Drawing Year alumnus Catherine Story was selected as one of just four painters to exhibit in Tate’s Painting Now show last year, while four Drawing Year alumni had paintings selected for the BP Portrait Award 2013 exhibition, with Carl Randall, Clara Drummond, David Caldwell and Fred Clark all displaying portraits in the show. David’s piece is made up of 77 small portraits all made from short sittings with friends, many of whom are also Drawing Year alumni.

Last year’s Drawing Year student group included two-time Jerwood Drawing Prize Student Award winner Kristian Fletcher, ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary winner Fraser Scarfe, Rabley SKETCH 2013 Award winner Meg Buick, and Laura Footes, who was an ‘Artist of the Day’ at Flowers Central this year as part of their solo exhibitions series along with alumni Jessie Makinson and Clara Drummond (also shortlisted for the Threadneedle Prize). Alongside Kristian Fletcher, the 2013 Jerwood Drawing Prize featured alumnus Coll McDonnell and 2012-13 student Kathryn Maple.

The Royal Drawing School faculty were also honoured in several high-profile arts awards last year, with Sarah Pickstone winning the John Moores Painting Prize, Thomas Newbolt winning the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Competition and Emily Haworth-Booth winning the Jonathan Cape/Observer/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize. Julie Held was selected for the BP Portrait Award exhibition and Susan Wilson and Gethin Evans were shortlisted for the Threadneedle Prize.