Wrexham Painting Prize

2026

Deadline: 6th September at 23:59.

Entry process

The competition will take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Payment and Digital submission
Artists must pay the entry fee and then submit digital images of the painting or paintings they wish to enter to our email. Selection for the exhibition will be made from the images submitted to our email address.

Stage 2: Shortlisted works
If shortlisted, artists must make the selected work available for exhibition, delivery, installation, photography, sale and collection according to the schedule provided by the Organisers.

The work submitted for Stage 2 must be the same work as the image submitted at Stage 1. Substitutions are not permitted unless expressly agreed in writing by the Organisers.

Digital images

For each submitted painting:

  • A digital image of the complete work must be submitted.

  • Images must be JPEG files.

  • Images must be no larger than 10MB.

  • Images should be at least 1000 x 1000 pixels.

  • Images must show the painting clearly and accurately.

  • Images may be cropped, but must not be digitally altered in a way that misrepresents the work.

  • Poor quality, unclear or inaccurate images may affect the selection process.

  • The selection of works for the exhibition will be based on the images submitted.

Delivery, transport and collection

If shortlisted, the artist is responsible for:

  • Delivering the work to the exhibition venue by the stated deadline.

  • Ensuring the work is appropriately packed for transport.

  • Arranging and paying for transport to and from the venue.

  • Collecting the work at the time and date instructed by the Organisers.

The Organisers are not liable for any loss or damage to works during transport to or from the exhibition.

The Organisers are not liable for any loss or damage occurring during storage, packing, unpacking, installation, deinstallation, handling, or while the work is on the premises, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

Artists are strongly advised to arrange their own insurance covering the work in transit, during storage, during installation, during the exhibition, and during collection.

Works not collected by the stated deadline may be subject to storage arrangements and charges. If a work remains uncollected after reasonable attempts to contact the artist, the Organisers reserve the right to make appropriate arrangements for storage, return, disposal or sale, subject to applicable law.

Publicity and confidentiality

Artists must not publicly announce shortlisting, selection, prizes or other confidential information until the Organisers have confirmed that the information may be made public.

The Organisers will coordinate public announcements, press releases and media activity relating to the Prize.

Shortlisted and selected artists may be asked to provide further information, including a biography, artist statement, website links, social media handles, price details, technical information and high-resolution images.

Data protection and mailing list

The Organisers will collect and process personal information for the purposes of administering the Prize, processing entries, contacting artists, arranging exhibition logistics, managing sales, promoting the Prize and maintaining records.

Personal information will be processed in accordance with applicable UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Personal information will not be sold to third parties.

By submitting an email address, artists consent to receiving communications relating to their entry and the administration of the Prize.

Artists may also choose to receive future emails from Wrexham Painting Prize and Open Institute about exhibitions, opportunities, events and related activity. Artists may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by contacting [email address] or by using the unsubscribe option provided.

The Organisers will provide further information about how personal data is used in their Privacy Notice.

Disqualification

The Organisers reserve the right to disqualify an entry where:

  • the artist has provided false, misleading or incomplete information

  • the work is not original

  • the artist does not hold the necessary rights in the work

  • the submitted image has been digitally altered in a misleading way

  • the submitted work differs materially from the image entered

  • the work is unavailable for exhibition

  • the work is sold, reserved or withdrawn independently during the exhibition period

  • the artist breaches confidentiality

  • the artist enters more works than permitted

  • the artist enters under more than one name

  • the work cannot be safely displayed

  • the artist otherwise breaches these Terms and Conditions

Entry fees will not normally be refunded where an entry is disqualified.

Changes, cancellation and force majeure

The Organisers reserve the right to make reasonable changes to dates, venue, exhibition arrangements, judging arrangements, delivery requirements, collection arrangements, prizes or associated activity where necessary.

The Organisers reserve the right to postpone, amend or cancel the Prize or exhibition due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control.

The Organisers will not be liable for losses arising from postponement, amendment or cancellation except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

Governing law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Any dispute arising in connection with the Prize shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.


Eligibility

The painter:

  • Must be alive at the time of entry.

  • May be of any age, unless a specific age category is stated separately.

  • Must register and pay the entry fee no later than 6th September at 23:59. Entries received after this deadline will be invalid.

  • Must pay an entry fee of £6 per painting. The entry fee is non-refundable.

  • May enter up to 6 paintings. Multiple entries under different names are not permitted. Artists found to have entered under more than one name may have all entries disqualified.

  • Confirms that each submitted work is their own original work, or the original work of the named collaborating artists where the work is jointly authored.

  • Confirms that they hold all necessary moral, intellectual property and reproduction rights in the work submitted.

  • Accepts that the decision of the selectors, judges and organisers is final. The Organisers will not enter into correspondence regarding selection, shortlisting or judging decisions.

  • Must maintain confidentiality regarding shortlisting, selection, prizes and associated announcements unless informed otherwise by the Organisers.

  • Agrees to liaise with the Organisers regarding any press, publicity or media activity connected to the Prize.

The painting

Each painting:

  • Must be a new or recent work, preferably created since 1 January 2025.

  • Must be wholly or partly executed in a painted medium.

  • Must be designed to hang on, lean against, or be fixed to a wall, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Organisers.

  • Must be the original work of the artist, or the named collaborating artists.

  • Must be available for Stage 2 of the competition and, if selected, for the full duration of the exhibition.

  • Must not be removed from the exhibition before the closing date without written permission from the Organisers.

  • When unpacked and installed, must project no more than 30cm from the wall.

  • If made up of more than one part, including diptychs, triptychs or multi-panel works, must not exceed [maximum overall installed dimensions] unless agreed in writing by the Organisers.

The Organisers reserve the right to refuse or withdraw any work that differs materially from the submitted image, is unsafe to display, exceeds the stated size limits, is not ready for exhibition, or cannot be installed using reasonable means.

Exhibition

If selected for exhibition, the painting:

  • Must be available from 21st September to 17th October.

  • Must remain in the exhibition until the closing date unless the Organisers give written permission for earlier removal.

The Organisers reserve the right to decide how selected works are displayed, interpreted, photographed, promoted and installed.

Sales and commission

If a selected painting is sold during the exhibition period, the sale will be managed exclusively by the artist.

Sales of exhibited works are not subject to a commission.

Copyright and reproduction

Copyright remains with the artist.

By entering the Prize, the artist grants the Organisers a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce images of the submitted work, or details of the work, for purposes connected with the Prize, exhibition and Open Institute programme.

This may include use in:

  • press and publicity

  • marketing material

  • social media

  • websites

  • email newsletters

  • printed catalogues

  • exhibition interpretation

  • archive material

  • documentation

  • educational material

  • fundraising material connected to the Prize or Open Institute

  • merchandise connected to the Prize, where agreed through a separate commercial agreement

The artist will not receive a fee for standard promotional, documentary, archival or educational use of images connected to the Prize.

Any commercial merchandising or licensing use beyond standard promotion and documentation will be subject to a separate agreement with the artist.

2025 Prize Winners

Main Prize Winner: Laura Bygrave
Laura will receive a solo exhibition at Wrexham School of Art’s Insert Gallery, small cash prize, Materials sponsored by Tom Robertson Paints and Rosemary & Co Artist Brushes

Title: Billow
Medium: oil on board
Dimensions (Width x Height): 42 x 48cm,
Year Created: 2024

Oil Paint Prize Winner: Dorry Spikes
Dorry will receive a small cash prize, and materials sponsored by Michael Harding and Tom Robertson Paint and Rosemary & Co Artist Brushes

Title: Solitary Daughter
Medium: oil on board
Dimensions (Width x Height): 42 x 42 cm
Year Created: 2024

Watercolour Prize Winner: David Hancock
David will receive a small cash prize and materials sponsored by Michael Harding and Rosemary & Co Artist Brushes

Title: The Lovecats
Medium: Watercolour on Gesso Panel
Dimensions (Width x Height): 70 x 50cm
Year Created: 2025

Acrylic Prize Winner: Chris Daniels
Chris will receive a small cash prize and materials sponsored by Seawhite of Brighton and Rosemary & Co Artist Brushes

Title: Machbands (Chroma) LXII
Medium: Acrylic on linen
Dimensions (Width x Height): 41cm x 41cm
Year Created: 2023