Prizewinners At This Year's ROI Annual Exhibition

Former Cabinet Minister,  now TV presenter,  the Rt Hon Michael Portillo was there to present the prizes at this year's exhibition. Here are some of them.

Winsor & Newton Oil Painters Awards (under 35)

1st Prize - Natalia Avdeeva 'self portrait

2nd Prize - Lachlan Goudi 'Performance'

3rd Prize - Fedor Gridnev ' Lena'

Phyllis Roberts Award - Irena Chmura 'Joanna'

The Le Clerc Fowle Medal - Richard Combes and the Alan Gourley Memorial Prize -

Richard Combes 'Turkish Taylor'. Also to the same artist the  L. Cornelissen & Son Award -

for  'Finishing Touches, Franklin St collected   on Richard's behalf  by his agent.

Frank Herring Easel Award - Dennis Gaskin 'Fast Food'

Menena Joy Schwabe Memorial Award -  Roger R Jones 'Shrimp Fisherman, Morecambe Bay

Dartington Crystal Chalice - David Curtis

The DAS Award - Roger Dellar ' London Lights'

And as a "thank you"  to Michael, ROI member Lucy McKie presented him with one of her beautiful still life pictures.

Many congratulations to all the prize winners and to everyone who made this year's annual exhibition the best in years.

Art Event Evening Busiest Ever

The Royal Institute of Oil Painters Art Event evening was a wonderful
success this week. The fabulous and very patient sitters were President
Peter Wileman, his daughter Olivia, and the daughter of Vice President Ian
Cryer. The ROI members demonstrating included Ian Cryer, Roger Dellar, Luis
Morris, June Mendoza, Ronald Morgan, Dennis Syrett, Bill Dean and Lucy
McKie. Many non-members also painted alongside and kept their strength up
with plenty of wine and festive mince pies! Everyone had a thoroughly
enjoyable evening and it was a fascinating chance to see so many different
styles and approaches to painting.

Here are some pictures from the evening taken by Pete Bond

ROI Annual Exhibtion Gets of to a Sparkling Start

The private view at the Mall Galleries was a full house with invited guests coming from far and wide to see what many people are saying is the best ROI exhibition in years. It was opened by the former Cabinet Minister The Rt Hon Michael Portillo who is a Patron of the ROI and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Federation of British  Artists which administers the Mall Galleries.

It's now open to the public until Sunday December 18. Here are some pictures from the opening.

David Curtis ROI chats to friends

Brian Ryder AROI and his posse

Tim Benson AROI and his massive head

Current ROI President Peter Wileman and past President Dennis Syrett

Provisional ROI member Adebanji Alade shares his sketchbook

ROI Vice President Ian Cryer

ROI President Peter Wileman, his wife Jo and guest

Adebanji Alade and his picture which was the second one to sell on the day.

Adebani with the lucky buyer of his painting

The red dot is applied. Sold!

Roger Dellor ROI and his prize-winning work

The wonderful June Mendoza ROI and her portrait of Ken Howard RA painting her portrait. Look in the background and you can see June painting Ken, painting June......

Lewis McNaught from the Mall Galleries chats to Michael Portillo

Perennial  favourite Trevor Chamberlain ROI with some of his work

Peter Wileman in full flow

More pictures tomorrow including the award winners