Alumni opportunities

Our alumni are a valued part of our artistic community. There are many opportunities to stay in touch with and be supported by the School.
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Stay in touch

Tell us about your upcoming projects and exhibitions and we can share it with the alumni network and School community. Want to update your profile page? Please get in touch.

Contact the Alumni Manager
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Alumni news & exhibitions

Our community is a vibrant and active part of the art world and creative industries. We love to share all that you are doing in the monthly newsletter.

Here is a brief selection of some current alumni exhibitions and projects to check out:

The Drawing Year 2025 End of Year Exhibition

3–19 December 2025
Royal Drawing School

This is a selling exhibition that showcases the works of graduating students of The Drawing Year 2025. The end of year show includes over 500 artworks using drawing techniques rich in observation, imagination and storytelling, and incorporating a wide range of materials and influences. The artists come from a variety of backgrounds and creative disciplines.

Find out more here.

Online until January 2026

 

The Drawing Year 2025: Studio Show

3–13 December 2025
SPACE studios

Students of the 2025 Drawing Year programme invite you to explore their annual Studio Show, running in parallel with The Drawing Year 2025 End of Year Postgraduate Exhibition. 

The work on display spans a broad spectrum of styles, materials, and scales, from drawing, painting, and printmaking to sculpture and more experimental approaches. Curated to reflect the conversations and shared explorations that have shaped the year, the Studio Show places the artists in dialogue with one another. The result is a flowing, interconnected exhibition that highlights both individual voices and the collective energy of the cohort.

Residencies

The School runs a variety of residencies in the UK and internationally, offering artists time and space to develop their practice in unique settings. Residencies created for alumni take place in countries such as Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Switzerland, USA, Jamaica, Antigua and India.

View all residencies
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Tutor Training

As a Drawing Year alumnus, the Young Artist Tutor Training programme offers you the opportunity to develop a teaching practice focused on supporting young people, while continuing to cultivate your own artistic practice.

Our Young Artists courses invite young people aged 10 to 18 to develop their drawing and observational skills through creative exploration and hands-on practice.

Who is this for?
The programme aims to provide teaching experience to graduates from the Drawing Year who wish to develop a rigorous teaching practise and who are passionate about working with young people. 
How does it work?

Trainees will be paired with experienced Young Artist Tutors on a termly basis and will have the opportunity to train at different venues with either 10-14 year olds or 15-18 year olds.

Trainees will be expected to undertake a number of training sessions such as 'Lesson Planning', 'Safeguarding' and 'Student Communication' during the year and attend various planning and reflection sessions when required.

The training is designed to give Trainees a wide range of experiences and learning opportunities so they can develop their own leadership style and specialist teaching skillset.

How do I apply?

The application window is in April each year, when we give a presentation to the most recently graduated Drawing Year and invite those that are interested to apply.

However any Drawing Year alumni who have graduated in previous years, are also welcome to apply if they decide they would like to develop a teaching practise aimed at supporting young people. If you would like to register an interest in joining this programme in April 2026, please email youngartists@royaldrawingschool.org

Alumni discount

Don't forget that alumni receive a discount of 50% on term-time courses at the School, no matter how long ago you graduated. Check course pages for details.

View short courses
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Alumni newsletter

We keep in touch regularly with news of residencies, competitions, exhibitions and paid opportunities. Make sure you're signed up.

Contact the Alumni Manager