The three artists who have been shortlisted for the 2015 prize have been announced today by the National Portrait Gallery.
In the year that has seen the competition’s biggest level of entries, it is also the first time that the images of the portraits were submitted digitally for the initial stage of judging.
Selected from 2,748 portraits that were submitted for the judging panel, which included historian Simon Schama, just three have been shortlisted for the First prize. The nominees are:
- Matan Ben-Cnaan for Annabelle and Guy
- Michael Gaskell for Eliza
- Borja Buces Renard for My Mother and My Brother on a Sunday Evening
The winner of the world’s renowned portrait painting competition will receive £30,000, one of the largest prizes to awarded in any global arts competition. The artist who wins will also receive a commission of approximately £5,000 to paint a portrait for the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection, to be agreed upon between the gallery and the artist.
Meanwhile, the Second prize winner will receive £10,000 and the Third prize winner £8,000. The competition is open to everyone over the age of 18 but for the 8th year there will be also a BP Young Artist award of £7,000 for the work of entrant between the ages of 18-30.
All of the award winners will be announced in June. The portraits will go on display to the public in the annual BP Portrait Award exhibition which will be held at the National Portrait Gallery from the 18th June to the 20th September.
For more information about the nominees in the prize or the exhibition visit: http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/bp-portrait-award/exhibition.php