I think I saw that programme....and I think I understand why they didn't hang about looking at the paintings. A good painting has to have many criteria that most people wouldn't necessarily know about. Also the subject matter has to be interesting. Most of all it has to grab your interest in some way.....have that WOW factor. Maybe the person you know who's paintings were'nt accepted hasn't managed that WOW factor. I love the RA and go to a lot of exhibitions there, but while I have learned a lot about painting a good picture, I know that Hell will freeze over before I would ever be good enough to be accepted there. But for some painters the pleasure is in the painting of the picture, and not in recognition. But Saasher is quite correct...there is an awful lot of snobbery in the Art world.