The 2026 Exhibition will be held at the:
- National Portrait Gallery (25 June to 7 October 2026)
- Derby Museum and Art Gallery (21 November 2026 – 21 February 2027) and
- The Gallery at The Arc, Winchester (5 March – 9 June 2027)
This year, word got around and I've had lots of emails - hence many more pics than usual!
So this year I'm splitting this selected artists post into roughly two halves by surname
- Part 1: starting with A through G
- Part 2: from H through Y
In this post, my aim is to provide a profile of the artist. A later post will focus on "Artists with their Paintings (and/or the review) will focus on the stories behind the portraits.
There is, from my perspective, a very clear underlying theme to the selection this year. I'm not going to comment on it in this post but rather save it for the review.
However, you might want to see if you can work it out....
However, you might want to see if you can work it out....
Artists Selected for The Portrait Award 2026
I know a number of the selected artists well either from this exhibition - and their repeat selection - or that of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters or ROI. Hence some entries are longer than others.
Repeat selection is often an indicator of somebody who might be a prizewinner in due course. Although Ben Sullivan (First Prize Winner 2017) pointed out getting selected for the Portrait Award is the best method of generating commissions so repeat selections are always very welcome!. He managed 11 selections before he finally won!
I have developed over time (ie the last 19 years!) the ability to spot a prospective repeat exhibitor - and you will see comments to this effect. I'm rarely surprised by those I see again
I have developed over time (ie the last 19 years!) the ability to spot a prospective repeat exhibitor - and you will see comments to this effect. I'm rarely surprised by those I see again
Every artist gets a mini bio, largely dictated by space and the need for brevity but also what I can find out about them online. Some, as requested, have written to me and filled in some of the gaps and sent me an image.
Everybody is a first time exhibitor unless otherwise indicated.
Everybody is a first time exhibitor unless otherwise indicated.
PART ONE
A
- Adebanji Alade - Current President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Professional artist, teacher, author and television presenter (BBC One Show). He has a studio on Lots Road in Chelsea, London. I first met Adebanji years and years ago. I think I've known him almost as long as I've had this blog! I've also seen this portrait before - and I think it's wonderful. It was exhibited at the Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters last November and it just blew me away. His family have always been very much part of who Adebanji is and this is a great record of his two kids painting with him at home. This is the first time he's been selected for this exhibition.
- Zena Assi - Born in Lebanon, in 1974, Zena Assi lives and works in London. She graduated with honors from l’Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA), worked in advertising and taught in different universities. Many of her pieces are repeatedly shown in different international auction houses and are part of various public as well as private collections.
- Paul Aston - see his painting of The Costumer below. He is a figurative painter working in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. His subject matter varies from portraiture to landscape and still life. In 2023 he was a contestant in heat 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year.
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Copycats (2025) by Adebanji Alade Oil on canvas, 101cm x 76cm, 2025 |
B
- Liam Barden - Painter and Teacher living in Folkestone. Co-Owner of @bardenartschool
- Frances Bell - born in 1983 and raised in Suffolk, UK. Multi-award winning portrait painter. Classically trained in Florence, Frances works in a traditional way with a contemporary style. Her portrait is of her daughter. Frances is a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI), the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) and The Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP). I confidently predict Frances will win this Award one day.
Frances has been a full time professional painter since 2004, taking commissions all over the world for individuals, family’s and institutions. Frances has won over 25 Awards for her work and has participated in many exhibitions in the UK and internationally.
- Paul Benney - Currently holds the mantle of "most selected artist never to have won". Previous exhibitor nine times: 1994,1996 (Winner – BP Visitors’ Choice),1997 (Winner – BP Visitors’ Choice), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2014. He has worked as an artist and musician in both the U.S. and U.K. He has painted many prominent political and cultural figures. His work is represented in public collections world wide including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The National Gallery of Australia, The National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Collection, and a plethora of other prominent private and corporate collections.
- He is the artist who was chosen to paint the State Portrait of HRH Queen Camilla. (see my blog post The Coronation Portraits and The King's Tour Artists - at Buckingham Palace
- the link in the title of the portrait below explains the background to the portrait
Benney has twice won the public choice award in the BP Portrait Awards and has been short listed on two occasions.
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Fiona Stewart by Paul Benney © Paul Benney |
- Rachel Brickhill - Studying art history at The Courtauld, painting portraits in her free time
- Jane Brodie - Previous exhibitor (2024). b.1987, now base in London and the Peak District. She graduated in Architecture in 2009 and has since worked in the Art Department for film. She is also a figurative artist and her practice encompasses painting and drawings, often portraits in oils. She also has a Set Design career where she works as an Art Director.
- S. Ross Browne - An American portrait artist. b. Mt. Vernon, NY he studied Communication Art and Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, VA and Photography at The Corcoran School of the Arts in Washington, DC. He is also an alumnus of The Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Virginia. Browne is a professional studio artist with over 23 years experience. With an emphasis on painting, he has exhibited domestically and internationally in over 70 gallery and museum exhibitions and has work in public and private collections.
C
- Steve Caldwell (Instagram) - Previous Exhibitor (2014, 2015, 2020, 2024). A British artist specialising in intensely observed figurative paintings.He received his training as a medical illustrator and uses his knowledge of anatomy to create finely rendered portraits with a finessed attention to tone and texture. Steve has exhibited widely and shows regularly with The Royal Society of Portrait Painters and at The National Portrait Gallery, London.
Delighted to be exhibiting at The National Portrait Gallery for the fifth time.
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| “Tayo Aluko" by Steve Caldwell acrylic on wood, 30x20cm. |
- Ant Carver - a London-based figurative painter currently working from his studio in Hackney Wick. Using oil paint, charcoal or etchings he creates intimate small-scale portraits and striking large-scale pieces.
- Clare Ceprynski - London-based artist.From University College London she graduated with a BA in History of Art, specialising in Early Renaissance Painting. 2001 Goldsmiths College, London she completed an MA in Fine Art (Distinction) , under the tutelage of Gerard Hemsworth and Jake Chapman. Jake Chapman.
- Gabriel Choto (Instagram)- Gabriel Tendai Choto was born in 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was raised in Bradford, and currently lives and works in London, England. After completing his Diploma in Art and Design at Leeds Arts University (formerly Leeds College of Art) in 2012, Choto went on to gain a BAFA in Drawing from Camberwell College of Art (UAL), London, in 2014. He is currently undertaking an MFA at Central St Martins, London, UK.
- Angela Classi - an artist living and working in New York. In her portraits she says she seeks to capture the essence of the subject, that feeling you get when they walk into the room, their presence and humanity. Angela’s earned an MPT degree from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and considers her studies in Human Anatomy and Kinesiology to be an invaluable asset in informing her portrait and figure studies
Delighted to share that this painting of my son Matthew has made the National Portrait Gallery’s shortlist for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer 2026 exhibition! I’m honored by the incredible opportunity to be under consideration for this exhibit!
- Sam Clayden - a professional portrait artist working from his Wimbledon studio. A frequent exhibitor in London, most regularly with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
- Chloe Cox SHORTLISTED FOR A PRIZE - see Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026: SHORTLIST Announced Her portrait was also featured on BBC's Extraordinary Portraits in 2025.
D
- Marc Dalessio - SHORTLISTED FOR A PRIZE - see Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026: SHORTLIST Announced
- Peter Davis - Previous exhibitor (2024) who I am not surprised to see back. A prize-winning fine artist whose portrait and urban landscape paintings capture contemporary life - with an emphasis on today’s societal narratives. He is an elected member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP). He has been selected for a number of leading competitions.
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“The allegory of dermis and gypsum” by Peter Davis 76cm x 61cm Acrylic on canvas board © Peter Davis |
- Lizet Dingemans - Currently the Head Tutor at Raw Umber Studios. The pic below is a video.
- Lucille Dweck (Instagram) - Previous exhibitor 2025: Lucille exhibited with a very impressive portrait of Ollie and Orlando. (see Portrait Award 2025 (Part 2) - Artists with their paintings). Born in 1963 she specialises in painting water, people and seascapes. She was educated at St Martins and Byam Shaw. Her artistic career has included winning a number of competitions and awards.
E
- Thomas Ehretsmann - Previous exhibitor 2016, 2017 and 2019. I'm never ever surprised to see him back again. Thomas is French and describes himself as a painter, draughtsman and illustrator. His illustrative work has won Gold Medals and been featured in the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Elle Magazine and various European and American books and journals. His hyperrealist and sensitive portrait "The Waves" is of a young boy.
F
- Peter James Field - Previous exhibitor (2018; 2020, 2024). Peter is a Portrait painter who exhibits at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and is comms lead for Contemporary British Portrait Painters group @thecbpp. Alongside painting, he works internationally as an illustrator. Clients include The Guardian, The New York Times, Dazed and Confused, Vanity Fair, TIME Magazine and Penguin Books. This is a lovely interview with him.
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| "My brother" (2025) by Peter Field oil on panel, small |
I’ve been sketching my older brother John for as long as I can remember. In this painting he’s wearing a knitted sweater he recently inherited from my Mum
- Frances Featherstone - a British artist with a BA (hons) Degree (1st Class) in Fine Art. She has a studio Groombridge in Kent. She is represented by Arcadia Contemporary in New York. She has won numerous awards; most notably she won the Maire Ragnhild Hollingsworth Prize for Oil Painting at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025. This portrait is part of a series of paintings done from an aerial perspective - and was painted in Provence! More later in "Artists with their Paintings"
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Madonna and child by Frances Featherstone 100 by 90cm, oil on linen © Frances Featherstone |
- Jack Freeman - Born in 1994 and raised in Essex, he currently lives and works in South East London. Graduated from Falmouth with a BA(hons) in Fine art (2016). Since then he has been selected twice for the Portrait Award (2018 and 2024). He has also participated in PAOTY 2018 (Episode 3). He exhibits at the Mall Galleries regularly and in 2020 won the Prince of Wales's Award for Portrait Drawing. He has completed numerous commissions as well as running workshops and tutoring throughout Essex and London. His portrait is titled ‘Double portrait with mirror’ 70x120cm Oil on Canvas
G
- Michaela Gall - First time exhibitor. Not somebody who communicates well about herself and her art - as in nothing on her website!
- Remigijus Gataveckas (Instagram) - First time exhibitor. A Lithuanian artist born in 1985 in Alytus, identical twin of Algirdas Gataveckas with whom he forms an inseparable creative duo. After a difficult childhood spent at the Alytus state orphanage (1993-2004), he studied at Alytus Art School and earned a Bachelor's (2004-2008) and a Master's (2008-2010) in monumental art (fresco-mosaic) at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Known for their hyperrealistic large-scale colored-pencil drawings and their socially engaged murals, the Gataveckas brothers tackle themes such as child abandonment, poverty and family memory. (Source)
- Hannah George (Instagram) - works as Senior Talent & Community Manager @ Hermès and as an Artist on the weekend
- Evgenii Gruzdev - described by a Belgravia Gallery as one of the most distinguished young artists to have graduated with Merit and Full Honours from the Academy of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. He specializes primarily in portrait painting and also paints landscapes and has exhibited at the RP.
H
- Haley Hasler - An american artist who describes her work as follows
works exclusively in the realm of the painted self-portrait and represents herself as a central point in an endlessly revolving domestic drama
Part 2 will cover the artists with surnames beginning H to Y.
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