The Show Goes On: A Theatre of Portraits

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The Show Goes On: A…

Artist & Illustrator are the first to publish information on our forthcoming show

‘The Show Goes On: A Theatre of Portraits’

Category: exhibition17th October 2019

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters

To promote the practice of and further excellence in painted portraiture

Royal Society of Portrait Painters

1 day ago

#Callforentries:Now in its fourth year The RP Critical Writing Prize is establishing itself as an important and significant platform for new and emerging voices as well as for more established commentators...An award for new writing on any aspect of contemporary portrait painting.The prize is open to all.--Three of the applicants will be selected to submit their complete texts and awarded either the first prize of £500 or one of two ‘special mention’ prizes of £250.All three texts will be published in the RP Annual Exhibition Catalogue published in May (2027). The catalogue is a well-established document of record within the sector.One of the aims of the prize is to provide a platform for aspiring writers on the visual arts and specifically to spark intelligent conversation about the contemporary portrait.- The prize is open to all and is free to enter.- Submissions must be in the English language.- There is no age limit.- No formal education or qualification is required to apply for this prize.Find out more: www.therp.co.uk or go to the link in our bio.-Check out our past years winning essays!DEADLINE: Midnight, 2nd December 2026Image: Charlotte Sorapure, 'Echo'@charlottesorapure ... See MoreSee Less

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters

2 days ago

#2026prizewinners:Today we highlight prize winner Nichola-Rae Bevers with her portrait called 'Sunday Morning' for winning the Faringdon Prize!-£5,000 for the most distinguished drawing in the annual exhibition. And thank you Faringdon.You can discover the full list of winners via the link in our bio.Congratulations to all winners!Images: Nichola-Rae Bevers, 'Sunday Morning' & Mark Sepple photography @marksepplephoto ... See MoreSee Less

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters

5 days ago

#2026prizewinners:Art dealer and historian Philip Mould opened our Annual Exhibition along with Anthony Connolly PRP, who announced this year's prizewinners!Today we highlight prize winner Olivia Pang with her portrait called 'Matteo' for winning Daler-Rowney Materials Prize!-Daler-Rowney materials to the value of £1,000 will be awarded to the artist who in the opinion of the judging panel has submitted a picture to the annual show which is exceptional, either in terms of its imaginative response to the sitter or its technical achievement.And thank you Daler-Rowney.@dalerrowney1783You can discover the full list of winners via the link in our bio.Congratulations to all winners!Read a lovely post from Daler-Rowney on our association with them here: daler-rowney.com/communities/royal-society-of-portrait-painters-annual-exhibition-2026-is-open-ce... Image: Olivia Pang, 'Matteo' & Mark Sepple photography@xiayu1839@marksepplephoto ... See MoreSee Less

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters

6 days ago

#Annualexhibition2026:Celebrating the best in contemporary portraiture... our Annual Exhibition 2026 closes today at 5pm @mallgalleries!The country’s leading portrait exhibition presents painted and drawn portraiture selected from both national and international submissions. The work on display is diverse, bringing together high-profile commissions of public figures, alongside more personal portraits of less familiar faces.The exhibition promotes artistic excellence in portraiture, offering major prizes and an excellent opportunity for commissions. If you would like to discuss a portrait idea or find out more about our commission service, please go find Martina Merelli-Stevens today or contact her here: [email protected]And thank you again Philip Mould, Art dealer and historian who opened our Annual Exhibition along with Anthony Connolly PRP, who announced this year's prizewinners! -Our full list of prize winners are within the link in our bio. @philip_mould_gallery @anthonyconnollyrp ...See you at the gallery today.Images: @marksepplephoto ... See MoreSee Less

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters

1 week ago

#Annualexhibition2026: STILL ON UNTIL TOMORROW Tuesday 19 May!Exhibitor Sally Ward has shared some words for her two exhibiting portraits...-Sally is a professional artist specialising in portraits and the figure. This is the fourth time Sally has exhibited with the RP in recent years. She has also exhibited with the ROI and the SWA. She was a finalist on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, painting Eddie Izzard, Bernardine Evaristo and Melanie Sykes. Most recently, her portrait of the Rt Hon. Rachel Reeves, the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, was acquired by the Parliamentary Art Collection in 2026 for permanent hang in Portcullis House.In her portraits, Sally likes to create a sensitive, honest & emotionally intimate portrayal of her subjects, focusing on the sitter’s interior world. How I See You“The painting is a portrait of fellow artist and friend, Curtis Holder, as I see him. We first met when taking part in Sky Portrait Artist of the Year together (I was a finalist & Curtis won the competition) & have been friends ever since.We had a lovely sitting together last year - we tried some poses, but Curtis is always drawing, so it seemed right to capture him focused & absorbed doing what he loves.Outwardly Curtis is known for his outgoing & gregarious personality. However, behind this, he draws his energy from time alone away from his busy life. His sensitivity & introspection is revealed in his work & it is this “inner” side of him that I wanted to capture.”Oil Study - Self Portrait“In this study, I wanted to explore the effects of light on flesh tones, and experiment with a more impasto application of paint. I chose a pose which was rich in contrasts, & was interested in the light effects coming from above, creating shadows across my face, neck and shoulders. The expression is uncompromising – I wanted to convey both strength in the gaze as well as vulnerability in the intimate nature of the pose. However, the meaning of it is ambiguous and for the viewer to interpret.” When?On until tomorrow 19 May 2026Open 10am-5pm @mallgalleriesImages: Sally Ward, 'How I see you' & Self Portrait'@sallywardart ... See MoreSee Less

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The Show Goes On: A Theatre of Portraits

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