In pictures: RA Summer Exhibition 2008

The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition is the largest open contemporary art exhibition in the world. It shows the work of both established and unknown living artists.

The doors opened on Monday for both professional and amateur artists to submit their work. John Barrett brought two paintings inspired by the works of Spanish poet Frederico Garcia Lorca.

Sculptor Day Roberts brought along a watercolour, titled Quest, which he painted while recuperating from an operation. He said: "My girlfriend made me come here today."

Amateur photographer Andrew Edge said he hoped his image of New York's Chrysler building would capture the judges' attention. "It's usually hanging in my living room," he said.

Professional artist Merlith Morrison-Hutton, from Malvern in Worcestershire, said she was "excited" to be at the Royal Academy to submit an etching and a linocut for consideration.

It is the second time amateur artist Nigel O'Gorman has submitted work to the Summer Exhibition, but was unsuccessful last time. He said: "This year I decided bigger was better."

Fine art student Oliver Proudlock said the Summer Exhibition offered an "awesome opportunity" to showcase his watercolours, including one entitled She's The One.

Marcus Irwin, who is studying for an MA in printmaking, brought a screenprint which is part of a series looking at the context of language in comic books.

Peter Maybury is a civil servant by day, but enjoys creating surrealist paintings in his spare time. "Sometimes I don't think the two are that different," he said.

Artist Andy Lovell, from Gloucester, brought two silkscreen prints - including this one of Ashdown Forest, in East Sussex. The Summer Exhibition will open on 9 June. Words and pictures: Caroline Briggs.

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