Recent events
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Revisiting Themes with George Donald RSA
Exclusively for RSA Friends 3 June 2025 Join George Donald RSA for an intimate conversation exploring his latest exhibition, Themes and Variations. Read more -
Free Family Art Day
199th Annual Exhibition 24 May 2025 Get hands on in the galleries and enjoy an afternoon of creative family fun surrounded by the works on view in the Annual Exhibition. Read more -
Concepts and Creations in Architecture
199th Annual Exhibition 21 May 2025 Join Robin Webster RSA and Ben Addy RSA for an engaging discussion on our built environment. Read more
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Director's Tour
199th Annual Exhibition 15 May 2025 Join us in the galleries after-hours for a tour of the 199th RSA Annual Exhibition. Read more -
The Magic Circle
Book Launch & Discussion 11 May 2025 Join Edward Summerton RSA for the launch of Magic Circle, an artist’s book created in collaboration with Alan Grieve, Gair Dunlop, Bill Duncan and Harris Grieve. Read more -
Free Family Art Day
12 April 2025 Get hands on in the galleries and enjoy an afternoon of creative family fun surrounded by the works on view in New Contemporaries. Read more
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Academy Late
11 April 2025 Experience New Contemporaries after dark and enjoy an unforgettable night of live music, powerful performances and artwork from Scotland’s boldest rising stars. Read more -
Artist’s Tour
Explore New Contemporaries with the exhibitors and Robbie Bushe RSA 27 March 2025 Join us in the galleries after-hours for a tour of New Contemporaries 2025. Read more -
RSA New Contemporaries 2025
Friends Private View 20 March 2025 Be among the first to experience the 2025 edition of New Contemporaries showcasing the incredible work of 64 emerging Scottish artists. This event stands as a cornerstone in our year-round... Read more
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Metzstein Architecture Discourse 2025
Peter Barber 6 March 2025 Please Note: Tickets for the 2025 RSA Metzstein Architecture Discourse with Peter Barber are sold out. Please contact the RSA on info@royalscottishacademy.org or 0131 624 6110 to be added to... Read more -
RSA Collections Visit
Exclusively for RSA Friends 19 February 2025 Gain a deeper understanding of our history and the importance of our work today by visiting our Collections store. Read more -
Submerge: An Evening of Words and Music
6 February 2025 Join us for a special evening of live performances during our In Orcadia exhibition. Read more
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A Miscellany of Migrants
Artists and Scotland 16 January 2025 Join us for a symposium celebrating international artists and Academicians who have chosen to make Scotland their home. Read more -
Exhibition Tour
Benno Schotz and A Scots Miscellany 9 January 2025 Join curator Sandy Wood for an exclusive tour of Benno Schotz and A Scots Miscellany. Read more -
Promenade Tour
Bronwen Sleigh and Evolutions artists 3 October 2024 Join us for an exclusive after-hours talk and tour in the galleries. Read more
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The RSA William Gillies Lecture
William Gillies Reborn 25 September 2024 This year the annual RSA William Gillies Lecture will focus on the life and work of the acclaimed artist himself. Read more -
Other Worlds
A Conversation about Contemporary Painting in Scotland 28 August 2024 Coinciding with our major exhibition Frontiers, join us for a symposium exploring contemporary Scottish painting. Read more -
Frontiers: Friends Private View
Join us for a Friends exclusive after-hours view of this landmark exhibition 7 August 2024 Join us for a Friends exclusive after-hours view of our landmark exhibition, Frontiers: Painting in Scotland Now. Enjoy a congenial atmosphere and hear from curators Robbie Bushe RSA and Flora... Read more
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Songs and Singers
An evening of traditional Scottish folk singing 25 July 2024 An evening of traditional Scottish folk singing with Arthur Watson PPRSA and Margaret Bennett HRSA. Read more -
The Art and Life of Bet Low RSA
City Streets, Scottish Islands and Silhouetted Hills 13 June 2024 Join Hildegarde Berwick in the galleries for City Streets, Scottish Islands and Silhouetted Hills , a talk on the art and Life of Bet Low RSA. Book now 2024 is... Read more -
Family Art Day
8 June 2024 Get hands on in the galleries and create your own art inspired by the works on show in the 198th RSA Annual Exhibition. Read more
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Collective Action in Architecture
31 May 2024 Join Jude Barber RSA (Elect), architect and director at Collective Architecture, for a candid discussion about teamwork, intersectional thinking, and feminist leadership as tools to address the challenges and opportunities... Read more -
Convenor's Tour
with Wendy McMurdo RSA 21 May 2024 Join us for an immersive after-hours tour of the galleries with this year's Annual Exhibition Convenor, Wendy McMurdo RSA. Read more -
RSA Friends Holiday 2024
Art, Architecture, and Culture of The Netherlands 12 - 18 May 2024 Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Netherlands next Spring on a curated trip which blends art, architecture, and culture. From our base in picturesque Delft, the birthplace of Vermeer,... Read more
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Academy Late
#RSANC 19 April 2024 Enjoy New Contemporaries after dark in the stunning surroundings of the Royal Scottish Academy galleries. Experience live music, powerful performances, and artwork by Scotland's next generation. Academy Late invites creatives... Read more -
Promenade Tour
#RSANC 11 April 2024 Join exhibition co-convenor Jennifer McRae RSA in the galleries after-hours for a fascinating discussion with a selection of New Contemporaries exhibitors. They will be discussing their work, influences, and plans... Read more -
Live from the New Contemporaries Studio
#RSANC 6 April 2024 Join us online for a deep dive into the work of selected New Contemporaries. This is your chance to go behind the curtain as our exhibitors discuss their practice, influences... Read more
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Diploma Talk
Paul Stallan RSA (Elect) with Sandy Wood 21 March 2024 Paul Stallan RSA (Elect) is the acclaimed director of Stallan-Brand architects. With a rich background in architecture and a portfolio boasting award-winning projects, Stallan brings a unique perspective to the... Read more -
RSA Collections Visit
19 March 2024 Please note: Our RSA Collections Visit has been postponed, and will now take place on Tuesday 19 March. We will be in touch with all ticket holders directly with further... Read more -
Friends Excursion
Arthur Watson, Fergus Purdie and Afternoon Tea at Cromlix 29 February 2024 Set off on an artistic excursion with Academicians Arthur Watson PPRSA and Fergus Purdie RSA, featuring an exclusive tour of their studios nestled within a brilliant building designed by Fergus... Read more
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Cancelled: The RSA William Gillies Lecture
William Gillies Reborn 23 January 2024 This year the annual RSA William Gillies Lecture will focus on the life and work of the acclaimed artist himself. Read more -
Modernism and Nation Exhibition Tour
With Collections Curator Sandy Wood 18 January 2024 Join Collections Curator Sandy Wood for a tour of Modernism and Nation . Sandy will discuss the work that’s gone into bringing the exhibition to fruition, how the Collections team... Read more -
Book Launch and Signing
William Gillies: Modernism and Nation in British Art 12 December 2023 An opportunity to gain further insight into William Gillies: Modernism and Nation in British Art by Andrew McPherson with a short talk by the author and book signing. Read more
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Metaphors for the Mind
An intimate evening celebrating the life and work of Graeme Todd RSA 26 October 2023 '[Graeme] saw the structures in the series of Hermit House paintings that he started to make in 2016 as portals, “metaphors for the mind,” and he talked about them as... Read more -
Metzstein Architecture Discourse 2023
Xaveer De Geyter 11 October 2023 We are delighted to announce that Xaveer De Geyter will present this year's Metzstein Architecture Discourse, which will take place on Wednesday 11 October at the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre.... Read more -
Voyages of the Eye
A Symposium on the Lives and Work of Elizabeth Blackadder and John Houston 31 August 2023 Coinciding with our major exhibition of their work, join us for a symposium exploring the lives and work of Dame Elizabeth Blackadder RSA and John Houston RSA. Read more
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Academy Studio
Still Life: Objects of Meaning 27 August 2023 This August, we’re celebrating A Journey Shared with a drawing workshop inspired by the still life works of Dame Elizabeth Blackadder RSA and John Houston RSA. Read more -
Drop in and Draw
Join us in the galleries and get creative 6 August 2023 Join us in the galleries for a fun and creative afternoon of drawing, surrounded by the works of Elizabeth Blackadder and John Houston. We’ll have a variety of objects on... Read more -
Exhibition Tour
Join Derrick Guild RSA for an exclusive tour of Reveal 21 July 2023 Join us for an immersive tour of our current exhibition, Reveal , with artist and curator, Derrick Guild RSA. Derrick will talk through his ongoing interest in art history; how... Read more
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Goya Yoga
Drawing workshop led by Alan Grieve 12 July 2023 Join us in the galleries for Goya Yoga, a drawing workshop led by Reveal exhibiting artist Alan Grieve. Local yoga practitioner, Demi Sutherland, will model a variety of meditative poses,... Read more -
Victoria Crowe RSA and Sir John Leighton
In Conversation 12 July 2023 We’re delighted to welcome Victoria Crowe RSA into the galleries to talk about her work in our new exhibition, Elemental. Read more -
Academy Studio: Water, Colour, Action
Go big with Watercolour 17 June 2023 This June, for one day only, we’re turning one of our galleries into a watercolour studio! If you’re already in love with watercolour, this is a chance to expand your... Read more
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Cancelled - RSA Gillies Lecture: James Elkins
What is an Image? 7 June 2023 Due to unforeseen circumstances this event has had to be cancelled. We are in the process of arranging refunds for bookings made and apologise for any inconvenience. Read more -
Live from the Academician's Studio
3 June 2023 Discover the creative process of critically acclaimed artist Edward Summerton RSA in this engaging online talk. Join Edward for a behind-the-scenes tour of his studio and learn more about the... Read more -
Friends Day
1 June 2023 Experience the 197th Annual Exhibition in a relaxed setting, exclusively for RSA Friends and their guests. Escape the hustle and bustle of central Edinburgh and enjoy this landmark exhibition in... Read more
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Family Art Day
27 May 2023 Get hands on in the galleries and explore your creative flow surrounded by hundreds of contemporary art works on show in this years’ Annual exhibition. All child-safe materials provided. Suitable... Read more -
Convenor's Tour
23 May 2023 Join us for an immersive after-hours tour of the galleries with this year's Annual Exhibition Convenor Stuart Mackenzie RSA. You will have the opportunity to learn about the selection and... Read more -
RSA Friends Holiday: Oslo
Exclusive to RSA Friends 11 - 15 May 2023 Oslo is one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals. A rich, modern, cultural center set between the rippling waters of the Oslo fjord and the green, forested hills of the interior.... Read more
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Academy Late
14 April 2023 Enjoy New Contemporaries after dark in the stunning surroundings of the Royal Scottish Academy Galleries. Experience live music, eccentric performances, and artwork by Scotland's next generation. Academy Late invites creatives... Read more -
Live from the New Contemporaries Studio
8 April 2023 Join us online for a deep dive into the studio of RSA New Contemporaries artists Blair Leeson and Eva Margaret Brown. Hosted by Exhibition Convenor Annie Cattrell RSA, this is... Read more -
Family Art Day
8 April 2023 Get hands on in the galleries and create your own work of art inspired by the eclectic visionary works currently on show in our New Contemporaries exhibition. Led by Rachael... Read more
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Ronald Forbes & Tom Normand
in conversation 6 April 2023 We’re delighted to welcome Ronald Forbes RSA to talk about his exhibition The Everyman Variations with art historian Tom Normand HRSA. The works in The Everyman Variations are inspired by... Read more -
Promenade Tour
28 March 2023 Join us in the galleries after-hours for a fascinating discussion from a selection of exhibiting artists in New Contemporaries. They will be discussing their work, influences, and plans for the... Read more -
Live from the New Contemporaries Studio
25 March 2023 Join us online for a deep dive into the studio of RSA New Contemporaries artist Emily Weaver. Hosted by Exhibition Convenor Annie Cattrell RSA, this is your chance to see... Read more
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RSA Collections Visit
Exclusive to RSA Freinds 2 February 2023 Join collection curator Sandy Wood for a behind the scenes look at our store in Granton, housing the Royal Scottish Academy collection which is a nationally-recognised collection of significance. Our... Read more -
Family Art Afternoon
28 January 2023 Get hands on in the galleries and create your own work of art inspired by the eclectic visionary works currently on show in our New Contemporaries exhibition. Led by Rachael... Read more -
Artist Talk
Into the Distance 19 January 2023 Join Paige Silverman, Martin Hill, Aleksandra Zawada, and Geri Loup Nolan from our exhibition Into the Distance in a lively discussion about their work, how the RSA Barns-Graham Travel Award... Read more
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Christmas Choir Concert
9 December 2022 Join us for a festive evening with a mix of Christmas carols by Pitchcraft, an Edinburgh based choir known for their uniquely crafted acapella arrangements. Gather your friends and family,... Read more -
RSA Friends High Sunderland excursion
Join us for a rare opportunity to see inside one of Scotland's finest examples of Modernist architecture 8 November 2022 High Sunderland is a category A listed home set in the woodlands between Selkirk and Galashiels. The residence, designed in 1957 by Peter Womersley ARSA for renowned textile designer Bernat... Read more -
“I’ve an Angel in the oven”
The Art of William Wilson 2 November 2022 Join exhibition curator Sandy Wood for a talk and tour of the exhibition William Wilson: Print, Paint and Glass . The talk will explore Wilson’s impressive career, from his early... Read more
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William Wilson
Live Printing in the Gallery 22 October 2022 Drop into the galleries for a day of live printing in the gallery with Leena Nammari RSA (Elect) and exhibition curator Sandy Wood. Sandy and Leena will be printing using... Read more -
Elemental Calligraphy
A Talk and Demonstration by Ju Hongshen and Xu Yun with introduction by Helen Goodwin & Kate Downie 13 October 2022 Two Outside Edge artists, Ju Hongshen and Xu Yun, will demonstrate their traditional and contemporary calligraphic skills in the context of this exhibition, informed by both the sound-names we carry... Read more -
Live Painting Performance
‘Cave Painting in Carsaig’- drawing thoughts made manifest 11 October 2022 In September 2019, at the foot of a huge coastal cliff in Mull, the four artists in Outside Edge were filmed ‘air-drawing’ a response to this complex basalt structure. Finally... Read more
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Free Exhibition Tour
Join Kate Downie RSA on a tour around Outside Edge 8 October 2022 Join us in the galleries for a free exhibition tour of Outside Edge led by Kate Downie RSA and Helen Goodwin, two of the participating artists. Reunited after three years,... Read more -
Artist Talk with Sam Ainsley RSA
22 September 2022 We are pleased to welcome Sam Ainsley to talk about her exhibition Stories Real and Imagined . Sam will give a tour of the exhibition, exploring the concepts and themes... Read more -
Bill Hare Book Launch
Scottish Artists in an Age of Radical Change 17 September 2022 ‘As a highly readable, yet scholarly introduction to contemporary Scottish art, Hare’s new book will be hard to beat.’ – Alexander Moffat RSA Please join us to celebrate the launch... Read more
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OMOS
Film screening and artist Q&A 1 September 2022 Join us for the opening night of OMOS with a Q&A with the artists: Rhys Hollis, Andrea Baker, Divine Tasinda and Kheanna Walker. OMOS is an exhibition of a new... Read more -
Leon Morrocco
in conversation with Liz Lochhead 25 August 2022 Join us for a lively conversation between artist Leon Morrocco RSA and poet and playwright Liz Lochhead on the occasion of our exhibition Leon Morrocco: Long Road Home . The... Read more -
Drop in and Draw
A family event welcome to everyone 21 August 2022 There’s a wellspring of inspiration in the RSA at the moment. Leon Morrocco’s Long Road Home is bursting with colour and light from and far off lands. Get hands on... Read more
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Frank McElhinney and Bruce Shaw
Scotland Small? Discussion 13 July 2022 Join us in a discussion with Frank McElhinney and Bruce Shaw about their residencies and exhibition, followed by a Q&A. The discussion will be streamed on Zoom, with limited tickets... Read more -
Rachel Duckhouse and Audrey Grant
Scotland Small? Discussion 7 July 2022 Join Ronald Forbes RSA as he sits down to talk with Rachel Duckhouse and Audrey Grant about their residencies and exhibition, followed by a Q&A. The discussion will be streamed... Read more -
Hannah Imlach and Tim Sandys
Scotland Small? Discussion 5 July 2022 Join Edward Summerton RSA as he sits down to talk with Hannah Imlach and Tim Sandys about their residencies and exhibition, followed by a Q&A. The discussion will be streamed... Read more
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Fenris Wolf and Ragnar Thorfinn: Act 4
3 July 2022 Fenris Wolf and Ragnar Thorfinn will employ their body of work exhibited in Scotland Small? as props, backdrop, and stage for Fenris Wolf and Ragnar Thorfinn: Act 4 . The... Read more -
Orcadia: A Fenris & Ragnar Story
Film Screening & Q&A 2 July 2022 Join Fenris Wolf and Ragnar Thorfinn for the premiere of Glen Thomson’s documentary film Orcadia: A Fenris and Ragnar Story . The screening will be followed with a short discussion... Read more -
Art Unlocked
With RSA Collections Curator Sandy Wood 15 June 2022 Join Art UK and Sandy Wood, Collections Curator at The Royal Scottish Academy, for an exciting exploration of some notable works from this collection on 15th June 2022, 5:30pm Art... Read more
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Gallery Discussion Group
1 June 2022 Gain a deeper insight into our Annual Exhibition and the work of Doug Cocker RSA as volunteers Sarah Harwood and Charlie Leeson take us around the galleries and discuss the... Read more -
William Gillies Memorial Lecture - Hockney's Eye
25 May 2022 Join us as Professor Martin Kemp HRSA delivers the Sir William Gillies Memorial Lecture on Hockney. Focusing on the exhibition David Hockney in Perspective, curated by Martin Kemp, Martin Gayford... Read more -
Friends’ Excursion | Marchmont House
24 May 2022 Marchmont House is an imposing Grade A listed Palladian mansion built in 1750 by Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont. Long thought to have been designed by William Adam but... Read more
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Family Art Afternoon
22 May 2022 Free | Registration required 1 – 4pm After the big success of our Family Art Afternoon during New Contemporaries, we're thrilled to be putting on another event for the Annual... Read more -
Invited Artists' Online Discussion
18 May 2022 Every year the Exhibition Convenor invites a number of artists to show work in the Annual Exhibition. Join us on Zoom to hear four of this year’s invited artists discuss... Read more -
Convenor's Gallery Tour
12 May 2022 We are very excited to be staging the Annual Exhibition in the galleries for the first time since 2019. Once again, the exhibition includes the RSA Open and works by... Read more
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Poets on the Attack
A dramatic re-enactment of Hugh MacDiarmid and Hamish Henderson's Folk-Song Flyting 11 May 2022 In 2022 it is 100 years since the name Hugh MacDiarmid first appeared in print. We are pleased to mark the anniversary of one of our Honorary Academicians with a... Read more -
Metzstein Architecture Discourse 2022
Rafael Moneo 27 April 2022 Purchase Publication The RSA is delighted to announce that Rafael Moneo will present this year's Metzstein Architecture Discourse. Rafael Moneo is a Spanish architect and educator who won the Pritzker... Read more -
Academy Late
1 April 2022 Experience late night art, music and performances. Enjoy New Contemporaries after dark in the stunning surroundings of the RSA Galleries. Read more
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Family Art Afternoon
27 March 2022 Get creative and join us for art activities inspired by the New Contemporaries Exhibition. Suitable for all ages. Led by artists Rachael Bibby and Ola Rek. Read more -
Gallery Discussion Group
24 March 2022 Led by Sarah Harwood and Charlie Leeson, and exclusive to RSA Friends, these have proved to be both popular and interesting. Read more -
RSA New Contemporaries Promenade
17 March 2022 Enjoy a glass of wine and listen to a selection of exhibiting artists discuss their work, influences and plans for the future as you are guided around the exhibition by Leena Nammari RSA. Read more
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20:20
8 March 2022 A wonderful informal opportunity to find out about the work of ten New Contemporaries exhibitors. Read more -
Convenor’s Gallery Tours
2 March 2022 Find out about what lies behind the diverse selection of artworks we have come to expect in RSA New Contemporaries. This year’s Convenor, Marion Smith RSA, will discuss the selection and curation of the exhibition and then lead a tour of her personal highlights. Read more -
Robin Webster
Live from the Academician’s Studio 17 February 2022 Robin Webster RSA OBE formed cameronwebster architects with his architect son-in-law (Stuart Cameron) and his architect daughter (Miranda Webster) in 2005. Robin will be chatting from his Glasgow studio with fellow architect Graeme Hutton RSA. Read more
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Kate Downie RSA
Live from the Academician’s Studio 3 February 2022 Chaired by Annie Catrell RSA , this unique ‘Live Session’ will take you into Kate Downie’s studio as she generously documents her journey, sharing her insights and discoveries as she looks, thinks, draws and paints to better understand Eardley and this her final ambitious canvas. Read more -
Iron: Translating Territories
Online Discussion 27 January 2022 Join exhibition curator Gordon Munro RSA and RSA Collections Curator Sandy Wood as they discuss the concepts explored in the exhibition Iron: Translating Territories with exhibitors Ewan Robertson and Oana Stanciu. Read more -
Provenance
Online Talk by Victoria Bernie 23 November 2021 Victoria Clare Bernie began her residency, Provenance, which was funded by the RSA Friends, in the RSA Collections in September 2019. Working with Collections Curator Sandy Wood and Documentations Officer... Read more
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20th Century Boys: A Memorial
An online discussion 18 November 2021 RSA Director, Colin Greenslade will be joined by members of the artists families to discuss works in the exhibition by David Evans RSA, Alexander Fraser RSA, Kirkland Main RSA, James... Read more -
Paul Furneaux RSA
Gallery Tour 11 November 2021 Join us for a tour of Paul Furneaux’s exhibition Mado. Paul describes his work as ‘an abstraction and distillation of the contemplation of the landscape, subtly blending the physical reality... Read more -
Michael Agnew RSA
Live from the Academician’s Studio 21 October 2021 Michael Agnew’s eclectic practices includes painting, collage, printmaking, collaborative publishing and drawing. He is first and foremost an image maker and his work mines ideas surrounding his and the collective... Read more
