Behind The Artist 2026: Championing Emerging Talent

The BTA Art Prize, launched in 2024, was established to champion emerging artistic talent and foster meaningful engagement within the creative community. Open to international artists, the competition welcomes work across all two-dimensional media – including painting, drawing, mixed media, textiles and original printmaking – from amateur through to professional level.

By showcasing artists of all ages and abilities on an international stage, the prize creates an inclusive platform where creativity is valued over experience or background.

Behind The Artist continues to grow as more than a competition alone. It provides a space for artists to share their work, develop visibility, and engage with wider audiences through exhibitions and ongoing features.

The judging process reflects a balanced approach, considering:

• Clarity of intent and concept
• Originality and creativity
• Technical execution
• Emotional and visual impact

Judges for the 2026 Art Prize included Frances Featherstone, Peter Davis, Michael Harding, Catherine Sweet and the Behind The Artist founder – bringing together a range of perspectives across artistic practice and industry expertise.

This year’s awards reflect both the range of submissions and the breadth of artistic voices represented within the competition.

BTA ART PRIZE (MAIN PRIZE), supported by Daler-Rowney – Winner: Florence Champ
Awarded for Lisbon Kitchen, Florence Champ’s work stood out for its confident composition, atmosphere and narrative clarity. As the overall winner, this prize represents the highest level of recognition within the competition, supported by Daler-Rowney.

“I was absolutely delighted to hear that I was selected for the “Behind The Artist” prize, and couldn’t believe it when I received the call to say I had won the fist spot, sponsored by Daler-Rowney. 
This last year has been a lot of constant heard work, and it felt like a strong acknowledgment of the effort and time I have been putting in. Financial stability is a constant worry for artists and this sort of reward is a fantastic way of supporting their practise with both materials and publicity.

I am drawn to paint intimate domestic scenes of every day life and am very glad this one resounded with the judges. 

With this prize I have been able to stock up on studio necessities for the near future, and especially my brush selection which is always an investment to replenish.

I am also looking forward to trying out gouache and have selected an array of good paper to practise on, as it can be a lot easier to paint with en plein air or when travelling. 

With several exhibitions coming up this summer, I am hard at work on a body of about 45 paintings. A prize like this gives a lasting boost to confidence and stamina in the long periods of hard graft between events, and I am very grateful to have been chosen.”

Alongside the main prize, additional awards recognise specific areas of practice and emerging talent:

• Painting Prize Winner: Self, 32 by James Lee Chiahan
• Young Artist of the Year: Self Portrait at The Easel by Alfie Griffiths
• Rising Star Award: Common Threads by Danielle Verbeeten
• People’s Choice Winner: Adoreway To Light by Alexander Hilton

Together, these awards highlight both technical accomplishment and developing artistic voices across contemporary practice.

Daler-Rowney’s involvement in the main prize reflects an ongoing commitment to supporting artists in a practical way. By contributing to the overall award, the prize extends beyond recognition – providing materials that support continued experimentation and development.

A virtual exhibition showcasing all longlisted and shortlisted works from the 2026 prize is available to view online, offering a wider look at the range of submissions and approaches across this year’s competition:
https://behindtheartist.co.uk/bta-art-prize-2026

The Behind The Artist Art Prize continues to bring together a wide range of artistic voices, offering a snapshot of current practice across different styles and disciplines.

As each edition unfolds, it provides an opportunity to see how artists are exploring materials, ideas and personal narratives – reflecting the varied and evolving nature of contemporary art.