Direct Touch: Pastel in Focus at the 2026 Pastel Society Exhibition

The 2026 exhibition explores the theme “Direct Touch”, drawing attention to the physical relationship between artist, pigment and surface. Pastel allows colour to be applied without mediation, encouraging immediacy, sensitivity and a strong connection to the act of making.

Across the exhibition, works in pastel, pencil, charcoal, crayon and chalk demonstrate the versatility of dry media. Visitors encounter carefully layered surfaces, confident linear work and bold use of colour, revealing how artists continue to develop the medium through technique, scale and subject matter.

The exhibition reflects a growing appreciation for pastel not only as a drawing medium, but as a fully realised fine art practice capable of depth, subtlety and expressive range.

Mall Galleries, located on The Mall in London, provides a fitting setting for the Pastel Society Annual Exhibition. As the home of the Federation of British Artists, the gallery is dedicated to supporting contemporary practice and professional artists.

The gallery’s exhibition spaces allow pastel works to be viewed closely, making surface texture, pigment density and tonal variation an integral part of the viewing experience, particularly important for works created using dry media.

A highlight of the exhibition is the presentation of the new Daler-Rowney Prizes, now awarded annually to recognise outstanding use of pastel and dry media. One prize is awarded to a Society member, with a second recognising a non-member artist.

Daler-Rowney Prize (Member)
Simon Klein PS – “Cul de Sac”

“It was great to win the Pastel Society Members Daler-Rowney Prize this year. The exhibition of work at the Pastel Society annual exhibition called ‘Direct Touch’ was an ambitious and well curated group of work with Pastel Society members and non members alike, working in a rich variety of styles and pastel media methods. So I was very honoured to have been selected for this prize.

Daler-Rowney have a very full catalogue of art materials, including drawing papers and pastel media which I am looking forward to exploring and working with on some new work. Oil pastel can be quite a heavy dense material. As well as laying it on, I often scrape it back or push it around with some spirits. A good strong paper is part of the process. Also I am interested to see how Charcoal and putty rubber work on some of the different papers as I experiment with the media.”

Daler-Rowney Prize (Non-Member)
Manny Woodard – “Julie”

“I was delighted to be accepted for The Pastel Society Exhibition, and to be awarded the Daler-Rowney Prize for a non-member was a wonderful surprise. I feel very honoured. The exhibition was beautifully varied, with many fascinating works, and the atmosphere was made especially welcoming by the kindness and friendliness of those involved. It was a truly joyous experience.

I work quietly at home, so my practice is generally a solitary one. I come from a background in sculpture, and although I have always drawn for pleasure, it is only in the last few years – after reluctantly giving up sculpture – that I have begun to draw seriously and to exhibit my work. I approach 2D materials with relatively limited experience, so receiving this prize feels particularly encouraging.

With the prize, I feel as though I have been let loose in a sweet shop – I love chocolate – and I am excited to explore a range of different materials and see where they may lead me.”

These awards highlight the continued relevance of pastel within contemporary fine art, celebrating both technical skill and personal expression, and underscoring the Pastel Society’s role in championing dry media today.

For more information about the society, visit https://thepastelsociety.org.uk/.

For more information about the 2026 exhibition, visit https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-events/pastel-society-annual-exhibition-2026.