Derwent Art Prize 2026: Now Calling for Entries
The Derwent Art Prize is one of the world’s top art competitions, celebrating excellence in contemporary pencil art.
Created in 2012 by Derwent, the Prize invites artists worldwide to submit their finest 2D and 3D artworks crafted in any pencil—including colour, water-soluble, pastel, graphite, and charcoal pencils.
Dedicated to championing art made in pencil and supporting artists in their careers, the Derwent Art Prize presents an international exhibition at gallery@OXO, London, UK and offers a prize fund totaling £13,500 to winning artists.
Now in its 8th edition, the competition has attracted more than 20,000 entries from 75 countries.
Prizes Include:
- First prize: £4,000 + a year’s supply of Derwent products
- Second Prize: £2,000
- Young Artist Awards (Under 25s): £6,000 across two prizes
- People's Choice Award: £500
- New Artist Award: £500
- Educators Award: £500
Esteemed Panel of Judges:
- Modupeola Fadugba - Nigerian multimedia artist
- Kathleen Soriano - British independent curator, strategic consultant and broadcaster
- Charles Villeneuve de Janti - French art historian and heritage curator
Key Dates
- 3rd June 2025: Call to entries opens
- 13th January 2026, 5pm: Deadline for submissions closes
- 6th February 2026: Shortlisted artworks announced
- 8th April 2026: Private View and Awards Ceremony
- 9th – 14th April 2026, 11am – 6pm: Exhibition open to the public
