Glossary: Royal academician

In England there are 80 Royal Academicians who must be professionally active. Of these there must be at least 14 sculptors, 12 architects and 8 printmakers with the remaining number being drawn from the painters category. All new Academicians are elected by the existing RAs. Each RA is entitled to submit 6 works for the summer exhibition and, unlike other painters who submit, no vetting is carried out.

In Scotland the Royal Scottish Academy has a membership of 125 Academicians. This has grown from the original 11 artists who founded the academy in 1826. The Irish academy is located in Dublin and the Welsh academy is in Conway.