Derwent Art Prize

The Derwent Art Prize celebrates the best in pencil art from across the globe. Selected from over 5,000 submissions by an expert judging panel, this is not an exhibition to miss!

Renowned for championing art in pencil, the Derwent Art Prize announces a shortlist of 71 artworks for its highly anticipated 2026 edition. The Derwent Art Prize 2026 represents a celebration of the best pencil art worldwide, with artists hailing from Australia, Chile, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. With a staggering 5,000+ entries from over 2,100 artists representing 77 countries, the Prize received an incredible outpouring of creativity from artists worldwide. A panel of esteemed art professionals selected the shortlist from this diverse array of entries: Charles Villeneuve De Janti, Professor at the École du Louvre, Paris; Modupeola Fadugba, Nigerian multi-media artist; and Kathleen Soriano, Curator and former judge on Sky Artist of the Year. According to selector Kathleen Soriano: "Viewers can expect to see a punchy exhibition that showcases the incredible pencil skills that artists are employing in creating powerful new work. Drawing continues to go from strength to strength and this exhibition is testament to that." The selected artworks encompass a wide range of styles and subjects, and showcase the talent of artists working in pencil today.

What to expect:
Drawing