BP Portrait Award 2007

Past event archive
14 June - 16 September 2007

The BP Portrait Award is the most prestigious portrait competition in the world, promoting the very best in contemporary portrait painting. For the first time since the annual portrait award competition started in the Gallery in 1980, the competition was open to all people over the age of 40.

As well as a significant first-prize of £25,000 and three runner-up prizes, the competition also includes a special prize for entrants under the age of 30, continuing the Award's role as a showcase for young artistic talent. Anyone selected for the exhibition is also eligible to enter for the BP Travel Award.

Winners and Exhibitors

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Painting of an older man's face
First prize: Michael Simpson by Paul Emsley
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Painting of a man's face with a moustache and an intense stare
Second prize: Stephen by David Lawton
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Painting of a woman's nude upper body; she has shoulder-length blonde hair and looks directly at the viewer
Third prize: Tamara by Johan Andersson
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Painting of a woman's face; she wears tinted glasses and her hair is tied back
BP Young Artist Award: Zuzana In The Paris Studio by Hynek Martinec
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Abstract painting of a figure in reddish tones against a blue background
Time To Talk by Lynn Ahrens
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Painting of a man against a black background and wearing a black shirt
Portrait Of Christopher Darroux-Xavier by Rupert Alexander
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Painting of a heavily tattooed figure's head and chest
Franko B by Jeremy Andrews
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Portrait of a man staring directly at the viewer
Man Staring by Maryanne-Aytonu-Ellis
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Painting of an older man with pale skin, white hair and a white t-shirt
Commuter by John Ball
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Painting of a head with short brownish hair and shoulders in a green shop
Nicola by Polly Benford
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Two-panel portrait, with a man's head in the top part, next to a flower and insects; the lower part has a nude body lying prone against a night sky background
Portrait by Emmanouil Bitsakis
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Portrait of a man wearing a grey suit and red tie sitting on a red chair with one hand resting on a large black and white dog
Jonny And Glory by Richard Brazier
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Portrait of a man and woman with arms linked against a blue background
Mr & Mrs Brown by Vincent Brown
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Painting of an older woman's head in profile
Irene (My Wife) by Francis corsham
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Painting of an older man with grey hair and beard sitting at a table and holding a flower, next to a window looking out on to trees and grass
Jose Escofet by Mariam Escofet
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Portrait of a young girl in an elaborate yellow and gold dress
Nisha by Darvish Fakhr
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Portrait of a man's head and shoulders with an orange cone on his head, against a blue background
Kaveh, Age 31 by Maryam Foroozanfar
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Painting of a woman in a brown patterned dress, seen from behind as she looks over her shoulder to the viewer
Looking Back by Aram Gershuni
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Painting of an older man sitting in a wooden chair with a fireplace and open door behind him
Joy by Robin-Lee Hall
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Painting of a man's head in brown tones with pictures on the wall behind him
Self-Portrait by Jaemi Hardy
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Painting of a man's head and shoulders; he wears a blue hat and a white textured coat
Winter Portrait by Ingolv Helland
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Painting of a woman's head and shoulders; she has striking red wavy hair and a green top
Redhead (Self Portrait) by Amanda Hext
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Three-panel portrait of an older man's head and neck
Ian Hamilton Finlay (1997-2006) by Eileen Hogan
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Painting of a face with shoulder-length brown hair staring intensely
Pugnis Et Calcibus by Jill Hooper
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Abstract painting of two figures at a table, one turned to look at the viewer and holding a paintbrush; one on the other side of a table at a laptop
Travel Award: She And Me by Timothy Hyman
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Painting of a face in grey tones
Self-Portrait by Kwang-Sik Im
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Painting of an individual sitting in a chair against an abstract background
The King Of Spain by Diarmuid Kelley
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Painting of a man with a beard wearing a black turban and a white and black striped shirt
Painting Of Waris by Sandro Kopp
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Painting of a man with shoulder-length grey hair sitting and holding an open book; around him are the shapes of letters and abstract shapes
A.C. Grayling by Thomas Leveritt
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Painting of the head and neck of a young child
Figura Onirica by Anna Madia
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Painting of a man's head and torso, wearing a green shirt and jacket
Novelty by Susannah Massey
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Painting of a woman's head and shoulders against a blue background; she wears red and her hair is tied back
Camilla by Francesco Mernini
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Painting of an older man wearing a pale shirt and glasses against a patterned background
Alex by Nicholas Merton
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Portrait of an individual with cropped hair and bare shoulders, looking to their right
Self-Portrait by Ana Maria Micu
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Painting of a woman sitting on a chair in a room with yellow walls and a large window
Sally by Luis Morris
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Painting of a girl in profile with her hair in a ponytail and wearing a striped hoodie
Georgia In Profile by Neil Nelson
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Painting of the head and shoulders of a bald man with a grey beard and moustache and wearing glasses against a patterned background
Chuck by Paul Oxborough
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Painting of a woman wearing an apron and standing in a kitchen at a table; she holds a sieve over a cake and around her are other baking items
Katy Does It While Baking A Cake by Morgan Penn
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Painting of a man's head and shoulders, with a dark top and against a grey background
Tim by Scott Pohlschmidt
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Painting of a woman wearing a short white sleeveless dress, seated on a chair next to a table with flowers on it
Organia by Anastasia Pollard
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Painting of a child wrapped in a blanket
Lola by Gareth Reid
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Painting of an older man wearing a checked shirt with his hands clasped in front of him
The Bevin Boy by Philip Renforth
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Painting of a small child with white hair wearing a striped top and a nappy, sitting on a small wooden chair
Stanley by Keith Robinson
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Painting of two men wearing suits and three women in dresses, apparently in conversation
Tom, Jan, Mike, Chloe And Lillie - The Potters by Stephen Earl rogers
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Full-length painting of a man wearing a grey jumper and black trousers
Ricardo by Geert Schless
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Painting of a woman's head and shoulders in brown tones
Aileen by Perdita Sinclair
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Painting of a woman seated in a chair in a room with a fireplace, shelves of bottles, a round mirror, a table with a vase of daffodils and a large window looking out on to a street
Ginnie by Benjamin Sullivan
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Painting of an older man's face, cut off at the forehead and chin
Only For A Fiver by Edward Sutcliffe
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Painting of a child wearing a white coat
Amelie by Cassandra Szekely
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Painting of a girl wearing a red top sitting in front of part of a world map showing north and south America
Portrait Of Denitsa by Ivan Tafrov
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Painting of a head with short hair; the eyes are looking down
Annie by David Tebbs
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Painting of an older man wearing a red jumper, dark green jacket and glasses in two panels
William Packer by Daphne Todd
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Painting of a woman's head, chest and arms as she lies in the bath
Chrisa by Jaime Valero Perandones
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Painting of a man wearing a yellow party hat, a light shirt and a dark tanktop
Happy Thought - Self Portrait by Jason Walker
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Painting of a woman sitting at a table in a cafe, with the counter behind her and two empty used cups on the table in front of her
Kate by Vicky White
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Painting of two younger men and an older man sitting between them; they are seated next to each other but are not looking at each other
Father And Sons by Antony Williams
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Painting of a person's head and shoulders with a blurred effect
Macular Me by Suzy Willis
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Painting of two women with the same face; one has her red hair tied up and her hands resting on the shoulders of the other woman; the second woman has her red hair down and one hand on her chest
Self-Portrait As Twins by Paula Wilson
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Painting of a head with red hair against a red background
Cara by Steve Wilson
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Painting of a man's head and shoulders, with a very pale face, against a pale background
Self-Portrait by William Wright