The ING Discerning Eye is an educational charity, established in the UK in 1990, to encourage a wider understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and to stimulate debate about the place and purpose of art in our society, and the contribution each one of us can make to its development.

The exhibition comprises both publicly submitted works and works independently selected by six prominent figures from different areas of the art world: two artists, two collectors and two critics. Each section is hung separately to give each its own distinctive identity. The impression emerges of six small exhibitions within the whole.

It provides an unusual opportunity for works by lesser-known artists to be hung alongside contributions from internationally recognised names. The selectors are solely responsible for their own selection; selection is not by committee. The only restrictions are limitation of size (only small works are permitted) and to select at least 25% of their section from the open submission.

The exhibition is also supported by the sponsorship of ING Wholesale Banking.

For further information and links please visit the Downloads/Links.

We are making some changes for The Discerning Eye 2017 to make the process easier for artists.  Please rest assured we are still committed to a physical submission as this process is fundamental to the selection process of Discerning Eye. However, this year we will be offering an optional initial online pre-registration for artists.  Artists are able to register the number of works they intend to submit, choose where they are submitting and pre pay for them.  Please be aware that we do not require any digital images of your work.  

It is an easy 4 step process to pre register and it will save you money.

Step 1
Click on the online entry tab and fill in the details on the entry form including where you want to submit and how many works.

Step 2
Make your payment. You will be sent an email confirmation with your Unique Reference Number.

Step 3
Download the Entry Schedule and Work Labels on the Download/Links page and fill them out.

Step 4
Bring your artworks and the completed Entry Schedule and Work Labels to your chosen Submission Centre on the appointed day and time.

If you want to add any more work or wish to change your submission centre, you can do this up to the deadline on 23 August 2017.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you would prefer not to register online beforehand, or if you have not registered the maximum number of works before the deadline and would like to add more, you may still hand in your works to your selected Submission Point without being pre-registered and pay either by cheque or cash.

The 2017 ING Discerning Eye Exhibition will be open to the public from Thursday 16 November – Sunday 26 November, between 10am and 5pm daily at the Mall Galleries, The Mall London SW1. Admission will be free and all the works will be for sale.

Artists benefit from many lucrative prizes offered by both ING and a number of other generous sponsors.

• ING Purchase Prize – £5000
• The Discerning Eye Founder’s Purchase Prize –  In honour of Michael Reynold’s £2500
• The Discerning Eye Chairman’s Purchase Prize – £1000
• Meynell Fenton Prize – £1000
• Wright Purchase Prize – £500
• Humphreys Purchase Prize – £750
• Parker Harris Print Purchase Prize – £500
• Discerning Eye Sculpture and 3D Work Prize – £250
• St Cuthberts Mill Award – Paper to the value of £250
• Regional Prizes – There will be up to 8 prizes of £250 each awarded to an outstanding entry from the national regions

The ING Discerning Eye 2017 is open to all artists resident in the UK.

Initial entry is by optional online registration. Online registration closes at 5pm on 23 August 2017. Following online registration, registered artists must then complete the Entry Schedule and Work Labels and hand these in with their works at their Collection Point.

Artists may register to enter up to six works for consideration by the Selection Panel.

Before registration artists are asked to carefully read the Rules & Guidelines, as all entrants will be asked to confirm acceptance of these during the online entry process.

During online registration, each registered artist will be provided with a unique reference number in their confirmation email that will need to be included on the Entry Schedule and Work Labels.

The Entry Schedule and Work Labels are available on the Download/Links page of this website. Work labels should be completed and attached securely to the back top right hand corner of each work. Completed Entry Schedules should be handed in with the works at the Collection Point.

If you would prefer not to register online beforehand, or if you have not registered the maximum number of works and would like to add more, you may still hand in your works to your selected Submission Point without being pre-registered and pay either by cheque or cash. 

Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds for any works pre-registered but not submitted for selection.

Artists may submit up to six works. Entry fees are listed below.

Pre-registered submission fees: 

London Submission: £12 per work

Regional Submission: £20 per work (inclusive of transport fee)

Works not pre-registered online submission fees:

London Submission: £15 per work

Regional Submission: £23 per work (inclusive of transport fee)

Submission of works
The completed Entry Schedule and labelled works should be handed in to your Collection Point on the specified days only. For full details about hand in points and dates, please download the Collection Timetable in the Downloads/Links section of this website.

PLEASE NOTE: You can only enter six works in total.

Artists will not be notified of the results of their entry directly. Results will be posted on the Downloads/Links section of this website from Thursday 7 September 2017.

Only the selected work will be listed on the site. If your name and work number do not appear on the website you must arrange collection. If you do not have internet access please contact Parker Harris on 01372 462190. The selectors’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

All unselected works must be collected from the Federation of British Artists, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW17 5BD on Friday 8 September (10-5pm) or Saturday 9 September 2017 (10-4pm).

Works that remain uncollected will be removed from the Mall Galleries and taken into storage and will be liable for storage charges. The storage and collection address is: Chelsea Self Storage, Blantyre Street, London, SW10 0EQ.

Collection of these stored works will be available on Wednesday 13 and Wednesday 20 September (11am-4pm) and charges of £12 per work/per week will apply. Following these dates, collection will then be by appointment only and charges of £12 per work/per week will apply.

PLEASE NOTE: Works not collected by Monday 1 January 2018 will be disposed of. For further details, please contact Art Moves of Chelsea directly, 020 7352 7492 or artmoveschelsea@aol.com.

For the return of regional unselected works, please contact the carriers directly for information and charges.

• Art Moves of Chelsea: 0207 352 7492 or artmoveschelsea@aol.com
• Picture Post:  07833450788 or 01302 711011 or info@picturepostcompany.co.uk
• 3 Lanes Transport: 01736 799298 or info@3lanes.com

The ING Discerning Eye Exhibition 2017 will retain all works selected for exhibition until the exhibition at Mall Galleries, London in November 2017.