“I’m sure anyone with any artistic aspiration dreams of being a part of the Summer Exhibition. I really enjoy the tradition of it being the largest, longest and arguably the most popular open exhibition in the UK. The mix of artistic disciplines, the combination of known and unknown artists all within the same show is unique and exciting. I took a gamble in entering my woodcut print, which is part of a larger series based on Cornish shipwrecks inspired by the Gibson family archive. Being in this show with many talented artists I admire is a thrill.”

“I applied to the RA Summer exhibition because it seemed like a thing to try out as a young artist discovering London. I was very happy when I was told I was accepted. I was especially curious to go to the Private View and meet the other artists. What I like about this exhibition is that contemporary works are being shown but there is quite a strong sense of the past about it.

People have been participating in this event every year, in those very same rooms, for several centuries. It felt surreal to be part of such a long tradition; I really enjoyed that.”

I created ‘Tsar Biro Miniature’ specifically for the Summer Exhibition, after watching a documentary about artists creating new work for entry.

When I was told I had been accepted, I felt a mixture of elation and relief - I hadn’t told any of my family I’d entered - but with each stage of the judging process it became harder to keep secret. When I finally got the news I’d been accepted, I kept checking and re-checking the email. Once sure, I milked the celebration for about a week.

Part of what I try to capture in my work is the dichotomy between historic source imagery and a contemporary, disposable medium: biro. This clash is further enhanced by the drawing being exhibited in such a prestigious venue.