The Drawing Year 2023

Still looking for that last-minute holiday gift and have a couple hundred ££ to spare? Then get yerself down to The Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch, which is showcasing more than 400 works by 28 students at can’t-be-beat emerging artist prices ranging from £70 - £4,000. Anecdotally, most of the work I saw was under £500 with many, many pieces going for £200 or less.

The works shown range from traditional observational studies — the foundation of the school’s teachings — through to some highly emotive works that show a clear and distinct artist view/voice. There’s also a few vitrines filled with the artists’ sketchbooks. I could flip through artist sketchbooks for hours on end!

Eight different prizes were awarded, including a new award from Christie’s (@christiesinc) of £15k to support a year of creative development and production, culminating in a solo exhibition at the Royal Drawing School. That top prize went to Louis Pohl Koseda (@lalit_madhav_).

But before seeing the list of winners I explored the show and picked my own eight favourites. Turns out that three of them won four of the awards (🏅). I’m not sure how the judges missed the other five though!

Had I been on the panel, here’s who’d be on the wall:

1-2= Jesse Ajilore@jesseajilore 🏅

3-4 = Alina Dieth@alina.dieth

5-6 = Ned Elliott@ned_elli0tt 🏅

7-8 = Ellie Lonsdale@ramen_legs

9 = Chi Park@chihpark

10-11 = Lilith Piper@lilithpiperdrawings

12 = Tess Tomassini@tesstomassini

13-14 = Olly Williamson@omw_painting 🏅🏅

The Royal Drawing School was founded in 2000 by HM King Charles III and artist Catherine Goodman. It’s an independent, not-for-profit resource that offers full scholarships to every student that attends the 15-month post-graduate course. Attendance is awarded on talent. No public funds are used.


Bonus photos

Venue shots & vitrines


Plan your visit

The Drawing Year 2023’ runs until 19 December.

Visit royaldrawingschool.org and follow @royaldrawingschool on Instagram for more info about the school and venue.

Artist information can be obtained via the Instagram links in the article.


PLUS…


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