On behalf of the President, Council and Members of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours we are delighted to announce the Winner, Runners-up and shortlisted artists for this year’s RI Coronation Award.
We were delighted with the number of entries from across the UK and with the diversity and skill shown by all entrants.
The Winner of this year’s Award is:
Aneesa Z., Age 15, “Fifteen”, 42cm x 29.7cm, gouache, 2025, Oxford High School
The Runners-up are:
Beatrice R., Age 16, “At Rest”, 40 x 60 cm , watercolour, 2025, Didcot Girls School
Esmai W., Age 17, “Dog”, 29.7 x 42 cm, watercolour, 2023, Kent Talents Art School
Congratulations to these students. Thank you to all teachers who submitted work on behalf of their students and to all of the talented young artists whose work was entered this year.
The panel of judges for this year’s competition was made up of three members of the RI: Claire Sparkes, Julie Cross and RI President Juliette Losq.
This year the prize has been generously sponsored by The Borg Scott Charity who are offering a materials bursary of £800 to the winning school, as well as awarding art materials to the value of £100 to the First Prize Winner and to the value of £50 to each of the two Runners-up. These prizes will all take the form of materials vouchers.
The three prize winners will have reproductions of their paintings exhibited at the 214th Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours at the Mall Galleries in London, March 25th until April 11th 2026.
They will also be invited to have their prizes presented to them by the President of the RI and her guest speaker at the Private View of the Exhibition, which will be held at the Mall Galleries, London on Tuesday March 24th 2026 at 6.30 pm.
Please see below a gallery of the shortlisted artists including the Winner and Runners-up:
Amber C. 17 Dinner Time St Martins School - Merit
Anatasia C. 14 Macaron Magic BOA Academy
Aneesa Z. 15 Fifteen Oxford High School First Prize Winner
Annabella W. 14 Olive In The Forest Ysgol Aberconwy
Beatrice R. 16 At Rest Didcot Girls School Runner-Up
Bonnie C. 16 Party Time St Martins School - Merit
Callum Z. 15 Washed Up Edward VI Grammar School
Choi Sen Y. 12 The World's Dinner Wellington School - Merit
Christopher S. 12 Moo Deng Heathside Weybridge
Clara D. 16 Vibeche The Emmbrook School
Cody G. 17 Didn't They Want Your Blood Barton Court
Danielle O. 17 Garden Of The Mind Truro High School for Girls - Merit
Dara A. 15 The Love That Binds Us President Kennedy School - Merit
Ellie Z. 17 Family Around A Phone Rosebery School - Merit
Esmai W. 14 Dog Kent Talents Art Studio Runner-Up
Frank N. 12 Wooly Mammoth In A Blizzard The Hinckley School - Merit
Grace F. 17 Clown BOA Academy
Hafsa K. 13 Fox Stroll Grammar School at Leeds
Harsimrat K. 11 Untitled Swakeleys School For Girls
Izzy C. 17 Untitled Dame Alice Owens School - Merit
Jasmine P. 17 Trapped St Martins School - Merit
Katie C. 17 Sunset Dreams Barton Court
Katie M. 16 Sunset Milton Keynes College
Keith J. 16 Pomegranate Reef St Martins School
Keru C. 14 Stone Monarchy Glebe Farm School
Lara C. 14 Ballet Kent Talents Art Studio
Libby WD. 18 The Emotional Thread Barton Court - Merit
Logan A .14 Fish Kent Talents Art Studio
Luisa S. 17 Hiding Myself The Burgate School and Sixth-Form
Maria B. 14 Dragons Kent Talents Art Studio
Mariella B. 16 Twit Twoos Looking At You St Martins School
Marlow T. 11 Downtime Dame Alice Owens School
Maya A. 17 Bobby In The Garden Dame Alice Owens School
Michael T. 16 Life Versus Death St Martins School
Neve W. 16 Flight St Martins School - Merit
Rose V. 17 Hide Seek St Martins School
Tilly S. 12 Koi Pond Swanwick Hall School - Merit
Uyai E. 15 Roots Of Colour Meadow Park School
Vartika Y. 14 The Splendor Of Feathers Ark Academy Wembley
Violet C. 18 In Bloom In Focus Barton Court - Merit