The artists behind the Contemporary British Portrait Painters Exhibition 2025

These are all the lovely Portrait Artists of the Contemporary British Portrait Painters group who participated in their Annual Exhibition at Downstairs at The Department Store, in Brixton - which finished last Saturday.

The Artists of the CBPP at the 2025 Exhibition

Last Friday evening, I was supposed to be at The Vernissage (the end of exhibition drinks - what a very civilised idea!). Unfortunately, I'd expired in the heat of Chelsea and specifically of the Saatchi Gallery during the afternoon and needed to go home to the top speed on my fan and litres of non-alcoholic water! 

However, the group did one thing I'd asked if they could do - which was to take a photo of all the artists!

They did one last year - and below is my pic of them last year - and I thought it would be great if they could do it again.

The artists in the 2024 Exhibition by The CBPP

This is a group who include a lot of winners of major awards for Portraiture - including:

• Antony Williams (back row in blue) the 2024 winner of the HSF Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery.
• the BP Portrait Award winners in 2018 and 2013: Miriam Escofet (just in front of Antony) and Suzanne du Toit (blonde hair to Antony's right)
• Tim Benson who is one of the shortlisted artists who will be winning one of the prizes TONIGHT at the Portrait Awards Ceremony at the Nationa.l Portrait Gallery this evening - and I'll be there! I think I can spot Tim just to the right (as we look at it) of Curtis Holder.
• Frances Bell (inbetween Suzanne and Miriam) who won the top award at the Portrait Society of America this year AND the People's Choice Award
• Four PAOTY winners:
• Wendy Barratt (Series 10 - 2024), 
• Curtis Holder (Series 7 - Autumn 2020),  
• Duncan Shoosmith (Series 5 - 2019) and
•   Samira Addo (Series 4 - 2018)
• plus others who have won other notable prizes and awards.

How to join a top notch group of portrait painters?

So - there is a ceiling of 100 portrait painters in this group so scope for more to join - but you need to be a very committed PROFESSIONAL portrait artist in order to accepted. 

But if that's you - why not try an application? https://www.thecbpp.org/membership
However do READ CAREFULLY what it says!

If you are a professional artist and would like to apply to be considered for membership of the CBPP, please read the following information and guidelines. 

Our selection group meets twice a year (Spring and Autumn) to consider applications. We receive a large volume of applications and are therefore unable to offer feedback on applications. If unsuccessful, you can reapply after a minimum of twelve months.