Three major exhibitions to diarise, featuring work from the UK’s finest contemporary figurative artist
Mall Galleries in central London is home to the Federation of British Artists (FBA), one of the UK’s leading visual arts charities that champions contemporary figurative artists through a year-round programme of exhibitions. Showcasing work by both established and emerging talent, its exhibitions offer visitors the opportunity to discover and buy original works of art, at affordable prices, while directly supporting living artists and the Federation’s charitable mission.
Here are the exhibitions to keep your eyes on before the end of 2026.
RSMA – Royal Society of Marine Artists’ Annual Exhibition
The Royal Society of Marine Artists’ (RSMA) Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries in London, is widely recognised as the UK’s most significant showcase of marine art – a genre of special significance to an island nation whose frontiers lie where the sea begins. Marine art covers a diverse range of subjects, so the society, and its annual exhibition, has always represented an enormous variety of work. The common ground is the sea: whatever is on and beneath it.
Date: Wednesday16 Sept 2026 – Saturday 26 Sept 2026
Time: 10am to 5pm
Admission: £7, Free for Friends of Mall Galleries and under 25s. Concessions available. No booking required.
More info: Royal Society of Marine Artists | Annual Exhibition 2026 | Mall Galleries
Left to right: At the end of the day – Land’s End by Jamie Medlin, Morning Light in Polruan by Jenny Aitken
SWA – Society of Wildlife Artists’ The Natural Eye
The Society of Wildlife Artists’ The Natural Eye exhibition celebrates the very best fine art inspired by the natural world, showcasing hundreds of works by Britain’s best wildlife artists. More than just an exhibiting society, the SWA is a registered charity seeking to generate an appreciation of, and delight in, the world’s wildlife through all forms of fine art. The society supports wildlife artists through its long-running bursary scheme (over 100 have been awarded over the last 30 years) and collaborates with NGOs across the world to bring wildlife conservation projects and stories to life through fine art.
Date: Thursday 1 Oct 2026 – Saturday 10 Oct 2026
Time: 10am to 5pm
Admission: £7, Free for Friends of Mall Galleries and under 25s. Concessions available. No booking required.
More info: Society of Wildlife Artists | The Natural Eye 2026 | Mall Galleries
Left to right: The Club House by Polly Hosp, Enrichment by Lee Putman
ROI – Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition
Founded in 1882, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) is dedicated to promoting and exhibiting the highest standards in oil painting. This annual exhibition provides a platform for artists to display their mastery of this versatile and historic medium, with hundreds of paintings in a range of styles and interpretations. The timing of the exhibition, just before Christmas, means the meticulously curated collection of paintings by both leading institute members and emerging talent provides a wonderful gifting opportunity.
Date: Thursday 26 Nov 2026 – Wednesday 16 Dec 2026
Time: 10am to 5pm
Admission: £7, Free for Friends of Mall Galleries and under 25s. Concessions available. No booking required.
More info: Royal Institute of Oil Painters | Annual Exhibition 2026 | Mall Galleries