Overview:

The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award returns for 2025, organized by the National Portrait Gallery in London. This prestigious competition celebrates contemporary portraiture and invites artists worldwide to submit works that demonstrate skill, creativity, and innovation in portrait painting.

Key Details:

• Theme: Portraiture, based on life sittings or studies with a focus on the human figure.

• Eligibility: Open to artists aged 18+ from around the world.

• Entry Limits: One submission per artist.

• Exhibition: Works will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery from 10 July - 12 October 2025.

• Judging: The first round is digital, and selected works must be sent to the judging venue for final evaluation between 17-21 February 2025.

  
  

Submission Requirements:

• Paintings: Must be in oil, tempera, or acrylic on stretcher or board (no watercolors, pastels, or works on paper).

  • Size: Min. 25cm x 20cm (unframed), max. 244cm x 244cm (framed).

  • Self-Portraits/Group Portraits: Permitted.

  • Multi-part works: Allowed (up to 3 parts).

  • Image: Upload a high-quality digital image (JPG/JPEG, 3MB max) for the first round of judging.

    
    

Prize:

• 1st Prize: £35,000

• 2nd Prize: £12,000

• 3rd Prize: £10,000

• Young Artist Award: £9,000

  
  

Entry Fee:

• £40