The Derwent Art Prize 2026

The Derwent Art Prize 2026 is now open for entries!

The Derwent Art Prize 2026 : Derwent, internationally renowned fine art brand, are proud to announce the 8th edition of its Derwent Art Prize, a prestigious international competition held every second year, inviting all living British and International artists to participate.

➜ Short description

Derwent , the internationally renowned fine art brand, are proud to announce that the 8th instalment of the Derwent Art Prize is now open for entries!

Created in 2012 by Derwent, the Derwent Art Prize celebrates and rewards excellence in contemporary pencil art, inviting artists to submit the very best in 2D and 3D artworks created in any pencil, including colour, water-soluble, pastel, graphite and charcoal pencils.

Artists are invited to submit up to 6 works created in pencil.

Accepted mediums: Pencil, coloured pencil, water soluble, pastel, graphite and charcoal (all in either 2D or 3D).

This year’s entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of selectors comprising of an artist, a critic and a curator.

Each edition culminates in a high-profile exhibition, held at prestigious venues such as the gallery@OXO in London, providing artists with a unique opportunity to exhibit their works to collectors, curators, art critics, and the general public. The exhibition not only celebrates individual artistic excellence but also fosters connections and collaboration within the international artistic community, encouraging dialogue and exploration around the possibilities of pencil as an expressive medium.

➜ Submission requirements:

➜ Images of up to 6 recent works, in digital format (jpg, max. 1MB file size)

➜ Who may enter?

The competition is open to artists over the age of 18 years old on 1 January 2024.

➜ Prize:

A total prize fund of £13,000 will be awarded. Prizes are as follows:

➜ First Prize £4,000 plus a year’s supply of Derwent products
➜ Second Prize £2,000
➜ Young Artist First Prize (For artists under 25 years) £6,000
➜ People’s Choice Award £500
➜ New Artist Award (For artists who have not previously entered the Derwent Art Prize) £500
➜ Educator’s Award £500

➜ Entry fees:

The entry fee is £15 for the first work and £5 for each additional work. The entry fee is £15 for the first work and £5 for each additional work. Artists may only enter once, with a maximum of 6 images.