Residencies

Dumfries House is set in 2,000 acres of land in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It was built between 1754 and 1759 for the 5th Earl of Dumfries. Dumfries House principal rooms and their contents have remained virtually unchanged for 250 years, leading the house to be described by some as an 18th century time capsule. 

Artists in residence have access to a significant collection of 18th century Chippendale furniture, tapestries, and textiles. They also have access to a large collection of Flemish and Scottish paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries, on loan from the National Gallery of Scotland.  

Artists in residence have the freedom to roam, enjoy and draw inspiration from the entire estate and gardens. Artists can work in the house during opening hours and can arrange to meet the Collections Manager for more information about the house and its collection.  

Dumfries House Estate is home to several sustainability and education projects such as the traditional building skills, animal husbandry, cookery school, textiles centre, and horticultural programmes.  

Residency studios are housed in a traditional stone building that was once a laundry, situated in a secluded area surrounded by farmland and established trees, close to the main house.  

Thanks to a generous donation from Dimplex in 2012, the laundry was renovated to construct four spacious studios, filled with natural light. A river, walled garden, woods, main house and café are all within short walking distance. Each studio is equipped with professional daylight lights, ground source heating, and a kitchen unit. Shared toilets are on each floor.  

Each studio measures 5 by 5 metres and are suitable for most types of work. Wall space is limited, therefore may not be suitable for working with very large pieces. Two of the studios are situated on the ground floor and two on the first floor; the ground floor studios have doors leading directly outside so for this reason may be more suitable for sculptors. There is 24-hour access to the studios.  

Accommodation provides a private bedroom and a shared kitchen and bathroom. For more information about the house and estate visit www.dumfries-house.org.uk 

The Royal Drawing School has opened a new printmaking studio at Dumfries House. The new studio offers etching facilities for artists in residence. Please note the printmaking residencies are only open to artists proficient in printmaking. There are limited printmaking residencies available between mid-August to mid-November 2025 for Royal Drawing School alumni. Please specify on your application if you wish to be considered for one of the printmaking residences. 

The Dumfries House residency is open to The Drawing Year alumni, graduates of the Online Drawing Development Year, Scottish artists, and artists nominated by partner art schools in the United States. 

The Dumfries House residency welcomes applications from Royal Drawing School alumni artists who are parents of young families.  

Alumni parent artists should apply as a group with other alumni parents who would like to take their children to Dumfries House. We suggest applying as a group of 2 to 4 artists to make the most the exclusive use of the studios and artists flat.

Parent and child residencies are 1 to 2 weeks in length. Each parent artist must submit their own application and list the names of the other parent artists that they would like to be in residence with. Please get in touch if you would like more information on the parent and child residency at Dumfries House. 

Applications are currently closed for Dumfries House artist residences.

Applications for Royal Drawing School alumni, graduates of the Online Drawing Development Year and Scottish Artists at Dumfries House will open again in Autumn 2025 for residencies taking place between February – June 2026.

The Hafod residency is a unique opportunity for artists who are interested in working in a rural location, drawing inspiration from the landscape and natural surroundings of the Welsh countryside.  

Artists must be able to drive with access to a car in order to partake in the residency as there is no public transport. 

Applications are now closed for the Hafod, Wales residency.

Applications for the 2026 residency will open in Autumn 2025. 

The residency provides each visiting artist with self-catering studio accommodation, access to a large, shared atelier and workshop space, out-of-hours access to the Giverny gardens, return travel costs and a $10,000 fellowship bursary.  

During Monet’s Garden, Giverny opening hours, the gardens are closed to artists due to large foot fall of visitors to the gardens. 

Applications are currently closed for the Giverny Residency.

Applications will open again in early Spring 2026 for Summer 2026 residency. 

Luigi Pericle (1916–2001), a Swiss painter of Italian origin, was also an illustrator, writer, and scholar of esoteric traditions such as astrology and theosophy. His enigmatic, layered imagery gained recognition in the early 1960s through major exhibitions in Britain alongside artists like Dubuffet and Picasso, earning praise from figures like Herbert Read. 

Initially successful as an illustrator—best known for the comic strip Max the Marmot—Pericle later abandoned figurative art, embracing abstraction marked by sweeping, calligraphic forms. In 1965, at the height of his fame, he withdrew from public life, choosing instead a path of philosophical exploration and private artistic creation rooted in cosmic and spiritual themes. 

Pericle’s works on paper from the 1960s reflect a deep engagement with the interplay of saturated and diluted color, often balanced by Indian ink, which he continued using into the 1970s. His art explores contrasts—between positive and negative space, sharp lines and fluid strokes, light and density—elements that evolved further in his Masonite pieces. Strongly influenced by Eastern calligraphy, Pericle's flowing, meditative mark-making reflects his disciplined practice and is documented in his meticulously archived notebooks and boxed sketches. 

His imagery merges classical motifs with Zen and Egyptian influences, often featuring hybrid figures and symbolic forms. As noted by Anita Brookner, Pericle’s drawings are both structurally refined and spiritually resonant, echoing the elegance of Zen philosophy. 

Rediscovered in 2016 after decades of obscurity, Pericle’s vast body of work was found preserved in his former Ascona home. Ongoing restoration and research are led by the Archivio Luigi Pericle, with exhibitions held at major institutions including the Venice Biennale, MASI Lugano, and the Estorick Collection, culminating in a major 2024 retrospective in Mulhouse, France. 

This is a unique opportunity for an artist to be immersed in the works of Luigi Pericle. It is required that the artist in residence is interested in the work of Luigi Pericle and to create work in response to the archive. To conclude the residency the artist will create an artwork in dialogue with the oeuvre of Luigi Pericle; the artwork will be gifted to the permanent collection of the Archivio Luigi Pericle. 

Artists in residence will be provided with accommodation at the Hotel Ascona, full board (all meals), a studio space (as the studio is based in a hotel, dry materials can only be used inside). Artists will be required to pay for their own travel and any additional costs.  

Applications are now closed for the Archivio Luigi Pericle residency. 

We will update this page when dates are available. 

Borgo Pignano is a private Tuscan estate with 750 acres of fields, hills, woods, lakes and gardens. It is located between the ancient Etruscan town of Volterra and the walled medieval hill town of San Gimignano, known as "the town of fine towers". The historic cities of Florence and Siena are just over an hour's drive away. 

The main villa of Pignano dates back to the 13th Century and lies in the heart of the estate overlooking the surrounding hillsides.  

Borgo Pignano is committed to sustainable agriculture and within the estate one can find organic kitchen gardens, livestock, beehives, olive groves and various crops growing in the fields. 

Artists in residence will be provided a combined studio and accommodation, based in the farm area of the Borgo Pignano Estate. The apartment consists of a twin bedroom with two single beds, bathroom, and kitchen area which connects to an open plan studio space.  

Daily lunches are provided. Artists must cater for their own breakfast and dinner. Accommodation includes a self-catering kitchen for preparing meals.  

A taxi will be provided to bring artists to and from the airport upon arrival and departure. The taxi will stop at a supermarket for grocery shopping on your journey to Borgo Pignano. Artists in residence are advised to hire a car to give them more freedom during their residency to explore the local area and access to local shops for supplies.  

As a condition of the residency during the hotels peak season (April to October) artists may be asked to teach hotel guests to draw or paint for a 90-minute session, two mornings or afternoons a week. This only happens occasionally, and artists will never be asked to teach more than twice a week. Pignano will pay for the teaching directly and there is a stock of drawing and painting materials at Borgo Pignano for guests to use.  

As part of the Moritz-Heyman residency artists are provided with the following: 

• Combined studio and accommodation, situated in the farm area of the Borgo Pignano Estate 

• Daily lunches 

• Airport transfers  

The residency is designed to host one artist in residence at a time.  

However, it is possible for artists to apply for joint residency. Artists who would like to apply for a joint residency must both complete an application form. 

Please note that joint residency artists will be provided with a shared twin bedroom. 

Applications are currently closed for Moritz-Heyman, Borgo Pignano residencies.  

Applications will open again in Autumn 2025 for residencies taking place January and June 2026.  

Artists will have the opportunity for independent travel at the end of the residency.  

Each artist on residency is awarded: 

• Return airfare travel
• Shared accommodation and studio for 4 artists
• Stipend for daily meals and art materials
• Visa
• Vaccinations 

Please note travel insurance is the artists own responsibility. 

The residency is only open to alumni of the Drawing Year, the Royal Drawing School’s postgraduate programme.

To be eligible, artists must have graduated from the Drawing Year in the last 10 years and have at least one year of teaching experience.

IIFA Residency October – December 2025

• Group travel, early - mid October 2025(2 weeks)
• Teaching (Monday - Friday) late Oct - 22 December 2025 (10 weeks) 
• Farwell party at IIFA, 23 December 2025
• Return to UK or independent travel, 24 December 2025

Applications for the IIFA residency October – December 2025 are now open. Applications close Monday 7 July 2025 at 5pm GMT+1.

Submitted applications will be assessed by a jury of distinguished artists and curators in July 2025. Shortlisted artists may be invited for interview in late July.

Fill out the online application form here.

Deadline: Monday 7 July 2025 at 5pm GMT+1

If you have any questions regarding the residency or your application please contact: janet.casey@royaldrawingschool.org

Resident artists will teach two days per week, teaching 25 young people split into two groups; one group each day. For the remaining time artists are provided with a studio space for their self-directed practice.

Artists in residence will design workshops for students and offer them a programme of activities and learning resources to carry out once the residency is finished. As part of the teaching programme, sessions may be filmed to share with future visual art teachers.  

The residency is an ideal opportunity for alumni who teach on the Royal Drawing Schools Young Artists programme. Artists in residence will act as ambassadors for the Royal Drawing School. They will share the school’s mission to offer in-depth, high-quality drawing from observation tuition to raise the standard and profile of drawing through teaching and practice. 

The residency opportunity is fully funded. Artists in residence will be provided: 

• Accommodation 

• Studio space 

• Return airfare 
• $300 per week paid to each artist, to cover 2 days a week of teaching 

The residency is only open to alumni of the Royal Drawing School’s postgraduate programme, The Drawing Year and to faculty of the Royal Drawing School.  

Artists must have two years teaching experience minimum.  

The residency is an ideal opportunity for alumni who teach on the Royal Drawing Schools Young Artists programme. 

To assist with travel and accommodation costs, the Don Bachardy Fellow will be awarded a $5,000 stipend, half of which will be granted on receipt of the Fellowship and the remainder on arrival in London.  

The Don Bachardy Fellow will spend 3 full days per week for ten weeks, drawing alongside students studying on the school’s postgraduate-level programme, The Drawing Year, as well as students on Public Programme courses.  

Courses are taught by a distinguished faculty of over 75 practising artists. The Fellow will be invited to curate their own programme, choosing from 60+ drawing courses: from drawing out of house on London’s streets and green spaces, to life drawing, and drawing from art in major museums and galleries, as well as intaglio printmaking courses.  

The Fellow will have the opportunity to attend the school’s lecture series, which includes conversations with leading contemporary artists and art history lectures. Past speakers have included Cornelia Parker RA, Denzil Forrester, Maggi Hambling CBE, Helen Cammock, Walid Siti, and Michael Landy RA. 

Scholars will curate their own programme choosing from over 60 different drawing courses, drawing out of house on London’s streets and green spaces, life drawing, drawing from art in major museums and galleries, as well as intaglio printmaking courses.  

Scholars will also be provided with a shared studio space alongside The Drawing Year Students at Space Studios. The artists can attend the school’s lecture series, which includes in-conversations with leading contemporary artists and art history lectures.  

Past speakers have included Cornelia Parker RA, Denzil Forrester, Maggi Hambling CBE, Helen Cammock, Walid Siti, Michael Landy RA and former director of The National Gallery, Sir Nicholas Penny FSA.   

In addition to ten-weeks in London, artists complete the residency with a two-week residency at Dumfries House in Scotland. Artists will be provided with a private studio and self-catering accommodation on the Dumfries House estate. 

To assist with travel and accommodation costs, the Manetti Shrem Scholars will be awarded a stipend ahead of their arrival in London. Successful scholars are responsible for their visa fees and administration if required.  

Applications are closed for the Manetti Shrem International Residency Scholarship.  

Applications will open again in Spring 2026 for residency taking place in Autumn 2026.  

• 32-day residency (approx. 4 days/month over 8 months – flexible scheduling depending on artist availability)
• Residency to commence by September 2025 at the latest
• The artist in resident will provide 2–4 mentoring sessions with student residents (total)
• Final outcome of work to be permanently installed in the new Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre
• Access to CW+ studio space and desk space throughout residency
• Access to support for facilitating patient/staff workshops in a group or 1:1 setting as part of residency with hospital community

• Artists will be supported by CW+ throughout, with access to collaboration opportunities, community engagement and hospital networks, creating space for both personal and professional development, and ensuring a lasting and meaningful legacy through their project.

• Access to free shuttlebus between Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital (if required for transport access)

• Artist fee: £10,000
• Production and installation support: £5,000

The Royal Drawing School's Drawing Year alumni and faculty are welcome to apply.

The residency offer is for one artist. It is important that applicants have experience of mentoring and are comfortable with mentoring student artists who are also in residence.

Please note before commencing their residency, the appointed artist will need to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Applications close Monday 7 July 2025 at 5pm GMT+1.

Submitted applications will be assessed by a Jury of distinguished artists and curators in late July 2025. Shortlisted artist will be invited for interview and a tour of the hospital before one artist is selected for the residency

Fill out the online application form here.

Deadline: Monday 7 July 2025 at 5pm GMT+1

If you have any questions regarding the residency or your application please contact: janet.casey@royaldrawingschool.org