Portraits win prizes

By pwiltshire

Voting starts today for a people's choice poll linked to a portrait competition.

An exhibition of shortlisted entries for the Holburne Museum's fourth portrait competition opens on Saturday at the Chapel Row Gallery.

The shortlist of 26 was whittled down from an initial 50, and the works will be on display until October 28. The prize-winner will be announced on Friday, October 17, and will be chosen by a panel of judges consisting of artist Humphrey Ocean, author Victoria Glendinning and John Leighton, director of the National Galleries of Scotland.

The public are also able to vote for their favourite painting in the exhibition in The People's Choice which runs online with the Bath Chronicle at www.thisisbath.co.uk/peopleschoice, or at the Chapel Row Gallery. Voting closes on October 16.

The gallery is hosting the exhibition because the Holburne is currently closed for refurbishment.

The artist whose portrait is chosen as best by the judges will win a commission to paint someone of their choice.

The winner of the last competition, in 2006, was Bristol-based artist Vincent Brown, who chose to paint the directors of Aardman Animation.

He said: "We are fortunate to have some of the greatest portrait artists in the country living in the region, also to have a museum that understands the need to encourage the continuation of Bath's association with the painted portrait.

"I am very grateful to the museum and the Portrait Prize sponsors for the opportunity and experience I was given."