High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, (and not to be confused with the Royal Watercolour Society), is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London. In 1831 it was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, competing with the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), which had been founded in 1804. The RI differed in policy by exhibiting non-members' work also. Both societies challenged the Royal Academy's refusal to accept the medium of watercolours as appropriate for serious art. In 1831 it was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, competing with the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), which had been founded in 1804. The RI differed in policy by exhibiting non-members' work also. Both societies challenged the Royal Academy's refusal to accept the medium of watercolours as appropriate for serious art.