Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2012: Call For Entries

Normally at this time of year I'd be writing about who's just won the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize.  Instead I'm writing about the Call for Entries for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2012 for representational painting.  

Paintings exhibited in the Lynn Painter Stainers Prize 2010 Exhibition

There are some significant changes in 2011 and 2012 - which a lot of artists are going to be interested in

The purpose of the Prize is to encourage creative representational painting and promote the skill of draughtsmanship. This annual exhibition is open to all UK artists with prize money totalling £25,000 and an engraved gold medal for the winner.

In 2010, some 800 paintings and drawings were submitted and 67 works were selected for the exhibition at Painters Hall in the City of London.

There is no competition in 2011.

Read on to find out about:

• the change in dates for the call for entries and the annual exhibition in 2012
• the change in venue for the exhibition in 2012

Paintings exhibited in the Lynn Painter Stainers Prize 2010 Exhibition

Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2011

This year there is no Prize and no exhibition.  That's because there have been a number of significant changes which are introduced for the Prize in 2012 - see below.

Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2012

Prizes

The prizes are

• The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize - £15,000 plus an engraved Gold Medal 
• 5 Runner-Up Prizes:  £1,500 (each)
• Young Artist Award - £2,500 - to be awarded to an artist who is 25 years of age or under on 18 February 2012

Changes to the competition and exhibition arrangements for 2012

The main changes are that the exhibition has changed when it is held and where it is held.

• Instead of November, the exhibition will be held in April
• In place of Painters Hall in the City of London (nice room but not a conventional exhibition venue) the exhibition will be held in two separate locations in central London

Precise dates and venues are as follows

• Mall Galleries, London SW1 from 28 March – 5 April 2012 - this allows for a much bigger exhibition
• WH Patterson Gallery, London W1 from 16 – 20 April 2012. 

The sponsorship has also changed - and you can read more about this on the Call for Entries leaflet.

The selectors

The 2012 selectors seem to have rather more artists than I recall having in the past.  They are:

1. Andrew Wilton, Visiting Research Fellow at Tate Britain (past selector)
2. Ken Howard RA NEAC, Artist - winner of numerous prizes and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers
3. Chris Orr RA, Artist - used to be Professor and Head of Department of the Printmaking Department at the Royal College of Art London
4. James Hart Dyke, Artist - paints MI6 and the Himalayas
5. William Packer, Art critic and artist 

How to enter

This art competition is administered by Parker Harris. Entry forms, further information and labels are available on their website to download as follows:

• Call for Entries Leaflet - this provides guidance on the entry and details dates for regional collection of submissions
• Entry Form
• Labels

Alternatively you can opt for snail mail and send a SAE to the following address and forms will be sent to you: Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, PO Box 279, Esher, Surrey KT10 8YZ

Who can enter

Essentially this is a painting competition for UK artists who produce representational work.

To enter you must be

• over 18 on 18 February 2012 and 
• resident in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

What you can enter

You can submit up to four works.  Eligible works must be:

• original, 
• two dimensional works in any painting or drawing media
• have been completed in the last three years
• have never been been previously exhibited
• are available for sale (except for commissioned portraits)
• available for exhibition until 30 April 2012.

There are practical constraints on size and how works can be displayed.  These are:

• works must not exceed 72 inches (183 cms) in their largest dimension including frame.
• Works on paper must be framed. No work in metal or plastic frames will be accepted for judging. Specific requirements regarding framing and/or cross-bearers for canvases. There must with no projections are the rear of the frame.

The deadline for entry

• Deadline for entries for the 2012 exhibition is 18 February 2012. 
• For further information about delivery in London and regional collection details download the leaflet. The guidance provides details of receiving dates for 16 towns and cities (and motorway service stations) throughout the UK besides London. The earliest receiving date (in Birmingham) is 14th February 2012

How to submit an entry

• All work needs to be fully labelled (artist’s name, address, title of work, price)
• All work must be submitted unpacked (ie no support for unpacking/packing) with a fully completed Entry Form and an entry fee of £15 (per work) to a collection point
• Prices for paintings sold during or as a result of the exhibition, or by means of the website, www.painterstainers.org need to be inclusive of Commission of 40% and any VAT payable by the artist +VAT (except for commissioned portraits) 
• Final deadline for receipt of entries in London: 17 and 18 February 2012.  See leaflet for earlier dates re regional collection points
• Unselected works to be collected from London on 24 / 25 February 2012 from the Federation of British Artists (or from Picture Post - see leaflet for details) 
• Unsold works to be collected 27 April 2012.
• The provisions of the call for entries may be waived or varied by the Prize organisers at their discretion.  (If you've got a problem it never does any harm to ask!) The judges’ decision will be final and binding.

On Thursday 23 February 2012, a list of the accepted artists’ names and registration numbers will be viewable at www.painterstainers.org or www.parkerharris.co.uk.

Sponsors

The Lynn Painter-Stainers Competition is sponsored by The Painter-Stainer's Company, The Lynn Foundation, Minerva, Linklaters LLP and Champagne Bollinger.

Links to previous Making A Mark posts about the Lynn Painter Stainer Prize and Exhibition:

• Rachel Levitas wins Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2010 16 November 2010
• 65 Artists selected for Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2010 28th Oct 2010
• Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2010 - Call for Entries 03 Aug 2010
• Exhibition review: Toby Wiggins wins Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize17 Nov 2009
• Shortlist for Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2009 04 Nov 2009
• 82 works selected for Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 16 Oct 2009
• Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize - selected artists 18 Sep 2008
• Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2008 and Exhibition 19 Nov 2008