Studio Fridays artists Raina Goran and Margaret Crutchley have been selected for this year’s 210th Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (RI) exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. Formed almost 200 years ago, the Society was set up ‘to encourage and educate painters in the fine art of watercolour’. Outgoing RI President Rosa Sepple said in her speech, ‘50% of the work this year has been selected from non-members’ entries’. Prizes were presented by the President of the Royal Academy, Rebecca Salter.

After a very successful year in 2021, including winning the prestigious David Gluck award at the Royal Watercolour Society annual exhibition, and being invited to show with Thompsons Gallery, Goran was invited to present herself as a candidate for membership of the RI. Gary Cook, a new member last year stated that ‘Being an RI member is a huge privilege’.

Goran’s three pieces hung in a prominent position alongside the work of other artists up for membership. The three works were some of the best examples of her innovative collage painting style; each a London scene, portrayed in vibrant and harmonious colour.

Crutchley’s work on show; an expressive landscape of St James’s Park, London, was from her continuing body of work depicting trees. Another from the series was recently shown at the Linden Hall Gallery winter show in Kent.
On visiting the RI exhibition, fellow Studio Fridays artist, Neeta Kataria, said; ’It’s so varied and colourful, and all of such high quality. I loved the exhibition. Lots of really fresh and interesting work’.

The exhibition runs until the 23rd of April. If you can’t get there, it can be viewed online on the Society’s website.