Did you enter yet? Don't panic, there's still time!
Our portrait paint off is returning for 2026 and we’re so excited to do it all again.
we’re looking for 10 artists to join us for a full day of painting from life at our studio in the beautiful Stroud.
🖌️ 6 hours to paint
🏆 £2,500 top prize (plus more)
👩🎨 judged by some amazing artists! Lizet Dingemans, Luca Indraccolo and Andrew James
🗳️ public vote prize too
open to anyone, so if you love painting from life, you should definitely go for it!
📅 apply by 18 May
📍 Stroud — 26 June
👉 apply here: rawumberstudios.com/n/paint-off/2026
tag someone who should enter 👇
🧡💛🧡 We’d like to thank our supporters @aandimagazine@cassart1984@royalsocietyportraitpainte@thecbpp
🎨 How is it almost that time of year again!
Our portrait paint off is returning for 2026 and we’re so excited to do it all again.
we’re looking for 10 artists to join us for a full day of painting from life at our studio in the beautiful Stroud.
🖌️ 6 hours to paint
🏆 £2,500 top prize (plus more)
👩🎨 judged by some amazing artists! Lizet Dingemans, Luca Indraccolo and Andrew James
🗳️ public vote prize too
open to anyone, so if you love painting from life, you should definitely go for it!
📅 apply by 18 May
📍 Stroud — 26 June
👉 apply here: rawumberstudios.com/n/paint-off/2026
tag someone who should enter 👇
🎨 Public Choice Winner 🎉
Over 600 amazing entries this year, thank you to everyone who took part. You’re an incredible group of artists, and it’s a joy each year to see your work!
🏆 Huge congrats to Carole Condé, your winner of the People’s Choice Award for the second year running, for her stunning portrait of Arnie 👏
🙏 And a special thanks to our sponsors: Artists & Illustrators and Cass Art 💛💛
👾 Raw Umber Studios is coming to Cass Art Bristol!
This exhibition brings together work from several artists and tutors connected to Raw Umber Studios. The exhibition will be on view 30 March to 11 April 2026 at Cass Art Bristol.
Alongside the exhibition, join us for a FREE live workshop session led by Lizet Dingemans, who will introduce participants to the studio’s approach and guide you throughout the session. Details below:
🗓️ Sat 11 Apr 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
📍Cass Art Bristol — The Art Space
43–45 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5NL
RSVP for the workshop:👇
/events/rawumberstudios/2095077
Space is limited, so this is on a first-come, first-served basis on the day!
🎨 Portrait Painting with Cornelia Hernes, June 2026
We still have a few spots left, so come join us for an inspiring 4 day portrait painting workshop with internationally acclaimed artist Cornelia Hernes. She’s a lovely teacher to learn from and creates such a welcoming atmosphere in the studio.
From the first colour study to a fully realised portrait, you’ll explore the foundations of classical portraiture, including gesture, proportion, and colour relationships, with a mix of demos, one to one guidance, and focused studio time.
✨ Suitable for all levels
📍 Raw Umber Studios, Stroud
📅 11 to 14 June 2026
⏰ 10am to 5pm
Tap the link in our bio to book your place.
#portraitpainting #artworkshop #oilpainting #learnart #figurativeart #artclass #atelier #fineart #artistsoninstagram #paintingworkshop #rawumberstudios #corneliahernes
🎨 OPEN CALL 🎨
Our friends at Cass Art have launched the Cass Art Prize 2026!
💰 £10,000 main prize + £20,000+ in awards
🖼 Group show in central London
📅 Deadline: 12 May GO TO: cassart.co.uk/thecassartprize
Open to artists across the UK & Republic of Ireland.
If you’ve been thinking about submitting your work — this is your sign 👀
#OpenCall #CassArtPrize #ArtistsUK #ArtCompetition #ContemporaryArt #Rawumber
🏆 And the winner is...
Congratulations to Sergej Draskovic for this beautiful drawing of Mark T, as our winning artwork for the Raw Umber Image Prize 2026!
Thank you to all of you artists who entered. The quality was amazing this year! ❤️🔥
👉 See the full winner announcement: link in bio
Don't forget, we still have the people's choice to go!
VOTE HERE 👉 rawumberstudios.com/n/image-prize/2026/vote
🎨 Young Artists, this one’s for you!
Join us at Raw Umber Studios for a Costumed Portrait Study Day with artist Lizet Dingemans.
Work from a live costumed model, practise portrait drawing/painting, and experience the atelier approach in a focused studio setting.
✨ Open specifically to young artists aged 16–30
📅 16 May
📍 Raw Umber Studios, Stroud
💷 £10
A great chance to develop your skills, meet other young artists, and spend a day drawing from life.
⚡ Limited places — book now:
rawumberstudios.com/n/events
#youngartists #artstudents #portraitdrawing #lifedrawing #rawumberstudios #figurativeart #ateliertraining
🏆 Our March challenge up!
And the theme is...... Spring! Since we know how much you lot enjoy it when Lizet paints a daffodil, and we’re also very excited for the longer days ahead.
However you want to take it: a quick seasonal study, something from your local walk, flowers on the kitchen table, changing light, new blooms, anything that says “spring” to you.
🗓️ Deadline: Noon, March 31st
🎨 Theme: Spring
🖌️ Medium: Anything you like
Share your work using #RawUmberChallenge. We’ll pick one winner to receive a Raw Umber goodie bag
Artwork by @LizetDingemansArtist
#inbloom #spring #lizetdingemans #rawumber
🏆 February Winner : Interiors Challenge
Thanks to everyone who took part in our Interiors Challenge, as always with you lot there were some brilliant submissions!
Congratulations to @luca_di_castri , our winner, with Amor sacro amor profano (oil on canvas, 40 × 60 cm). A beautifully composed interior that caught our attention!
Please DM us your address so we can send out your Raw Umber goodie bag 🥰
Thanks again to everyone who joined in for this one , and keep an eye out for the next challenge later tiday
#rawumberlive #rawumberchallenge #interiors #oilpainting #artcommunity
