About

+ Rory {BA(hons) MArch ARB RIBA AMAFA} is an Royal Institute of British Architects chartered architect who has practiced internationally and throughout the UK since 2010; working for a broad spectrum of architectural offices in France, India, London, Yorkshire, Chester and Manchester.

+ Rory is also an Associate Member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.

+ He studied architecture at The University of Bath (2018), The University of Sheffield (2013-2015) and The Leeds School of Architecture (2007-2010); and now lives and works as an architect in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

+ Through practice he found that carefully considered architecture rarely exists without carefully crafted drawings leading the design process.

+ His love of drawing leads his designs and research, but has become a passion in its own right - publishing, exhibiting and selling his drawings alongside his architectural work.

+ Take a look around rorychisholm.co.uk to see a selection of his drawings and architectural work, here for his Manchester Academy of Fine Arts profile, or here for his architecture practice profile.




Previous exhibitions

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) ‘Connections’ exhibition; Stockport War Memorial and Art Gallery. June - September 2024

Archisource Drawing of the Year winner’s exhibition; Bargehouse, OXO Tower Wharf, London. June 2024

The Royal West of England Academy; Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. 9th September 2023 – 14th January 2024

Manchester Open Exhibition; HOME, Manchester. 24th January 2022 – 17th March 2022

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; Royal Academy of Arts, London. 22nd September 2021 – 2nd January 2022

Manchester Open Exhibition (part of Push Festival 2020); HOME, Manchester. 18th January 2020 – 29th March 2020

Royal Institute of British Architects Journal Eyeline Competition winner's exhibition; RIBA NW Headquarters, Liverpool. August - September 2018

Royal Institute of British Architects Journal Eyeline Competition winner's exhibition; RIBA Headquarters, Portland Place, London. July - August 2018

The MS Trust Secret Art Show; online exhibition. April - September 2013

The MS Trust Secret Art Show; online exhibition. April - September 2012 

The MS Trust Secret Art Show; City Screen Picturehouse, York. April - July 2011 




Awards/ recognition

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) ‘Connections’ exhibition - June 2024

Award: Commission Prize by show sponsors Cityheart

Archisource Drawing of the Year - June 2024

Award: Shortlisted

Architizer Vision Awards - September 2023

Award: Special Mention

World Architecture Festival, Architecture Drawing Prize - December 2021

Award: Shortlisted, Hand Drawn Category

Architizer One Drawing Challenge - September 2021 

Award: Commendation

Royal Institute of British Architects Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - July 2021 

Award: 1st Place, Practitioner Category

Royal Institute of British Architects Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - July 2020 

Recognition: Shortlisted

Royal Institute of British Architects Journal Eyeline Drawing Competition - July 2018 

Award: 2nd Place, Practitioner Category




Publications (drawing)

The Architect’s Journal Specification; 'Drawing to a Close' monthly segment - June 2023 

The Architect’s Journal; ‘Interior reflections: Alexander Pope’s Grotto restored by Donald Insall Associates’ - June 2023

Architizer; ‘One Drawing Challenge 2021: Winners Revealed!’ - September 2021

Architizer; ‘One Drawing Challenge: The 100 Best Architectural Drawings of 2021’ - August 2021

RIBA Journal; ‘Rory Chisholm creates interwoven micro to macro courtyard design for Ancoats’ - August 2021

RIBA Journal; ‘Eyeline Drawing Competition winners’ - August 2018

Arch Daily; ‘‘The Best Architectural Drawings of 2018’ - January 2019

Arch Daily; ‘Temperate House/ Donald Insall Associates’ - July 2018

World Architecture; ‘Donald Insall Associates Converts 19th Century Temperate House into a Giant Botanical Garden’ - July 2018

The Architect's Journal; 'Donald Insall restores world’s largest 19th-century glasshouse at Kew Gardens' - May 2018

The Architect’s Journal Specification; 'Drawing to a Close' monthly segment - April 2018 


Publications (writing)

Drawing Matter website; ‘Craving Primal Architecture’ - August 2021

DOCOMOMO newsletter; 'Geoffrey Bawa, A Talk by Ronald Lewcock' - November 2017 



Publications (mentions - drawing)

RIBA Journal; ‘Skills and surrealism: Eye Line 2022’ - June 2022

RIBA Journal; ‘Alan Power puts perception at the centre in a painting of his own fictional story’ - June 2022

RIBA Journal; ‘David Adjaye’s RA Summer Exhibition display takes on the material world’ - September 2021


Publications (mentions - architecture)

Secret Manchester; ‘The Iconic John Rylands Library In Manchester Is Set To Undergo A £7.6M Transformation’ - February 2024

Building Design; ‘Donald Insall Associates wins planning for John Rylands Library refresh’ - February 2024

The National Tribune; ‘Consent granted for £7.6m transformation of Manchester’s neo-Gothic icon’ - February 2024

The University of Manchester; ‘Consent granted for £7.6m transformation of Manchester’s neo-Gothic icon’ - February 2024

About Manchester; ‘£7.6m project to transform John Rylands Library gets Green light’ - February 2024

Place North West; ‘Manchester approves £7.6m Rylands library refresh’ - February 2024

I Love Manchester; ‘All you need to know about the multi-million pound renovation of the John Rylands Library’ - January 2024

Place North West; ‘Rylands library turns page in £7.6m Next Chapter revamp’ - August 2023


Panels and competition judging

Archello Awards - October 2023 

RIBA Journal Eyeline Competition - June 2022 

Chester and Cheshire West Civic Trust Awards - June 2021



Speaking

RIBA Drawing Event & Exhibition (at The Royal Institute of British Architects, Portland Place, London) - September 2022 

Lecture series ‘Wentworth Woodhouse stables transformation’ (at Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire) - October 2024



Teaching / Guest

Manchester School of Architecture - Adaptive Reuse masters, 2025

Manchester School of Architecture - Flux Atelier, 2023, 2024 & 2025

Newcastle University, School of Architecture - (De)growth Studio, 2022