Short Description

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.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all artists from around the world. Artists must be aged 18 years or over as of 1 January 2025. To be eligible for the Young Artist Award, artists must be 30 years of age or under as of 1 January 2025.

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

  • First Prize: £35,000
  • Second Prize: £12,000
  • Third Prize: £10,000
  • Young Artist Award: £9,000
  • All selected artists aged between 18 and 30 will automatically be considered for both the Young Artist Award and the Portrait Award, but an individual cannot win both. If there are no exhibitors aged 30 or under, then no Young Artist Award will be given and the funds so available shall be used to offer a Fourth Prize.
  • Herbert Smith Freehills Artist Commission: £14,000
  • All artists chosen to exhibit in the 2025 and 2026 Portrait Award exhibitions will be considered for the inaugural Herbert Smith Freehills Artist Commission, which has a value of £14,000.

Entry Fee

£40

Location

United Kingdom

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 6 January 2026

Website Link: https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/events-calendar?when=&what=exhibition&who=