The BP Portrait Award is the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the world and represents the very best in contemporary portrait painting. With a first prize of £35,000, and a total prize fund of £74,000, the Award is aimed at encouraging artists to focus upon and develop portraiture in their work. Over the years this has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries.

A fixture at the National Portrait Gallery, London for 39 years - 29 of which have been sponsored by BP - the BP Portrait Award is now in its ninth year at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and continues to be an unmissable highlight of the annual art calendar.

The BP Portrait Award is organised by the National Portrait Gallery, London.