The Royal Academy's legendary Summer Exhibition has been an annual event since 1769. Today, around a thousand works are chosen each year from over 12,000 entries by professional and amateur artists alike. The exhibition, which includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, architectural designs, photography and models, is the largest open-submission show in the UK, and has become one of the highlights of the summer season in London.

First published in the 1870s, the Summer Exhibition Illustrated presents the highlights of each year's selection and is a fascinating barometer of changing artistic tastes. Spectacular installation shots of the galleries and reproductions of the works on display complement revealing conversations with the artists on the Hanging Committee, which in 2018 will be coordinated by Grayson Perry.