The

RWS Contemporary Watercolour Competition

is an annual international competition organised by the

Royal Watercolour Society

to encourage innovation and experimentation in watercolour painting, spanning work on paper in watercolour, acrylic, gouache, pen & ink and watercolour mixed media.

A

maximum of six paintings

can be submitted. All submitted works must have been created within the last four years of submission and must be the original work of the artist. Paintings must not exceed

100cm x 100cm

when framed.

All paintings in water-based media, including watercolour, pen and ink, acrylic and gouache are eligible,

regardless of style or subject matter

, as long as they are painted on paper.

The judges are looking for pieces that push at the boundaries of watercolour, promote water-based media at its most accomplished and ask audiences to see the medium in a new and contemporary light.

The

copyright

of all works remains vested in the artist.

There is an entry fee of 15 GBP (

approx. 19 USD

) per painting. Students in full time higher education can submit up to 6 works for 5 GBP per entry (

approx. 6 USD

).

Watercolour Artist Friends

can submit for free.