The 124th Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Open Exhibition opened on Wednesday 15 April.
The 124th Annual Open Exhibition is Robin-Lee Hall's first as President of the RP. Writing in the exhibition catalogue Robin-Lee says 'my ambition for the Society as President, is to continue to build on our history and strong reputation for high quality commissioned portraiture and share our knowledge and experience through education.'
Robin-Lee also thanked the generosity of the RP's sponsors support and belief in the Society's remit. The Prizes that are donated are valuable to the recipients, many of whom establish higher profiles from being showcased in this way.
The 2015 exhibition sees an expansion of the RP's relationship with Seven Investment Management and their generous £15,000 Conversations Prize. It is thanks to the sponsorship from Seven Investment Management the RP are able to offer workshops during the exhibition in the excellent Learning Centre at Mall Galleries.
The Seven Investment Management £15,000 'Conversations' Prize was awarded to John Wonnacott CBE Hon. RP. The 'Conversations Prize is awarded for the best work interpreting the theme of a conversation piece, including two or more figures.
Commission John Wonnacott CBE Hon. RP to create a work just for you
Prizes
The Ondaatje Prize for Portraiture
£10,000 plus the Society’s Gold Medal awarded for the most distinguished painting in the Society’s annual exhibition
Brian Morris
Upp åt Bäcken (Up the Creek)
The de Laszlo Foundation Prize
£3,000 plus a Silver Medal for the most outstanding portrait by an artist aged 35 years or under
They Have Lunch Every Tuesday
Commission Lorna May Wadsworth to create a work just for you
The Prince of Wales Award for Portrait Drawing
£2,000 and framed certificate for a portrait in any recognised drawing medium
Sammy G
Commission Jason Bowyer RP PPNEAC PS to create a work just for you
Changing Faces Commissions Prize
£2,000 commission to produce a portrait of a person with a disfigurement for the Changing Faces collection
Hero Johnson
Paulina
The Burke’s Peerage Foundation Award
£2,000 and framed certificate for the most classically inspired portrait in the exhibition.
Shubha
Commission Miriam Escofet to create a work just for you
The Arts Club Charitable Trust Award in association in with The Arts Club
£1,000 to the most deserving artist in the exhibition, as judged by a representative from the Charitable Trust.
Awarded jointly to Emma Hopkins and Claire Anscomb
Claire Anscomb
Veil
Emma Hopkins
Geri Morgan
Commission Emma Hopkins to create a work just for you
Smallwood Architects Prize for contextual portraiture
£1,000 prize is for a portrait in which architectural or interior features play an important part.
Living Room with Lamps
Commission Tom Hughes to create a work just for you
Call for Entries
The RP seeks submissions of new and traditional interpretations of portraiture. The Call for Entries is currently open, submit your artwork before Friday 29 January 2016.
For more information please click here.
Photography by Alick Cotterill