The Pastel Society, 127th Annual Exhibition

This year 2026, the 127 TH Annual Exhibition of the Pastel Society in United Kingdom is DIRECT TOUCH!

Another year has passed and one of my favorite Pastel Competitions and exhibitions is taking place again, as usual at the Mall Galleries in London. We are not just talking about Soft Pastel, but also other wonderful dry techniques such as Charcoal, Oil pastel, Pencil, and more… It is an honor to be part of this artistic event, even in a modest way. The Pastel Society Annual Exhibition brings together the best soft pastel and dry media artists from the United Kingdom and also welcomes painters from abroad.

Tony Allain, “Drummond Castle Estate”, Soft Pastel 45×60cm

Tony Allain, “Evening Light at Templemill”, Soft Pastel 50×65cm

Tony Allain, “Winter Solstice”, Soft Pastel 40×60cm

As every year, the quality of the works presented at the Mall Galleries in London is considerable. As the years go by and the different editions unfold, I enjoy observing the evolution of many artists I personally know, love, and follow, who surprise me in a positive way year after year. Each edition artists evolve through a continual process of experimentation, reflection, and creativity: They refine their technical skills, exploring new materials and tools...

Rachel Arif, “Pink Sky, Lancashire Village”, 35×28cm

Rachel Arif, “Constable SuffolkSky, Southwold”

Alasdair Banks, “Vintage Motor Racing Study”, 58×54cm

Christine Berrington, “Later in the day”, Mixed Media 33×28cm

Sarah Bee, “Spring Sun and Sea”, Soft Pastel 59x79cm

Sarah Bee, “Deep Dive”, Soft Pastel 59×59cm

Sarah Bee, “All the Way Donw to the Cove” (Diptych), Soft Pastel 59×118cm

Cheryl Culver, “Lost”, Soft Pastel 50×50cm

Cheryl Culver, “September Moon”, Soft Pastel 49×49cm

Sheila Goodman, “Autumn Glory”, Soft Pastel 20×20cm

Kevin Nzumbi Mutemi, “Experiment #18, a Different Street in Athens”, 21×15cm

Amy Shuckburg, “Walking Back into the Past”, 40×30cm

Simon Klein, “Making Bread”, 42×30cm

Roger Dellar, “In the bar”, Soft Pastel 30×40cm

Benjamin Hope, Sunset with Storm Cloud, from Southwark Bridge, 23×23cm

Simon Hodges, Venice; Light and Dark, Soft Pastel 50×45cm

Elena Putley, “Harlow Carr Gardens, Warm November”, 27×27cm

I had to choose a new winner for the Mamut Pastels Award of this 2026 an the decision was not easy at all. There is so much great variety and quality to choose among… I finally selected a piece called “The Brecon Beacons in Winter”, by the artist Kendrick Snodin. I felt drawn by the color palette, the combination of colors, the complexity of the layers, where you can´t quite tell where one begins and the other ends, where the boundaries between reality and fiction blur, creating a sensual and captivating atmosphere.

Norma Stephenson, “Farms and Barns, Yorkshire Dales”, Soft Pastel 47×47cm

Norma Stephenson, “Farms and Barns, Yorkshire Dales 2”, Pastel 63×63cm

Jeffrey Jill, “Orkney Autumn”, Soft Pastel 36×52cm

Jeffrey Jill, “Peak and Though”, Soft Pastel 40×56cm

Jeffrey Jill, Sunlight scaled, Soft Pastel 42×58cm

Hopefully I´ll have the opportunity to attend again in person next year the painting exhibition, and share with you the atmosphere, which would make me incredibly happy. I am sharing a selection of pieces I choose from this year´s edition. Obviously, not all them are included, but you can visit the gallery following this direct link. Something I sincerely recommend to all Pastel and art lovers.