Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A New Exhibition by Jeremy Houghton
Royal Albert Hall
October 2026
Eighty Years in Harmony
This autumn, the Royal Albert Hall will host a new exhibition of paintings created during Jeremy Houghton’s year as Artist in Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Over the course of the Orchestra’s 80th anniversary year, Jeremy has worked behind the scenes, attending rehearsals, concerts and performances to create a unique visual record of one of Britain’s great cultural institutions.
Rather than simply painting portraits of musicians, the collection explores the life of the Orchestra itself — the quiet anticipation before a performance, the movement of the conductor, the character of individual instruments, the atmosphere of the audience, and the remarkable venues that have become part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s story over the past eight decades.
Together, the paintings celebrate not only the music, but the people whose dedication, discipline and passion bring it to life.
Exhibition Details
Venue
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2AP
Dates
October 2026
Artwork
Original oil paintings, watercolours, studies and sketches created during Jeremy Houghton’s residency with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The collection follows the Orchestra through rehearsals and performances, revealing moments that audiences rarely see and celebrating eighty years of extraordinary music-making.
Click here to see the collection.
About the Residency
Jeremy Houghton’s residencies have taken him behind the scenes of some of the world’s most remarkable institutions, from royal palaces and military regiments to the Vatican.
His residency with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra offered a rare opportunity to document the life of a world-class orchestra from within. Throughout the year he has painted rehearsals, performances, musicians, conductors, audiences and the architecture of the concert halls themselves, creating a body of work that captures both the energy of live performance and the quiet moments that make it possible.
The exhibition marks the culmination of this year-long artistic journey.
About Jeremy Houghton
Jeremy Houghton is a British artist renowned for gaining access to extraordinary places and revealing the stories that exist behind closed doors.
His work is held in collections throughout the UK, Europe and the United States. Following his Royal Philharmonic Orchestra residency, Jeremy has been appointed Artist in Residence to the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican, where he is creating a major new collection to mark the 500th anniversary of the Guard in 2027.
Join the Studio Circle
For exhibition updates, competitions, studio news, postcards and exclusive invitations, join Jeremy’s Studio Circle.
Studio Circle members receive:
• Early access to new collections
• Invitations to exhibitions and talks
• Studio insights and sketchbooks
• Competitions and special offers
• News before it becomes public
Experience the Orchestra Through Paint
We look forward to welcoming you to the Royal Albert Hall this October.