More than 1,200 applications, 15 shortlisted artists and 45 paintings – this autumn, the Contemporary British Painting Prize returns to Sheffield with an exhibition offering a snapshot of what painters across the country are making right now.
Hosted by Yorkshire Artspace (YAS) at Persistence Works, the exhibition will bring together work selected by Contemporary British Painting (CBP), an artist-led organisation dedicated to exploring and promoting current painting through exhibitions, talks and publications.
CBP is run entirely by volunteers from its membership and describes the prize as being ‘by painters, for painters’. That peer-led approach extends from organising the exhibition and producing its catalogue to the judging process itself.
This year’s shortlist brings together Andrew Bryant, Christopher Cook, Gwen Evans, Pippa Gatty, Mathew Gibson, Caroline Gorick, Melanie Guatelli, Christopher Hanlon, Jinyong Park, Ben Sadler, Katy Shepherd, Robert Sherratt, Michelle Ussher, Haijie Wang and Kate Wilson.
Rather than representing a single school or direction in contemporary painting, the exhibition is intended to reflect the breadth of work currently being produced. With each shortlisted artist showing three paintings, there’s plenty of room for those differences to emerge across Persistence Works’ walls.
There’s also £10,000 in prize money on offer. The overall winner receives £8,000, a catalogue essay, membership of CBP and an invitation to join the selection panel for the next prize, while a Highly Commended artist receives £2,000.
For the Sheffield edition, however, there’s another opportunity on the table. The inaugural YAS Exhibition Award will see one artist selected by Yorkshire Artspace director Georgina Kettlewell for a solo exhibition at Persistence Works in spring 2027, coinciding with the organisation’s 50th anniversary year.
The Contemporary British Painting Prize is at Yorkshire Artspace’s Persistence Works from 19 September to 17 October. Entry is free.
