Sunday Times Watercolour Competition 2019 - Call for Entries

Now in its 32nd year, The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition is the largest and most prestigious prize for contemporary watercolour painting in the UK. Hugely popular with artists, gallery visitors and readers of The Sunday Times, the competition aims to celebrate and redefine the beauty and diversity of watercolour and water-based media.

This year sees the introduction of a new First Prize of £8,000, generously sponsored by independent financial advisers, London Wall Partners LLP. In addition to the £8,000 London Wall Partners Prize, a Second Prize of £3,000, a Third Prize of £1,000, and the Pegasus Young Artist Prize – awarded to an artist aged under 30 years – are also available.

Approximately one hundred contemporary watercolours from all over the UK and spanning all styles and genres will be selected by a panel of leading figures from the art world. 

We are delighted to announce that the 2019 panel of judges will be:

Sophie Charalambous, Artist and 2018 First Prize winner

Simon Martin, Director, Pallant House Gallery

Barbara Nicholls, Artist

Helen Waters, Director, Alan Cristea Gallery

Louis Wise, Writer and Art Critic

The shortlisted works will be shown at Mall Galleries, London from 17 - 22 September 2019 before touring to Town Hall Arts, Trowbridge (5 October – 9 November 2019) and Guildford House Gallery, Surrey (16 November 2019 – 2 January 2020). The 2019 Prizewinners will be announced in the Culture section of The Sunday Times.