of the RSMA hanging committee’s thoughtful efforts. Then the gallery team takes over, they work with care, precision and speed. Every year I think it is somewhat miraculous that so much happens so quickly. The gallery is transformed almost whilst your back is turned.
The RSMA is grateful once again this year for the support of the award sponsors. Their continued generosity beneficially rewards artists for their notably excellent entries. Many of the awards are selected by the sponsors. Last year a new award the ‘Robert Abraham Memorial Prize’ was selected by members of the Society.
Finally, we are again indebted to those whose work goes on ‘behind the scenes’ at the Mall Galleries. This involves sales, marketing and the many faceted communications with artists. Not forgetting the front of house staff whose welcome and help is so valuable to us.
President, Royal Society of Marine Artists
Events Programme
The Royal Society of Marine Artists presents a series of special events to complement the RSMA Annual Exhibition 2025:
Painting Demonstrations by Jamie Medlin
Wednesday 17 September, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
A marine artist producing work with a difference, Jamie Medlin is a very proud Cornishman with a passion for his county and all the wonderful views and scenes within it.
Medlin says, 'My simple aim is to do justice to the beauty which has inspired people forever and continues to bring people back to visit (who are not lucky enough to live here), year after year. I'm fascinated by the nuances of light, from minute to minute; affected by the time of day,
weather conditions, seasons and tides. The combination of these factors create an infinite possibility of scenes and moods, all of which can be pleasing to the viewer. Cornwall's beauty is unquestionably stunning. If I can replicate it, my job is almost done...'
Painting Demonstration by Andrew Hird
Thursday 18 September, 11am to 1pm
Andrew Hird will paint a coastal scene from the Island in oils using location studies, plus a mix of sketch and photo references. Join to watch and ask questions about the artist's working process, materials, and more.
Painting Demonstrations by Roger Dellar
Thursday 18 September, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
Roger Dellar will demonstrate in his usual relaxed way, taking current marine subjects and explaining the process, inviting the audience to ask questions. He will demonstrate working with watercolour and white gouache (from 11am to 1pm), then an alla prima approach in oils (from 2pm to 4pm).
Andrew Hird at work
Jamie Medlin Mariquita at Pendennis Cup
Events Programme (continued)
Painting Demonstration by Srirangam Mohankumar
Thursday 18 September, 2pm to 4pm
Srirangam Mohankumar's specialisation is watercolour painting. Mohankumar uses a direct technique which has been compared to that of Winslow Homer. His choice of subject matter is varied and includes the international locations in which he has observed light, colour and movement.
He says, 'The inspiration to paint marine subjects comes from doing thumbnail sketches and recording direct observation of light, form and shape relating to marine themes; it could be a boat yard, harbour scene, sailing yacht by an estuary, etc.'
Painting Demonstration by Robbie Murdoch
Friday 19 September, 11am to 1pm
Robbie Murdoch will be working on a preliminary sketch started whilst on holiday in Greece with the aid of some photos of a marine subject.
Murdoch's objective is to reveal the beauty and atmosphere of a subject by paying particular attention to the light and composition.
Painting Demonstration by Craig Lee
Wednesday 24 September, 11am to 1pm
Craig Lee will be demonstrating his approach to painting a harbour scene in oils. 'You’re warmly welcome to stop by and say hello,' says Lee, 'or sit and observe. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.'
'I’m a self-taught artist that loves to paint both in the studio and outdoors, using oil paint to capture feeling and a sense of place. I find much of my inspiration from life’s everyday moments that pass us by'Craig Lee
Roger Dellar As the Sun Comes, Olhao
Prizes and Awards
The Baltic Exchange Award
For an outstanding work related to the maritime industry, selected by the Society’s President and the Chairman of the Baltic Exchange. Including works related to trade (ports, cargo vessels, etc), ship building, safety at sea, the crew, the RNLI or NCI. The Baltic is an historic membership organisation at the heart of the international shipping industry, providing services relied upon by shipping markets worldwide.
Value: £2,000.
The Murray’s Commercial Fishing Award
For a work in any medium depicting commercial fishing.
Value: £500 for the first prize and £100 for the second.
The Kenneth Denton Award
For a work on the theme ‘The Sea in all its Moods’. Made possible by the generosity of late member Kenneth Denton.
Value: £500.
The Charles Pears Award
For an outstanding work in any medium by a non-member. Presented by the RSMA in memory of Charles Pears, founding member and first President.
Value £500.
Robert Abraham Memorial Prize
For the best oil painting by a full member of the RSMA at the bequest of the late member Lorraine Abraham. The annual award is dedicated to her husband Robert.
Value: £500.
The RSMA Award for the Best Small Painting
For a work in any medium measuring no more than 30 cm (12”) along its longest length (excluding frame). Made possible by the generosity of a member.
Value: £300.
The RSMA New Generation Award
Awarded by the Society, the successful artist will receive £250. Open to all artists aged 35 or under at the close of submissions.
The Winsor & Newton Prize
£250 worth of Winsor & Newton art materials to be chosen by the winner.
The Topbond Marine Award
For works depicting marine engineering or construction activities in harbours, estuaries or marine waters within the UK.
Value: £250.
The Marine Quarterly “Sea from Seaward” Prize
For a painting of a boat or ship as seen from the seaward that demonstrates individuality of technique, viewpoint and interpretation. The winning work may be featured as the cover image on a future issue of the publication.
Value: £100.
The Classic Boat Prize
The winner will receive a year’s subscription to Classic Boat and a profile feature in Classic Boat Magazine
Value: Year’s subscription to Classic Boat and a profile feature in the magazine.
The Artist Magazine Award
For the most deserving work, as judged by the magazine. The winner will be interviewed for a feature in The Artist magazine, print and digital edition.
Winner of the The RSMA New Generation Award 2025
Tatiana Zubova The Day’s Haul
Not all maritime life is waves and wind. Some of it is work — steady, raw, and shared. The Day’s Haul reflects the quiet endurance of those whose hands bring the sea to shore — again and again.
Tom is a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, regularly exhibiting at Mall Galleries.
Tom spent his childhood growing up in New Zealand and was introduced to oil painting at an early age by his father. At sixteen, Tom achieved membership to the Society of Architectural Illustrators. He completed his art training with a degree in Illustration at the University of Kent at Canterbury.
The beautiful sense of light and shadow that was so much part of Tom’s early life in New Zealand has informed his painting subjects ever since. Now living in Battle, Tom uses his keen sense of light to render his local landscape which includes the countryside, coast, marine subjects and London.
Tom paints with oil in the ‘plein air’ tradition.
In July I had my first visit to Easton, Maryland to take part in a plein air competition and exhibition. I visited the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum at St Michaels, and could see that there was a wealth of subject material there. The museum retains a working shipyard to preserve and maintain Chesapeake Bay vessels and to keep alive and share the craft of boatbuilding.
At 20” x 24” this is a lot larger than my usual plein air work and I worked on it over three mornings. There was a window of two to three hours in the morning where I could work standing in the shade of the building, managing the heat and humidity with the help of a neck fan and bottles of cold water to drink. I then had to carry all my equipment back to the car in the blistering sun, to find relief in the air conditioning when driving away. It was physically arduous but worth it for such a fascinating subject. The title ‘Much to Do!’ pertains to the job of the boat builders but with a nod to us artists taking part in Plein Air Easton, an event requiring endurance and stamina.
I was delighted to receive the ‘Life of a waterman award’ for this painting at Plein Air Easton, and to bring the painting back to the Royal Society of Marine Artists and be granted the Robert Abraham Memorial Prize is a great honour.
Tom Marsh ROI RSMA Fairlight Cliffs
The Kenneth Denton Award 2025
Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI RSMA Much to Do!
The Robert Abraham Memorial Prize 2025
The Baltic Exchange Award 2025
Madeleine Davenport ARSMA Dawn, Mallaig Harbour
Thank you for the opportunity to view an excellent selection of paintings for this year’s Baltic Exchange award. The subject matter of all the work is wide and varied and of a first class quality. In determining a winner I was drawn by the vivid colours and wonderfully evocative reflections of early morning light as displayed in the splendid watercolour of ‘Dawn, Mallaig Harbour’ by Madeleine Davenport. The attention to detail is exquisite and your eye is drawn to each maritime craft in turn, all with their part to play for the community of this north western Scottish coastal town. The Baltic Exchange has a close association with the RNLI and this ‘Severn’ Class lifeboat in the foreground provides a reassuring presence for all their mariners whose livelihood depends on the sea. - Guy Hindley Chair, Baltic Exchange Council.
The Charles Pears Award 2025
Ramsay Gibb Final Act
Ramsay Gibb was born in Ayrshire in 1965 and his early years were spent on the coast near Troon. He later moved to Lancashire and studied in Bolton and then Brighton Art College. He has lived on the Sussex and Suffolk coasts.
Remote shores, the sea and islands have inspired much of his work including Shetlands, the Hebrides, Ireland, Finland, Northern Norway, the Lofoten Islands, the Faroes, Greenland and Russia.
His interest in the historical dimension of the landscape of the British Isles led to extensive walking Sacred Ways and Pilgrim routes between 2009-2014 for a series of exhibitions.
The RSMA features works by non-members – inspired by the sea
Once again, we are delighted by the overall quality of work submitted by non-members. The selection process as always requires concentrated effort by members of our selection committee.
We always realise that our judgements will bring forth both joy, but also disappointment. Decisions on the work entered are not taken lightly.
This year we have viewed work from both national and international artists, confirming that the sea and ships are continued sources of influence for many of these pictures.
The selection committee were especially impressed by the number of entries by younger artists this year.
Zoe Buffery Clovelly
Linocut 25 x 20 cm £420
Bryony Buckley Great Blue Heron
Watercolour 32 x 25 cm £650
Nils Lagergren Aurore Metal and wood, aged under water for two years 35 x 74 x 16 cm £4,500
Simon Devonshire The Memory Gouache 23 x 28 cm £750
Wool, polyester, acrylic, polyamide yarn, upcycled copper rings, LED lights and recycled polyester net 120 x 130 x 10 cm £4,430
Douglas Gray Fading Light, Venice Oil 61 x 122 cm £14,000
Marita Ferro Fading Luminescent Corals
David Hawson Sea Cliff Watercolour, pen and ink 17 x 53 cm £600
Derek Pearce Frisky Dolphins Bronze 49 x 150 x 75 cm £25,620
Susan Noble Huntcliff Wave I
Linocut 40 x 60 cm £340
Stephen Rew By Your Side Bronze 45 x 60 x 45 cm £4,750
Tushar Sabale Parked Boats, Battersea Oil on board 25 x 40 cm £950
David Sawyer RBA Eastbourne Pier Oil on board 32 x 61 cm £2,500
James Stewart Plenty More Fish Oil on board 71 x 108 cm £2,500
Steven Smith AROI Sardines Oil on board 20 x 30 cm £795
Lotta Teale ROI Sailing Boats, Sanary-sur-Mer Oil on canvas board 24 x 18 cm £625
Watercolour 54 x 66 cm
£2,500
Amy Whittingham Tide Line Cast glass and found beach plastic 15 x 72 x 20 cm
£3,500
Pippa Unwin Little Tern
Alabaster 40 x 30 x 20 cm
£3,750
Ross Van Nairn Mending the Nets - Mevagissey Harbour Oil 58 x 85 cm £3,500
Cathy Veale Kayaks View 4
Works by Members
Colin Allbrook Menorcan Harbour Watercolour 35 x 51 cm £1,200
Tony Allain The Boat Yard Soft pastel 23 x 30 cm £850
Jenny Aitken Evening in the Boatyard Oil 20 x 30 cm £875
David Allen Bass Rock, North Berwick
Oil 26 x 30 cm £750
Peter Barker Sunset Breakers, Bedruthan Oil 30 x 20 cm £795
James Bartholomew Morning from the Point
Acrylic 75 x 75 cm £1,950
Wendy Borello Raggie Cave
Watercolour 29 x 22 cm £650
Robert Brindley Boats at Low Tide Oil on board 20 x 25 cm £700
Gareth Brown Beached Root VII Oil 81 x 121 cm £5,750
Mark Buck Britannia Bridge and Cnicht Watercolour on paper 45 x 32 cm £800
Alistair Butt Busy at Whitby Fish Dock Oil 25 x 35 cm £800
Trevor Chamberlain Shelter, Brighton Promenade Watercolour 35 x 55cm £1,850
Brian Collins Crest Oil 40 x 40 cm £795
Simon Conolly A Drop in the Ocean Ceramic 75 x 75 x 8 cm £1,500
David Curtis View across the Harbour, St Abbs Oil 43 x 53 cm £2,975
Peter Cronin Brixham Watercolour 30 x 30 cm £600
Madeleine Davenport Tyres as Fenders
Watercolour 25 x 29 cm £700
Roger Dellar As the Sun Comes, Olhao Oil 30 x 25 cm £675
Nick Grove Getting High, Under the Pier Oil on board 30 x 60 cm £1,850
Tim Hall Peel passing St Clements Rock, Mousehole Regatta Oil on canvas 80 x 99 cm £8,500
Andrew Hird Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes Oil on stretched linen 50 x 70 cm £1,800
Benjamin Hope Millennium Bridge from the Beach #2 Oil on panel 25 x 25 cm £1,000
David Howell La Lavandou, Provence Oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm £3,500
Richard Horner Movement and Light at Rinsey Oil on canvas 45 x 60 cm £2,100
Geoff Hunt Farewell to England: HMS Victory leaving St. Helen's at dawn, 15 September 1805 Oil 56 x 76 cm £17,500
Robert King The Returning Tide Oil 44 x 54 cm £3,500
Raymond Leech Blakeney Crabbing Oil 23 x 31 cm £875
Craig Lee Sure-footed Oil on panel 30 x 25 cm £625
Geoffrey Huband Dutch Fishing Pincks putting to Sea in a Breeze Oil 51 x 71 cm £3,500
Tom Marsh Morning Light, Polignano, Italy Oil on board 20 x 20 cm £790
John Lines Low Water Work Oil 25 x 33 cm £750
Srirangam Mohankumar Full Sail Watercolour 46 x 33 cm £1,400
Jamie Medlin At the End of the Day - Land's End Oil on canvas 31 x 46 cm £4,950
J F Morgan A Cracking Breeze - Racers in West Solent Oil 51 x 51 cm £1,000
Patsy Moore Ready and Waiting Oil on canvas 42 x 60 cm 1,050
Robbie Murdoch Agios Nikolaos Harbour Oil on board 28 x 36 cm £800
Mark Myers HMS "Achilles" landing troops at Belle Isle Watercolour 41 x 56 cm £2,550
Greg Ramsden Return to Grayhound Oil on board 30 x 41 cm
£1,250
Benjamin Mowll Afternoon Sail Oil 20 x 24 cm £1,200
Keith Richens La Fleur du Cap Oil on canvas board 46 x 56 cm £3,250
Matthew Phinn Runswick Bay Watercolour on paper 50 x 20 cm £850
Duncan Palmar Tranquil Morning, Polperro Oil on board 51 x 76 cm £2,750
Gillian Roberts Low Tide, Evening Light Oil 36 x 26 cm £600
Michael Salt After the Storm Oil 60 x 60 cm £1,950
Carolyn Simpson Octopus
Soapstone 24 x 35 x 25 cm £1,800
John Stillman Boats on the Solent Oil on board 30 x 40 cm £1,600
Christopher Slater St Michael's Mount Cornwall Oil 40 x 50 cm £1,285
Nicholas St John Rosse Venturing Out Oil 76 x 56 cm £3,250
Haidee-Jo Summers The Geese at Cadgwith Cove Oil on canvasl 41 x 51 cm £1,800
Karl Terry Cliffs near Luz Oil on board 30 x 40 cm £1,180
Martin Swan Late Evening at Seaview Oil on canvas 50 x 75 cm £1,600
Andrzej Szymczyk Hawksbill Turtle Couple Bronze 61 x 49 x 50 cm £8,000
Peter Wileman Dawn over Bamburgh Oil 40 x 40 cm £2,200
Deborah Walker The Bluest of Things Grey Watercolour 39 x 93 cm £2,500
David Thomas The Arctic Corsair Watercolour 65 x 50 cm £1,400
Paul Wright Escort Oil 61 x 91 cm £8,500
Tony Williams Jarowslaw Dabrowski in London Oil 58 x 69 cm £5,750
John Scott Martin Building the UK's Future Defense on the Clyde Oil on canvas 36 x 76 cm £2,250
Royal Society of Marine Artists
Members
Jenny Aitken Tel: 07776 157965
Tony Allain PS Tel: 07927 552695
Colin Allbrook RI Tel: 01769 560041
David Allen Tel: 01423 879484
Peter Barker Tel: 01780 720427
James Bartholomew Tel: 01257 462333
Wendy Borello Tel: 00267 3161821
Robert Brindley Tel: 01228 597005
Gareth Brown Tel: 01945 774312
Mark Buck Tel: 07973 383157
Alistair Butt Tel: 01623 555650
Brian Collins Tel: 020 8421 5675
Simon Conolly Tel: 01746 712943
Peter Cronin Tel: 01446 796652
David Curtis FROI Tel: 01302 719624
Richard Dack Tel: 01502 711017
Roger Dellar PS RI ROI Tel: 01428 604504
Patrick Donovan Tel: 01174 622379
Neil Faulkner Tel: 01782 643930
Nick Grove Tel: 07951 249559
Tim Hall Tel: 01736 350531
Benjamin Hope NEAC PS ROI RP Tel: 020 7930 6844
Richard Horner Tel: 01736 761168
David Howell Tel: 01347 889576
Geoffrey Huband Tel: 01736 711832
Geoff Hunt Tel: 020 8543 3787
Raymond Leech Tel: 01502 582424
John Lines Tel: 01788 578522
Tom Marsh ROI Tel: 07738 592710
Brian Mitchell Tel: 01736 797679
Srirangam Mohankumar Tel: 07880 736290
Benjamin Mowll ROI Tel: 07803 172020
Mark Myers FASMA Tel: 01288 331353
Duncan Palmar Tel: 07484 879565
Matthew Phinn RI Tel: 07799 847215
Keith Richens Tel: 01892 67 6737
Gillian Roberts Tel: 01937 583102
Michael Salt Tel: 01384 375652
John Scott Martin RBA Tel: 07831 495668
Carolyn Simpson RBA Tel: 07557 552993
Elizabeth Smith Tel: 01275 866396
Nicholas St John Rosse Tel: 01208 643037
John Stillman Tel: 02083 952935
Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI Tel: 07757 276695
Martin Swan Tel: 01983 530894
Andrzej Szymczyk Tel: 07450 918788
Karl Terry AROI Tel: 07958 495787
David Thomas Tel: 01482 845176
Deborah Walker RI Tel: 01889 504102
Peter Wileman FROI Tel: 01327 353717
Tony Williams Tel: 01769 581177
Paul Wright Tel: 01428 653334
Rowena Wright Tel: 01983 246493
Associate Members
Madeleine Davenport Tel: 01764 670267
Andrew Hird Tel: 07584 487679
Craig Lee Tel: 07342 951021
Jamie Medlin Tel: 07967 383425
Patsy Moore Tel: 01798 861860
Robbie Murdoch Tel: 01428 483496
Greg Ramsden Tel: 07733 225662
Christopher Slater Tel: 07983 285209
Life Members
Trevor Chamberlain FROI Tel: 01992 586195
Margaret Heath Tel: 01323 412070
Moira Huntly PPPS RI Tel: 01386 853607
Robert King RI Tel: 02380 243017
J F Morgan Tel: 01507 441500
Alan Runagall Tel: 01268 770414
Dennis Syrett RBA PPROI Tel: 01844 347596
Bert Wright Tel: 020 8567 7119
In Memoriam
We are sorry to report the passing of Frederick Beckett Hon RBA Hon RI FROI RSMA (1933–2025), Barry Peckham ROI RSMA (1945–2024) and Sonia Robinson RSMA (1927–2025)
Acknowledgements
Officers / Trustees
President: John Scott Martin RBA PPRBSA FRSA
Vice President: Geoffrey Huband
Hon. Secretary: Tony Williams
Hon. Treasurer: Tom Marsh ROI
Council
Tony Allain PS
Brian Collins
David Curtis FROI
Nick Grove
Geoff Hunt
Mark Myers
Carolyn Simpson RBA
Karl Terry AROI
FBA Trustee: Carolyn Simpson RBA
AGBI Steward: Richard Horner
Archivist: Robert Brindley
Demonstrations and Events: Duncan Palmar
Website: Alistair Butt
Social Media: Jenny Aitken
Selection & Hanging Committees
Jenny Aitken
Colin Allbrook
Peter Barker
Gareth Brown
Mark Buck
Brian Collins
Simon Conolly
David Curtis FROI
Geoff Hunt
Tom Marsh ROI
Mark Myers FASMA
Duncan Palmar
Carolyn Simpson RBA
Andrzej Szymczyk
Tony Williams
Officers are ex-officio members of all committees
Honorary Members
Terence Brack
J G Davis CBE
For over 200 years the AGBI has provided assistance to professional artists and their dependants in times of need. Funds are urgently needed for the continuation of this work.
Office of the Institution: 15 Churton Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 2LY
www.agbi.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 212667
The works for sale in the RSMA Annual Exhibition are available to buy through the Own Art scheme. Own Art interest free loans make it easy and affordable to buy original, high quality contemporary art and craft.
Representative 0% APR. Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
