Alumni news and exhibitions, October 2018

Christopher Green (DY 2008) has four drawings in a group show titled ‘Drawn to the Line’ at Piers Feetham Gallery in Fulham, 10- 27 October. Click here to view the online catalogue. One of the works is shown below:

Hannah Murgatroyd is included in Anomie's newly published Review Of Contemporary Painting for her show Landscape as a Peopled World at Exeter Phoenix in 2017. The paintings of 40 contemporary artists from Britain are discussed through national and international solo exhibitions of their work. Featured artists include Kaye Donachie, Rose Wylie and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Hannah Murgatroyd and Grant Foster (both DY 2006)  have been awarded the Von Goetz Art Frieze Week Residency and will be making work in the Brixton site until 12th October. The award offers artists a dynamic forum in which to make and exhibit their work during Frieze Week. The residency will culminate in a showcase of studio works and works produced on site, with a drinks reception on Wed 17 October 5-8pm. 

Rachel Mercer (DY 2013) would like to invite alumni to her forthcoming group show at Mercer Chance Gallery, titled 'Babes in the Orchard'. Rachel will be exhibiting alongside alumna Lindsey McLean (DY 2014) and current Drawing Year student Alyssa Hart. PV: 4 October 6-10pm. The show will be open until 14th Oct.

Jack Fawdry Tatham (DY 2017) is exhibiting new etchings in his forthcoming show 'The Shrewdness of Apes' at Camberwell College of Art Gallery, 45 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UL. PV: 4 October 5-8pm. The show will be open 24 Sept-25 Oct, Mon-Fri 10-6pm. Please rsvp if you wish to attend the PV. 

A group show featuring work by Perienne Christian (DY 2007)  curated by Ryan Gander and Jonathan P Watts, opens at Cork Street Galleries on 4 October 5-10pm. Details here.

Gabrielle Lockwood Estrin (DY 2014) will be leading a drawing workshop at Parasol Unit in London Sat 20 October, 10-1pm. Details here.

Mercer Chance, the gallery set up by Rachel Mercer and Michael Chance (both DY 2013), will be hosting its final exhibition before the gallery closes its doors at the end of the month. During the course of the last four years, the gallery has supported RDS alumni, offering them a space in which to exhibit and reflect on their work without commercial pressures. Over 60 exhibitions have taken place at the gallery, which became a valuable hub for discussion about contemporary drawing and painting. It will be sorely missed, not least by Rachel and Michael themselves! They would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone that has exhibited, visited and supported the project. They are moving on to spend more time on their own painting practices and have both found studios in London. Alumni are invited to the Private View of Michael Chance's exhibition next week:

Michael Chance's exhibition 'Nudge Nudge Wink Wink' opens at Mercer Chance on Thursday 18 October 7-10pm (continues until 28th Oct, Fri-Sun 11-6pm or by appointment).

Douglas Farthing (DY 2015) was recently interviewed for a programme which is now available on BBC iplayer. It features examples of his war drawings and an interview. Click here to watch. The same drawings will be exhibited at the Cornhall in Diss, Norfolk at end of this month. On Saturday 3 November Doug will be leading a free drawing workshop, followed by a talk and Q&A. Details here. 

Tim Patrick is exhibiting recent drawings and paintings in a group show in Brighton. Click here to view the catalogue. PV: 16 October 6-8,30pm (open 16-21 October, 10am-6.30pm).  Address: 40 Gloucester Rd, Brighton, BN1 4AQ. Details here.

Ben Westley Clarke (DY 2017) is this year's recipient of the Richard Ford Award, the travel scholarship to Spain. He will be spending two months in Madrid, drawing in the Prado. You can follow his progress here.

Alumni news and exhibitions, September 2018

Francesca Mollett (DY 2015) would like to invite alumni to INDEX, an exhibition of work by 12 RDS alumni at Stoke Newington Library Gallery. PV 4 September 6-10pm. Exhibition runs 5-10 September, 10am-6pm. Artists: Becky Brewis, Aisha Farr, Holly Froy, Iona Roberts, Anna Rumsby, Qiong Wu, Anna Tveritinova, Euphrosyne Andrews, Shanti Gorton, Elvira Rose Oddy, Samantha Marshall-Lockyer, Francesca Mollett.

Melissa Kime (DY 2012) would like to invite alumni to her solo show 'Can I just have one more moon dance?' at Jonathan Ross Gallery (6-27 September). PVs: 6 September 6.30–8.30pm / 9 September 12–3pm / Thu 27 September 6.30–8.30pm (visitors with long hair are requested to incorporate a plait of their choice). Click here to read the press release. 

Olivia Kemp (DY 2014) will be exhibiting new work in the exhibition 'Early Modern Matters' at James Freeman Gallery (6-29 September). PV 6 September 6,30-8,30pm.

Tim Patrick (DY 2015) has moved into a studio in Camberwell and would like to invite alumni to his Open Studio (6-9th September), with an opening night on Thursday 6 September 6-9pm.  See invitation here. Tim will also be running regular life drawing classes on Mondays and portrait drawing on Tuesdays (starting mid-September). Details here or email tim@timpatrick.co.uk.

Grace Morgan Pardo (DY 2013) would like to invite alumni to her forthcoming show Queen of Knots at Shipton Street Gallery (Haig House, London E2 7RZ). PV 6 September 7-9 pm. The show will be open 2-20th September and will be open to the public on Sundays during the Columbia Road Flower Market from 11 am - 2 pm.  Should anyone wish to arrange an appointment at any other time please see contact details here.

Daniel Preece (RDS Faculty) is exhibiting at Tregony Gallery in Cornwall (11-29 September) and is also part of a show in St Ives at The Penwith Gallery (8-29 September).

In July 2018 Oliver McConnie (DY 2014) exhibited at Sarabande, the Foundation set up by Lee Alexander McQueen (1969-2010). Click here to see images of his new work, including recent etchings and monotypes.

Mary Roberts-Holmes (DY 2012) has been busy setting up a gallery/workshop space in Bristol. After securing a location on Stafford Street near East Street, Mary and her team have been time dismantling and recreating the space which will be called CarabooProjects (named after an infamous local character, ‘Princess Caraboo'). The space will also be used for talks and events, as well as offering studio space to 11 artists. Mary would like to invite Bristol-based alumni to the first exhibition to be help in the space: PV Thursday 20 September, which will see workshops, talks and community events running in conjunction with the main show, with an emphasis on community involvement. Alumni can support Mary through Kickstarter (4 days left!).

Current alumni exhibitions:
Various alumni and RDS Senior Faculty members in Prince and Patron at Buckingham Palace (until 30th September), His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday exhibition; Rebecca Harper, Jenny Smith and Oliver Mullhill at The Concept Store (until 1st September); Daniel Preece at John Martin Gallery (until 7th September); Kathryn Maple in John Moores Painting Prize in Liverpool (until 18th November); Ben Nathan atARTBAT FEST 9 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Alumni news and exhibitions, April 2018

Charlie Masson (DY 2011) has founded a creative hub in the countryside of southern Tuscany called La Vallonea, which is due to open over the Easter weekend. Charlie says: "Through its educational programs, residencies and exhibitions, La Vallonea aims to cultivate an environment conducive to creativity to a local and international community of artists by providing resources and facilities in an inspiring location. Artist residencies, which include accommodation and studio space are granted annually to professional artists working in a variety of disciplines including: photography, printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture, and ceramics." La Vallonea is located in Capalbio (150 kilometres south of Florence). For more information see their website here.

Chloe Le Tissier and Sabrina Shah (both DY 2011) will be exhibiting new paintings in their forthcoming exhibition Feeding Time at Mercer Chance Gallery. Exhibition dates: 5-15 April. PV 5 April 6-9pm. Details here. 

Ongoing alumni exhibitions: 
Charlie Reed and Jessie Makinson at Alice Black Gallery until 14th April; Dan MacCarthy at the Zetter Hotel; Douglas Farthing at Castle Museum (until 20th May).

Alumni news and exhibitions, March 2018

Illustrator James Albon (DY 2015) has an exhibition coming up in Paris (7 March - 6 April). It celebrates the launch of the French translation of his book "Her Bark & Her Bite", called "C'est Mort, Darling". The exhibition will consist of original artwork from the book, as well as a selection of other illustrations and prints. Address: Galerie Michel Lagarde, 13 Rue Bouchardon, Paris 75010. PV: 6 March, 6.30pm.

Alumni Geraint Evans, Michael Chance, Oliver Mulvihill, Mark Hanson, Rachel Mercer, Tom Scotcher and Ben Westley-Clarke are exhibiting in 'Through the Looking Glass' at Mercer Chance in Hoxton. The exhibition features self-portraits by 13 contemporary British artists. PV: 1 March 7-10pm. Details here.

Large woodcuts by Dan MacCarthy (DY 2011) are currently on display in the Atrium of the Zetter Hotel in London, alongside work by RCA ceramicist Helen Carr. Address: St John's Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1M 5RJ. The show is on for 6 weeks, open 7 days a week. Details here.

Two paintings by Douglas Farthing (DY 2016) have been selected for an exhibition in Norwich: Inheritance at Castle Museum & Art Gallery (3 March - 20 May). Details here.

Ben Nathan (DY 2009)'s latest interactive sound installation opened in Berlin last week. Details here.

Ongoing alumni exhibitions: 
Tyga Helme and Constanza Dessain at Piccadilly Arcade until 28th Feb; Ondřej Roubík at New Gallery Prague until 9th March; Lindsay Sekulowicz at Kew Gardens until 11th March; Anna Ilsley, Paul Patrick Fenner, Jessie Makinson and Hannah Murgatroyd at Gallery 98 until 17th March; Beth Collar at Cell Project Space until 25th March; Charlie Reed and Jessie Makinson at Alice Black Gallery until 14th April. 

Alumni news and exhibitions, February 2018

Jake Garfield (DY 2013) will be exhibiting new work at Mercer Chance in his forthcoming solo show The Real Thing which opens on 1 February (7-10pm), continuing until 11th February. 

Lorna May Wadsworth (DY 2005) has a forthcoming exhibition at Philip Mould Gallery on Pall Mall. The Milliner (9-18 Feb) will feature her paintings alongside hats by Victoria Grant. Open 10-6pm Mon-Fri and on the weekend of 17th and 18th Feb (closed 10th and 11th). A special feature on Lorna's work appeared in the Financial Times' magazine last week.

Drawing Year alumni Anna Ilsley (DY 2010), Paul Patrick Fenner (DY 2012), Jessie Makinson (DY 2012) and Hannah Murgatroyd (DY 2006) are showing alongside Anna Jung Seo and Paige Perkins in ‘Night Follows Night’ at Gallery 98 in Ramsgate. Open Thu-Sat, 11-5pm until 17th March. Address: 98 High Street, Ramsgate. More info here.

Ongoing alumni exhibitions:

Oliver Bedeman at Black Swan Arts in Frome until 18th February

Ben Westley Clarke, Melissa Kime and Grant Foster at Turf Projects until 25th February, accompanied by a series of events.

Lindsay Sekulowicz at Kew Gardens until 11th March

Alumni news and exhibitions, January 2018

Kathryn Maple (DY 2013) has two paintings in 'Fresh Paint' , the inaugural exhibition at Messums Wiltshire, which opens on 5 January at 6pm. The exhibition will continue until 4th February. Details here.

Gideon Summerfield drawing in India

Gideon Summerfield (DY 2017) has just returned from a tour of India, which included visiting the art schools in Jaipur and Udaipur. Gideon described the trip as "an incredible experience" saying: "I was thrilled to be so welcomed and have the opportunity to join Indian art students in a life class. In addition it felt a privilege to view the extraordinary collection of Rajasthani miniature art in a number of historic and very beautiful palaces". See photos here.

Christabel Mac Greevy (DY 2017) was recently featured in I-D, the British magazine dedicated to fashion, music and art. Click here to read the online interview, in which she talks about the importance of drawing in her practice.

Sophie Charalambous (DY 2009) is showing at the London Art Fair (17-21 Jan) at Stand G2. The fair takes place in Islington and the nearest tube is Angel.

Olivia Kemp (DY 2014) has work in Borderlines, a group exhibition at James Freeman Gallery which opens on 11 January, 6,30-8,30pm and continues until 3rd February. Details here. Olivia will also be showing at London Art Fair (17-21 Jan) at stand G5. The fair is just a few minutes walk from the gallery. 

Jessie Makinson (DY 2012) is one of the artists featured in 'If You Can't Stand the Heat' at Roaming Projects in Hackney (12-28 January). Private view: 11 January 6-9pm. Details here.

Ben Westley Clarke (DY 2017) has organized a show titled 'Frivolous Convulsions', which will take place at Turf Projects in Croydon. Private view: 11 January 5-9pm. The exhibition will continue until 25th February. Open Wed-Sun, 11-5pm. Also included in the exhibition are alumni Melissa Kime and Grant Foster. The show is complemented by a series of events, details of which can be found here.

Alumni Jackson Rees, Nancy Haslam-Chance, Ben Westley Clarke and Lee Cutter (all DY 2017) are part of Mercer Chance's forthcoming exhibition 'A View with a Room'. Private View on 18 January 7-10pm, continues until 28th January. Details here. 

Alumnae Katie Brookes, Alison Boult, Nikki Gardham, Rebecca Harper, Kathryn Maple and Elizabeth McCarten (all DY 2013) would like to invite alumni to 'The River Project', a large-scale collaborative exhibition opening for three weeks between 8-28 January at Sun Pier House in Chatham, Kent. "Visitors will be able to take part in creative workshops, making drawings and paintings inspired by the river and imagery from the local area that will be assembled into a giant painted collage throughout January. Family drop-in days will run on Saturdays. On the evening of 26th January we are going to open our doors for the finished exhibition, which you are invited to come along and see!" Details here. 

Lottie Stoddart (DY 2015) has spent the last three months in India, continuing to update her drawing and travel blog, which you can read here.

Anna Ilsley (DY 2010) would like to invite alumni to her forthcoming group exhibition 'The Reinvention of Love'. Inspired by philosopher Byung-Chul Han, the exhibition considers the importance of love and the complexities of desire we may face in today's individualistic society. PV: 20 January 5-8pm at Century Soho, 61- 63 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6LQ. Please RSVP by emailing leo@centuryclub.co.uk.  

Rebecca Harper (DY 2013) has paintings on show at the Galerie Nicholas Deman as part of the Paris Deco Off, for De le Cuona's new fabric launch (18-22 January). 

Alumni exhibitions in December

Nikki Gardham (DY 2013)’s upcoming solo show, Patchwork, at Mercer Chance will run from 7-17 December. Opening night 7 December 7-10pm. Details here.  

Alumni exhibitions in November

A Broken Ear by Rosie Vohra (soft sculpture, 2017)

Rosie Vohra (DY 2014) is showing new work in a two person exhibition, together with artist Andrew Lister. The venue is Assembly House in Leeds and the opening night will be on 2 November, 6pm. Read the press release here.

Jessie Makinson (DY 2012) is showing with Beatrice Lettice Boyle in a two person show called 'Poem of the Pillow' curated by Kate Neave, at Frameless Gallery in Clerkenwell Green. Opening: 25 October, 6-9pm. The exhibition continues until 4 November, Wed–Sat 11-6pm. Details here.

Emily Morey (DY 2015) will be showing in 'New Stuff', an exhibition of contemporary painting at 44 Ashdown Crescent, Gospel Oak, London, NW5 4QE. The Private View is on Thursday 26 October, 5-9pm. The exhibition continues Friday 27 - Sunday 29 October, 12-6pm. More info here.

Qiong Wu (DY 2016) would like to invite alumni to her forthcoming solo show, 'Riddle', at PSW Project Space, The Rum Factory on 28-30 October. The private view will be on Friday 27 October, 6,30-9pm. The address is: Bow Arts, Unit 4 Pennington Street Warehouse, Pennington Street, London E1W 2BB. Click here to view the invitation.

Josie Deighton (DY 2015) is in a group exhibition in Madrid at Teatro La Grada (open until 4th December). Josie's painting is a view from the Tea Building Studios done from memory. Details here. 

Antonia Bruce (DY 2004) would like to invite alumni to join her on 2 November at 26 Holborn Viaduct for an event marking the closing of her exhibition 'Cactus and Creatures', which also features artwork by Claire Price (DY 2013) and Rose Arbuthnott (DY 2010). Details here. The exhibition is open until Saturday 4th November.

Michael Chance (DY 2013)'s exhibition of paintings, 'The Ruin of Man', opens in London on Thursday 2 November. Details here.

Anna Ilsley (DY 2010) is part of a group exhibition titled 'Body' at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery in Wandsworth, London (16 Nov - 21 Dec). PV 16 November 6,30-9pm. Details here.

Also on 16 November there will be the private view of 75 Works On Paper at Beers London which features drawings by alumnae Anna Ilsley (DY 2010), Jessie Makinson (DY 2012) and Kathryn Maple (DY 2013). Details here.

You can continue to follow the progress of the five alumni currently on the RDS's Teaching Residency in India by reading Lottie Stoddart 's brilliant blog 'A letter from India'.  Chris Wallbank is also keeping a diary of his time there.

New work from both alumni and faculty artists Daniel Preece, Sara Lee Roberts, Greg Ward, Meg Buick, Judi Green, Alex Cree, Mark Hanson and Gethin Evans form part of Tregony Gallery's forthcoming group show titled Drawing In (14 Nov-6 January). Details here.

Suki Jobson (DY 2015) is in a group exhibition titled 'Drift' at JGM Gallery, 24 Howie St, London SW11 4AY. PV 22 November 6,30-8,30pm. Details here.


Tim Patrick (DY 2014) is exhibiting drawings and prints at Gallery 40 in Brighton. The Private View will take place on Tuesday 21 November 6-8.30pm. Open 21-26 November 2-7pm. Click here to view the invite.

Anna Ilsley (DY 2010) is part of a group exhibition titled 'Body' at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery in Wandsworth, London (16 Nov - 21 Dec). PV 16 November 6,30-9pm. Details here.

75 Works On Paper at Beers London features drawings by alumnae Anna Ilsley (DY 2010), Jessie Makinson (DY 2012) and Kathryn Maple (DY 2013). Details here.

Alumni exhibitions in October

'Buses turning (Piccadilly Gardens)' by Rob Pointon

Rob Pointon (DY 2005) has a solo exhibition at Mandells Gallery in Norwich (1-28 October). Drawing lies at the core of his work, although he now works predominantly in oils. Click here for more details of the show, including a short film in which Rob talks about his new paintings. Rob has been International Artist in Residence with the Manchester Airport Group, travelling the world creating bodies of work from locations such as Hong Kong, New York, and Qatar.

Rachel Mercer (DY 2013) would like to invite alumni to her forthcoming exhibition Lady Garden, a join exhibition with Enya Lachman-Curl at Mercer Chance gallery.  The Private view is on Thursday 5 October 7-10pm.

Olivia Kemp (DY 2014) has a solo show at Browse and Darby in London from 6 October to 3 November. Details here.

An exhibition titled 'Cactus and Creatures' features artwork by nineteen emerging and established artists from both the UK and Mexico, including alumnae Claire Price (DY 2013), Antonia Bruce (DY 2004) and Rose Arbuthnott (DY 2010). The show will be running concurrently at two separate venues in London (6 October-4 November). The Private View will take place on 5 October 6-9pm. Details here. The exhibiting artists are recent participants in the First Food Artists Residency, a reciprocal, residency-based initiative for UK and Mexican artists set up by Antonia Bruce.

Drawings by Fraser Scarfe (DY 2013) and Sophie Charalambous (DY 2009) will be on display at the Triforium, Temple Church, London EC4Y 7BB, in an exhibition of selected finalists from the last five years of the Discerning Drawing Bursary. Alumni are invited to the Private View which will take place on Tuesday 10 October 7-8,30pm. Download invitation here. The exhibition will be open until 26th October.

Fraser Scarfe also has work in ‘The Unexpected Show’ at The Usher Gallery in Lincoln (until 15th October). 

Alumni exhibitions in September

Seven RDS alumni have been shortlisted for the Sunday Times Watercolour Prize 2017. Elizabeth McCarten (DY 2013) is the recipient of Jackson’s Young Artist Award for her ethereal watercolour The Boboli Gardens. Her prize-winning watercolour was painted in Florence, shortly after a recent residency at Borgo Pignano in Italy. The other shortlisted alumni are: Alison Boult, Sophie Charalambous, Michelle Cioccoloni, Rebecca Harper, Christopher Green and Hannah Turner-Duffin. See all selected works here. The exhibition will take place at Mall Galleries in London from 19 – 24 September, before touring to a number of venues across the UK.

'Yellow Path (Deborah)' by Eleanor Watson

As winner of the Jonathan Vickers Fine Art Award, Eleanor Watson (DY 2016) has spent the last year exploring the life stories of a selection of influential Women in the history of Derbyshire, creating a new series of paintings which includes interiors, gardens, landscapes and still lives. Eleanor's solo exhibition, titled Dear Reader,, opens at Derby Museum and Art Gallery on 16 September and continues until 19 November. To find out more about how Eleanor developed her project during the residency, click here.

Since February Jessie Makinson (DY 2012) has been Artist in Residence at City and Guilds Art School. Her residency is coming to an end with an exhibition alongside the MA students. Jessie will be installing a screen printed wallpaper alongside paintings, drawings, ceramics and a floor cloth. The Private View is on 3 September 6-9pm at City and Guilds Art School, 124 Kennington Park Road, SE11 4DJ. The exhibition continues 14 - 17 September.

Work by Jessie Makinson and Grant Foster (DY 2006) will be shown in 'You see me like a UFO' in Ascot, Berkshire (reachable by train on the Reading line from London Waterloo). The show is open by appointment from 9 September to 7 October, details here.

'Tom and Florian (Dalston)' by Oliver Bedeman

Oliver Bedeman (DY 2008)'s solo show 'Song of a Stranger' opens at The Fine Art Society on 12 September and continues until 29 September. Address: 148 New Bond Street, London W1S 2JT. Details here. 

The exhibition and conclusion of Olivia Kemp (DY 2014)'s residency with Art For Guernsey opens in the Market Square Buildings at St Peter Port on 27 September and runs until 7 October 7th. It will be a display of over 40 drawings, both from her recent residency on the island and studio work. The centre piece is a large scale drawing inspired by Guernsey and commissioned for the exhibition, 'The Where That Was' (shown below).