The Roland Manuel Memorial Prize 2025

Last date for entries : 1 July 2025

"The First Line"

"The first lines you make on a page can embody your spirit and intention"

The prize, awarded in conjunction with the Blake Cottage Trust, is in memory of Roland Bonham Manuel whose private sketches and notes embody the vitality and freedom of the imagination.

William Blake's notebook is held in the British Library and is full of sketches and ideas serving as sources for his later work. 

https://sites.google.com/view/rolandbonhammanuel/first-line

We are looking for a piece, created traditionally not digitally, which embodies the freedom and self expression of a private sketch book. We want a piece that is not highly polished and finished, but free and expressive. This Prize is open to everyone - if you loved Art at school or college, but work and family took you in a different direction, we'd love to encourage you to take this chance to pick up that pencil again.

Sketches can be in any traditional medium, in colour, line or tonal (as you prefer) and on paper. Entries must be submitted in the form of an unfiltered photograph taken in good light, in a setting of your choice. We'd love to see your choice drawing tools included in the photograph too, but this is optional. Digital art will not be considered; in this age of screens and digital manipulation, we are keen to use this prize to celebrate what is real and tangible, and to appreciate the different qualities of different traditional drawing materials. 

Whilst entry and shortlisting is online we would hope that most of our 8  short-listed sketches can be exhibited near the location of Blake's Cottage in Felpham where William Blake lived. 

- Free to enter

- First Line RoM Prize £700

- Apprentice RoM sketch £100 (Under 21)

Rules: All entries should be submitted as JPEG's through Facebook or Instagram. (details of addresses to follow) From individuals who if short-listed will provide a valid name, address, email and age if under 25, as of 22/9/2025. Apprentice section is open to Under 21's. Deadline for Entries 1 July 2025