121st Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition Prizes:

• Bath Society of Artists Prize (£2,000)
• Bath Society of Artists Runner up prize (£1,000)
• The Public Choice Prize (£600)
• Bath Society of Artists Young Artists Prize (£500)
• Bath Society of Artists Prize for a 3D work (£350)
• Bath Society of Artists Painting Prize (£350)
• Bath Society of Artists Drawing Prize (£350)
• Bath Society of Artists Print Prize (£350)
• St Cuthbert's Mill Works on Paper Prize (20 sheets of Saunders Waterford 300gsm, (worth £168)
• Bath Artist Printmakers - The Wendy Batt 'Hidden Bath' Printmakers Prize (£160 course voucher)
• Cranfield Colours Painting prize: for Cranfield Artist Paints (£125 voucher) and
• Cranfield Colours Printmaking prize: for Cranfield Printmaking inks (£125 voucher)
• John Purcell Creative use of Paper prize: (£150 voucher)
• Meltone Gallery Small Picture Framing Prize – (£100 voucher)
• Minerva Art Supplies Prize (£50 voucher)

Invited artist: Basil Beattie RA

Prize judges: Heather Jane Wallace, MA Fine Arts; Founder of Heritage Courtyard Gallery and Studios together with Ros Cuthbert MA (RCA) RWA. A representative from BAP will select their prize winner.

Entry Pricing and Concessions for non-members:

Standard:

• All submissions by online entry via OESS
• Maximum number of entries: 2
• Single entry £15.00
• Additional entry £15.00

Young Artists 21 years or under:

• Young artists may submit up to 2 works at £5 per work – please be sure to provide your date of birth, where applicable.

Terms and Conditions:

Submissions:

• You must be the Artist or creator of the work(s), or you are expressly authorised as a gallery, agent or other representative to submit the work(s) on behalf of the artist. We do not however accept work posthumously, unless from the family of a recently deceased member of the BSA.
• Any living UK based artist may submit work.
• Entries may include paintings, pastels, drawings, editioned prints; mixed media, sculpture (but not photography, performance, or video). Digital prints and collaborative artworks maybe submitted (See Additional Information).
• AI generated work will not be accepted.
• Exhibits must be original, the artist’s unaided work.
• Edition prints must be limited to maximum of 150.
• Work should not have been exhibited at any previous BSA Open Exhibitions.
• All works must be for sale for a minimum of £100, except for unframed prints. There is no ceiling on sales prices.
• Prices must include the cost of the frame (where appropriate).
• The Gallery can only sell framed prints hung in the gallery, so cannot offer any additional framed prints for sale.
• Works should not be larger than 183cm (6ft) along the longest dimension, (including frame if appropriate).
• Commission rate is 45% (Bath Society of Artists is not VAT registered).
• Printmakers will be responsible for the cost of a tracked delivery service when sending unframed edition prints to the buyer, which should be reflected in the sales price.
• Photos of submitted work need to be in jpg, jpeg or png format, be no more than 5mb file size and should not include the frame.
• All work such a diptychs and triptychs, and complex/delicate 3D work may require special instructions for the hanging team (if selected) regarding layout to prevent errors or damage. This can be recorded on the entry form.
• Whatever is on the entry form will also appear on your labels and the catalogue (if selected), so please avoid using all capitals, unless essential.
• Please ensure your details are recorded accurately before confirming your application. If you decide to withdraw before the submission closes, then contact the Secretary who will arrange a refund.
• Incomplete submissions will be deleted after 5.00pm on Wednesday 29th July 2026, so be sure to finish your entry or contact the Secretary/OESS if you are experiencing any difficulties.
• Refunds will not be permitted beyond the submission deadline.
• Any artwork remaining in the gallery after the end of January 2027, without good cause or a late collection agreement, will be given to charity.

Collaborative work:

• Collaborative artwork will be listed in the catalogue according to the surname of the first named artist.
• Each collaborative work submitted counts as one entry for each artist involved.
• A submission fee is payable for each collaborative work

Images:

• If taking a photo rather than using a professional photographer, take the photo in natural light (but not in direct sunlight – an overcast day is best if taking the photo outside) without using a flash and square on to the work. Ideally, use simple photo editing software to crop any background and frame. For three-dimensional work please take against a plain background..
• The uploading of images may take a little while depending on your internet speed, so do give it time. If you are having problems uploading your images please resize your image to approximately 1600 pixels wide and then save as a new file. Image file names should not be too long and should not contain any invalid characters such as + = & “ ‘ etc.

Digital:

• Digitally generated works are admissible and may be presented in print form. We are not able to accept photography, performance, or video works.
• Editions of digitally generated prints are allowed in the same way as any other kind of print media eg lino, etching etc.  These prints should be executed using light fast archival pigment-based inks on high quality paper.
• Prints made with standard dye-based inks will not be accepted, because they fade very quickly.
• It must be stressed that we will not accept serial or singular reproductions of finished paintings, illustrations, or drawings. Specifically, this refers to paintings, illustrations or drawings which have been photographed with the intention of selling an edition of reproductions of that original.
• Neither will it be acceptable to make a minor adjustment to an original painting, drawing or collage in order to enter it as a digital work.
• We acknowledge that any digital process requires a starting point and to this end, such works will inevitably contain elements of photography or scanned drawing, painting, or collage. The main emphasis of the work must be on the subsequent digital process for it not to be assessed as a reproduction of an original generated in other media. The only exception to this would be where an original work, sculpture, or painting, is photographed and the original is intentionally destroyed as part of a genuine creative process, such that the digital record is the only way in which the work exists. In this case, the individual work will be reviewed by the committee and each case considered on its own merits.
• Collaborative digital artworks may also be submitted under the same guidelines.
• The selectors’ decision in all regards will be final.

Selection:

Please note: The BSA operates a TWO-PHASE selection process -

It is YOUR responsibility to look up the results on OESS for both phases.

Phase 1. NON members online preselection results will be announced via OESS at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 19th August 2026. 

Phase 2. NON members successful entries to go in front of the final selection panellists at The Victoria Art Gallery on Sunday 13th September 2026 and notification of results available via your OESS account after 5.00 pm on Tuesday 15th September 2026. 

• Phase one online selection will be carried out by a panel of BSA members.
• Phase two - 2D Selection panellists: Guest Selector: Claire Todd, Artist Curator of Pound Arts together with Nathalie Levi, Senior Curator of the Victoria Art Gallery; and various BSA members.
• Phase two- 3D Selection panellists: Guest Selector Tom Waugh RWA MRSS together with BSA members Iain Cotton; Richard Crooks; Rebecca Lisle; Hamish Young and administrator Maxine Foster..
• All works will be selected for the exhibition anonymously.
• The decision of Selectors on all matters is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Preparation for Handing in Day:

Fixings & Labels - 2D:

• All 2D work accepted on handing in day must be fitted with mirror plates. Any work that cannot support the attachment of mirror plates maybe rejected. Wall hanging works should be framed or stretched on a support suitable for the attachment of mirror plates, if selected.
• Please remove any projections or D rings of any kind on the back of work, except for the attachment of mirror plates, as they could damage other works.
• Please be sure to put masking tape over the mirror plate screws before handing in your work.
• See the pdf image on the Open Exhibition page of our website for more information about fixing mirror plates Bath Society of Artists
• Metal frames or unframed glass will not be accepted.
• Perspex boxes for wall mounted works are acceptable if instructions for fixing is provided.
• All works submitted must be correctly labelled - you can print out your labels by going into your account/What Next/Print Labels/ Download PDF/ and Print.
• Labels must be firmly attached to the back of all 2D work, and another attached by string to hang 6in/15cm over the front from the top, with artists name, telephone number, email address, title, and price of work. Please see Bath Society of Artists

Fixings & Labels - 3D:

• For 3D work, it is important to fix a label to the base of your work showing artist’s name, telephone number, email address, title and price. If it is not possible to use a large label, then a clearly readable name and telephone number will suffice.
• In addition, a luggage-type label with all the contact details, as above, should be securely tied to the sculpture with string. These stringed labels will be removed if the work is accepted into the gallery.
• Sculptures must be both stable and safe to exhibit. If a base is supplied, it should be wide enough to support the work and must be securely fixed prior to submission. The weight of all sculptures should be easily manageable for two people, and must be provided with some means of easy transition across the gallery floor.

Delivery & Collection:

• All work submitted on handing in days must be completely dry, sale worthy and ready to be collected by a prospective buyer at the end of the show.
• We are unable to accept work this year by post using Parcelforce, FedEx, DHL or Royal Mail etc. However, you may still use a bona fide Art Courier, if you are not able to submit work in person for handing in day.
• Courier deliveries can be accepted on Friday or Saturday 11th or 12th September 2026. Work will not be accepted outside of those dates.
• If works arrive damaged, or with unacceptable framing, they will be withdrawn and will need to be collected from the Victoria Art Gallery by the artist at their expense.
• Couriers need to report to the Gallery’s accessible side entrance in Bridge Street after 10.30am. Parking on the opposite side of Bridge Street to the Gallery is for dropping off only. Vehicles left for ten minutes or more, without a disabled parking badge, run the risk of a parking ticket.

Suggested art couriers include:

• Artmove – Storage, Installation, Transportation, Hanging Fine Art
• Fine Art Movers UK Wide - Aardvark Art Transport Services - (aardvarkartservices.com)
• A S Elvin Transport Ltd 
• JD Art Transport
• Van Go Art Couriers – Fine Art Couriers – Art Courier UK
• Fine Art Courier - Evo Logistics
• Same Day Delivery Bath | Avon Express Couriers (couriersbath.co.uk)
• Depart Art Logistics founder - Olly Bendall +44 7810 265634
• Please note that we do not accept liability for the services of any art courier.
• In person handing in days are Friday 11th September for members and couriers and Saturday 12th September for non-members. (Most art couriers won’t deliver on Saturdays but we can take a delivery on Saturday if they do). However, we can also take non-members work on Friday 11th, if preferred.
• Packaging from delivered works cannot be retained and must be taken away at the point of delivery.
• Artists who have one work hung and one declined will not be required to collect the declined work until the end of the show, thus saving unnecessary travel.
• Neither the Victoria Art Gallery, nor the BSA, can wrap works or provide wrapping for works being returned.
• If works are not collected within 3 months of the collection day, the gallery will be entitled to destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of the works without consent, prior notification, or compensation to the artist'

Insurance:

• Whilst the Exhibition organisers take every possible care of works in the Gallery, they cannot undertake any responsibility whatsoever for any loss of, or damage to, works entrusted to them.
• All artworks submitted are at the artist’s own risk. Artists are therefore advised to insure their works against all risks. 

Gallery entry:

• Once the exhibition in the Gallery has formally opened, all exhibiting artists will be allowed to enter the Victoria Art Gallery free of charge.

Sales & Payments:

• There will not be a facility to purchase artwork online via the Victoria Art Gallery website.
• If an entered work is sold during the call to artists period, then replacement works maybe entered. However, no swaps will be accepted if a private sale occurs after 5.00pm on 29th July 2026. Equally, the entry fee will not be refundable after submissions have closed.
• Any private sale that occurs on or after selection day (and the notification of acceptance to hang) will incur the normal commission rate and must be paid for via the Gallery. This condition applies until the close of the Exhibition. In this situation, no substitution can be accepted.
• All sold artwork must remain in the gallery until the exhibition closes.
• Payments to artists, who sell their work during the exhibition, will be paid by the BSA once the appropriate BANES Council payment has cleared the BSA’s bank account (please allow up to three months).
• Where a collaborative work sells, payment in full will be made to the artist whose name is entered first on the online form.

Additional Information:

Data Protection:

The contact details you provide as part of your submission will be shared with appropriate staff members of OESS/BANES/Victoria Art Gallery/ Bath Society of Artists and buyers, for the purposes of showing, selling and delivery of all listed and purchased works from the gallery. Your information will not be shared with any other parties other than those already mentioned. By submitting work, you are also accepting these conditions.

Copyright/Intellectual property:

The copyright and all other intellectual property rights to works, will remain the property of the artist and any enquiries in relation to such rights will be referred to the artist. The Exhibition organisers have the right to copy and/or reproduce works submitted and to communicate and/or issue such copies to the public in connection with the exhibition, for advertising the sale of artworks, for general marketing or promotional purposes, and other related activities, including without limitation, the incorporation of images of artworks within promotional and marketing materials, catalogues, posters, or on Exhibition organisers websites and any social media site now known or hereafter devised.

Bath Society of Artists:

For further information about the Bath Society of Artists, its members and previous exhibitions please visit www.bsaorg.uk or contact the Secretary by email at secretary@bsaorg.uk or call 07976 380147.

For information concerning membership, please see details provided under ‘Members’ and ‘On Membership’ on the website www.bsaorg.uk

Instagram: @bathsocietyofartists
Facebook: @BathSocArtists

Sponsors & Partners:

Bath Society of Artists would like to thank all those involved in making this exhibition possible.

In particular, we would like to thank our sponsors including:

• Victoria Art Gallery
• Meltone Gallery, Bath
• Cranfield Colours.co.uk
• John Purcell Paper
• Minerva Art Supplies
• St Cuthbert's Mill
• Bath Artist Printmakers

We also want to thank the following for their help and support:

• Invited artist: Basil Beattie RA
• Advanced Graphics London
• Guest selectors: Tom Waugh RWA MRSS and Claire Todd, Artist Curator of Pound Arts
• Prize Judges: Heather Jane Wallace MA Fine Arts, Founder of Heritage Courtyard Gallery and Studios plus Ros Cuthbert MA (RCA) RWA
• Nathalie Levi and all the staff at the Victoria Art Gallery
• Jacob Tindall and colleagues at BANES
• OESS
• Doveton Press
• Together with all the volunteer member artists who have offered to take part in the selection process and assist in the gallery.

Please Note: The above terms and conditions are provided by the exhibition organisers.

For terms and conditions which apply to the use of the OESS entry system please view below:
OESS Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

Eligibility

Any artist aged 18 or over may enter, from anywhere in the world. 

Artists may enter a maximum of six works each.

Work must have been completed within the last three years and not previously exhibited at Mall Galleries. 

Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension. 

All works must be an original creation by the artist. 

Subject matter: Work should be based on representing the world's wildlife. Wildlife includes any non-domestic animal such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and insects. Work will not be accepted if it is of botanical subjects, pets and domestic animals, or decorative wares (such as vessels or tiles).

Works depicting wildlife divorced from its environment or without place, setting or context are rejected in many cases. Biological or scientific illustrations are in most cases not permissible. 

The Society receives many submissions that are obviously direct copies from photographs. Whilst some of the member artists use photographs for reference, the majority of artists create their work in response to their own experience of wildlife and spend many hours observing and sketching in the field. This knowledge of the subject is evident in the resulting work. Artists thinking of submitting should consider choosing a subject to which they can have access.

Acceptable media: Work may be in any medium (except photography) including drawing, painting, sculpture and original prints (if prints, please detail the edition total and availability). 

The SWLA will accept digital prints when the artist has created and manipulated the source material to produce the finished work themselves and the work has not arisen from a manipulated photograph or been generated by AI. The resulting digital print must be a limited edition.

Submission Fee

There is a non-refundable submission fee of £22 per work, or £14.50 per work for artists aged 35 or under.

The submission fee includes free admission to the exhibition (normally £7).

Submission fees support the not-for-profit programme at Mall Galleries. The gallery is home to visual arts charity, the Federation of British Artists (Registered Charity Number 200048).

We have partnered with the Visual Artists Association to offer a Free Artist Resource Pack to all entrants. This includes 'The Artist's Guide to Selling Art on Instagram’ (PDF) and 'Instagram for Art Careers’ (Video Masterclass). Entrants will receive instructions to download the Artist Resource Pack upon notification of selection.

Presentation

Frames or stretchers should be sufficiently substantial to withstand mirror plating with 12mm (size 6) screws.

Artists are advised to use plain, simple framing in a light or medium colour. 

Metal frames, unprotected glass edges and clip frames are inadmissible. 

Please remove all fittings and fixings from the back of frames, for example D-rings and picture wire. This is to prevent damage to other works, and because we will mirror-plate works for hanging. 

Delivery & Collection

Works should be delivered and collected on the specified receiving and collection days via the gallery's rear entrance at Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD. 

If you are unable to deliver or collect your work, you may send another person on your behalf – this may include an art courier (see below).

Artists are responsible for the costs of delivery and collection.

Delivery:

Works should be delivered unwrapped with the relevant form and labels, which are downloadable upon notification of selection.

All packaging must be taken away at the point of delivery. 

Collection:

We are unable to wrap works or provide wrapping for works being returned. 

Any uncollected works will be removed from the gallery after the collection day and stored by an independent courier company at the artist's expense. 

If works are not collected within 12 months of the collection day, the gallery will be entitled to destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of the works without consent, prior notification, or compensation to the artist. 

Art Couriers: 

Below is a list of art couriers by region: 

• London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Bristol

Art Moves of Chelsea
artmoveschelsea@aol.com
020 7352 7492

• Scotland, the North of England and Birmingham 

Picture Post Art
info@picturepostcompany.co.uk
07833 450788

Picture Post Art receive artwork for delivery to UK galleries: “handing in” unwrapped and storing packaging free of charge for reuse if required.

• Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset

3 Lanes Transport
info@3lanes.com
01736 799298 / 07970 948324

• Leicester, Loughborough, Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham

JD Art Transport
jdarttransport@gmail.com
07825 339787

• Norfolk and Suffolk 

A S Elvin Transport Ltd
bernadette@elvingroup.co.uk
01502 677025

• Nationwide

Aardvark Art Services
01253 794673

• Wales

Mid Wales Freight
enquiries@midwalesfreight.co.uk
07866 731400 / 01974 282500

International Artists: 

Many international artists use Picture Post Art to transport their work to and from Mall Galleries.

Picture Post Art arrange for the shipping of work from the artist's country to the UK, help artists to correctly fill out paperwork from customs, and store packaging for reuse if required. 

Picture Post Art
info@picturepostcompany.co.uk
+ 44 7833 450788

Please note that we do not accept liability for the services of any art courier.

Selection

The works for exhibition are selected by a committee formed of members of the Society. 

If selected works arrive damaged, with unacceptable framing, size discrepancies from the original submission, or not as shown online, these will be withdrawn and work will need to be collected from Mall Galleries by the artist at their expense.

The decision of the Selection Committee is final and we are unable to offer feedback.

The prize winning works are selected in time for the awards ceremony during the Private View, prior to the exhibition opening to the public. 

Sales

All work must be for sale.

Once work has been submitted, any sale made by the gallery before or during the course of the exhibition up to and including the collection day shall take precedence and supersede one made privately. Any private sale made in this period will incur the normal commission. 

There is a minimum price per work of £200, except for prints – framed £120, unframed £95. (Buyers will not be charged for postage and packaging of unframed prints, so please ensure the price of unframed prints allows for this).

Unless otherwise advised, the gallery will charge a commission on the total price paid for works, including commissioned works, before, during, or as a result of the exhibition. 

The price submitted should be the selling price, which should include commission, and is the price at which the work will be sold.

The price of works must include commission of 45% +VAT (please note that where foundry fees apply, foundry costs will be deducted before commission is calculated). If an artist is registered for VAT, then the VAT due on the selling price of works should be included in the price submitted. 

Mall Galleries reserves the right to query the price of works.

The price of works may only be changed by written agreement between the artist and Mall Galleries. 

You will be notified by Mall Galleries if your work sells. 

Artists who are not resident in the UK but are resident in the EU or elsewhere are welcome to submit work.

Artists without a UK residence are classified as NETPs (Non-Established Taxable Persons) and must register with HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) for a UK VAT number in order for their work to be included in the exhibition. If selected for the exhibition, you must supply us with your UK VAT number before the Receiving Day, otherwise your work may be withdrawn. We will be unable to issue payment for any sales of work by artists classified as NETPs until a UK VAT number is supplied.

More information about UK VAT registration can be found under Section 9 at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-7001-should-i-be-registered-for-vat/vat-notice-7001-should-i-be-registered-for-vat

If you have any questions, please contact HMRC directly on their VAT Helpline on Telephone 0300 200 3701, or, if calling from abroad, +44 2920 501 261.

Please note: the registration process can take up to 4 weeks so please allow enough time to register.

Personal Data

The gallery will hold personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, the gallery may provide third parties with an artist's contact details in the course of administering exhibitions, commissions and prizes.

The gallery has the right to reproduce works in connection with the exhibition. 

The copyright and all other intellectual property rights will remain with the artist. If any rights are owned by a third party, that third party will remain the owner. 

Liability

The gallery is not responsible for any loss of, or any damage to, works entrusted to them. All goods are at the artist owner's risk absolutely and the gallery and/or their agents exclude all liability to the maximum extent permitted by law. The galleries are used for various purposes and so artists are advised to insure their works against all risks. 

The gallery endeavours to take good care of works sent for exhibition, but in the event of a work sent being lost, destroyed or damaged, the gallery's liability (if any) shall not exceed the value of the work as stated at the time of submission (less 45% plus VAT) or any altered price subsequently. 

In the event of any dispute regarding loss or damage, the dispute shall be referred for final arbitration to an independent expert valuer to be chosen by agreement between the parties, provided that the arbitrator's award shall not exceed the gallery's maximum liability as above. 

Artists shall indemnify and keep indemnified the gallery against any actions between the artist and any third party.

Help

If you require support with your application, please contact:

exhibitions@mallgalleries.com

Please Note: The above terms and conditions are provided by the exhibition organisers.

For terms and conditions which apply to the use of the OESS entry system please view below:
OESS Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy