ROI | The Royal Institute of Oil Painters

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The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI)

The Royal Institute of Oil Painters was founded in 1882, promoting and exhibiting work of the highest standard in oil paint. The ROI provides a centre of excellence and encouragement to all who love this robust medium and is based at the Mall Galleries, London SW1.

The ROI Annual Open Exhibition is held annually in November/December when non-members are afforded the opportunity to exhibit alongside established ROI members.

Latest News

ROI 2024 Paint Live Event

Dec 1, 2024

We had an amazing turnout this year, with artists of all levels—from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic novices—bravely stepping outdoors to paint in iconic Central London. The weather was on our side, with mild conditions that made the day even more enjoyable. A...

ROI 2024 Annual Exhibition – Prize winners

Nov 29, 2024

The Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Mall Galleries would like to congratulate all prizewinners at the ROI Annual Exhibition 2024 and give a special thank you to all our prize-givers. The Artist Magazine Award Valerie Pirlot AROI - 'Kitchen, Morning Light' ...

AGBI auction of paintings – ROI Annual Exhibition 2024

Nov 13, 2024

A fundraising silent auction As part of this year's annual exhibition the ROI have a silent auction of paintings to help raise funds for the AGBI (Artists' General Benevolent Institution). The AGBI - a charity dedicated to support visual artists and their dependents...

ROI Annual Exhibition

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Find out more about the ROI Annual Exhibition which takes place at the Mall Galleries in London. This year’s Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition runs from November 28th to December 14th and will once again showcase the work of many of the UK’s most exciting young painters alongside the work of more established names.

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ROI Friends

Our Friends are very important to the ROI and it is a great way to engage with the society with a selection of events organized annually and exclusively for Friends to spend time with ROI members, such as painting picnics and studio tours to name but a few.

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ROI Educational Outreach

Find out more about the exciting and pioneering educational outreach work being done in partnership with schools by our ROI members.

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Image of Adebanji Alade outside with pupils and their artwork

ROI on social media

royalinstituteofoilpainters

@addictivesketcher #Repost @royalinstituteofoilpai

@mallgalleries #News: The FBA has partnered with B

@rogerdellar Yesterday I had the pleasure of demon

@haideejosummers Story time … it’s a long one…
Painting this evening at the ROI art event reminded me of an altogether different experience that I had here as a much younger artist, and I thought I’d share it in case it helps anybody.
I first exhibited with the ROI in 1997. In those days as a young adult I was painfully shy. For a few years I won prizes in the Young Artists category, and of course it meant the world to me. I came to the private views and collected my certificates but I didn’t dare to speak to anybody.
A year or so later I found out about the portrait event which takes place during the exhibition, and came down to London on my own to take part. After all I did love painting portraits, and did so all the time at the Nottingham Society of Artists, where I knew almost everybody.
Nevertheless it was a really brave step for me, to make the journey and even to walk through the doors into the gallery that evening.
Well, I had no idea there would be so many people. It was packed! It was so hard to find a space to set up. And of course I didn’t know a soul.
But the model was a man dressed as a chef with a white chef’s hat, which I was excited about. So I settled my nerves enough to paint. And I did enjoy getting lost in the process of painting. But as the evening wore on, my courage started to desert me. It’s hard to explain how I was feeling… overwhelmed … scared of people talking to me… also scared of nobody talking to me!
I managed to get through the evening and left as quickly as I could, and as soon as I was out into the cold evening air on the Mall the tears started. As I hurried away I thought I would never want to repeat the experience!
I wish I could go back and give that young version of me a big hug.
Anyway… eventually, needless to say, I did gain the courage to go back.
Fast forward to 2024 and the Mall Galleries feels like my home from home in London. I’m the Vice President of the ROI now. I probably knew half the artists in the room tonight and I’m never, never scared of talking to artists anymore. Other people sometimes, sure, but not US!
The art world feels a much smaller place these days.
Continued in comments…

@lindaalexanderart What a wonderful evening of por

@lottateale Thank you so much David Sanderson for

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