The Scottish Portrait Awards returns with its most ambitious show ever. Open to anyone over 16 years, born, living or studying in Scotland, regardless of experience, the Scottish Portrait Awards has quickly established itself as a barometer of contemporary Scottish art practice, giving visibility to a mix of well-established artists as well as newcomers across a wide variety of styles.
Scotland’s biggest awards for portrait art include a £5,000 first prize for the Sutherland Independent Scottish Portrait Award in Fine Art and the new MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Photography, with a prize of £2,000 for a photographic work in colour and in black and white. In addition, guest judge, the internationally renowned photographer Albert Watson OBE, personally reviewed every photographic work entered before choosing the winner of the SPA Albert Watson Portrait Prize.
The resulting exhibition of 80 portraits demonstrates that the art of portraiture is truly alive and well in Scotland.
The free exhibition will launch 9 September at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh until 30 September 2023 before travelling to Kirkcudbright Galleries, Dumfries and Galloway, 14 October 2023 – 14 January 2024, followed by Glasgow Art Club, 14 January 2024 – 29 February 2024.