The call for entries for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026 is now open. The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award celebrates the very best in contemporary portraiture and is one of the most important platforms for portrait painters today. The artworks explore the variety of approaches to portraiture, from the classic to the contemporary, and encourage viewers to reflect on the creativity of the artists’ processes. Enter now for the chance to have your work on display in the National Portrait Gallery and win the top prize of £35,000. The second prize winner receives £12,000 and a third prize of £10,000 is also awarded. The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award will also include a Young Artist Award, which will see a prize of £9,000 awarded to a selected entrant, aged between 18 and 30, profiling their talent and supporting career development.

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Entries are now open for the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025, celebrating the best in new portrait photography. The Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize is one of the most important and anticipated photography competitions in the world and a showcase for both celebrated professionals and talented amateurs. Photographers are encouraged to interpret ‘portrait’ in its widest sense, with photography focused on portraying people with an emphasis on their identity as individuals, with prizes ranging from £2,000 to £15,000.

Read more about Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025 on Contest Watchers.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award returns for 2025. The prestigious painting competition celebrates the very best in contemporary portraiture and will include captivating works from around the world, by both self-taught and more established painters. Since its inception, the long-standing competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries and has been seen by over 6 million people. Artists demonstrate an impressive range and complexity of skill, with artworks exploring both classical and innovative techniques that show the enduring relevance of portraiture today. Enter now for the chance to have your work on display in the National Portrait Gallery and win the top prize of £35,000. The second prize winner receives £12,000 and a third prize of £10,000 is also awarded. The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award will also include a Young Artist Award, which will see a prize of £9,000 awarded to a selected entrant, aged between 18 and 30, profiling their talent and supporting career development.

Read more about Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2025 on Contest Watchers.

Enter the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 — one of the most important and anticipated photography competitions in the world and a showcase for both celebrated professionals and talented amateurs. The competition that returns for its 17th year and it is open to photographers from around the world, aged 18 and over. Photographers are encouraged to interpret ‘portrait’ in its widest sense, with photography focused on portraying people with an emphasis on their identity as individuals, with prizes ranging from £2,000 to £15,000.

Read more about Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 on Contest Watchers.

Enter the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 — the leading international competition that celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography. The competition is open to photographers from around the world, aged 18 and over. Photographers are encouraged to interpret ‘portrait’ in its widest sense, with photography focused on portraying people with an emphasis on their identity as individuals, with prizes ranging from £2,000 to £15,000.

Read more about Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 on Contest Watchers.

Entry is now open for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 — the leading international competition that celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography. Entry is open to photographers from around the world, aged 18 and over. The winner of the competition will receive £15,000. In addition, the judges, at their discretion, will award cash prizes to one or more shortlisted photographers.

Read more about Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 on Contest Watchers.

Entry is now open for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 — the leading international competition that celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography. Entry is open to photographers from around the world, aged 18 and over. The winner of the competition will receive £15,000. In addition, the judges, at their discretion, will award cash prizes to one or more shortlisted photographers.

Read more about Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 on Contest Watchers.

Entry is now open for the BP Portrait Award 2020, the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the world. In its forty-first year at the National Portrait Gallery and thirty-first year of sponsorship by BP the Award continues to be an unmissable highlight of the annual art calendar. With a first prize of £35,000, the Award is aimed at encouraging artists to develop portraiture in their work, and over the past 30 years it has launched the careers of many renowned artists.

Read more about BP Portrait Award 2020 – International Painting Competition on Contest Watchers.

Entry is now open for the BP Portrait Award 2019, the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the world. The competition is open to everyone aged 18 and over from around the world. After 30 years of sponsorship the BP Portrait Award still represents the very best in contemporary practice. With a first prize of £35,000, and a total prize fund of £74,000, the Award is aimed at encouraging artists to focus upon and develop portraiture in their work.

Read more about BP Portrait Award 2019 – International Painting Competition on Contest Watchers.

Entry is now open for the BP Portrait Award 2018, the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the world. With an increased first prize of £35,000, the Award is aimed at encouraging artists to develop portraiture in their work and over the past twenty-eight years it has launched the careers of many renowned artists. The competition is open to everyone aged 18 and over from around the world.

Read more about BP Portrait Award 2018 – International Painting Competition on Contest Watchers.