Michael Harding is one of the world’s most respected artisanal paint makers, renowned for his uncompromising dedication to quality and his revival of traditional, Old Master–inspired paint-making methods. Since founding his brand in 1982, Michael has worked closely with artists, studios, and institutions across the globe, creating richly pigmented, hand-crafted oil colours celebrated for their luminosity, permanence, and unparalleled handling.

With decades of expertise and a passion for elevating the standards of fine art materials, Michael brings a discerning eye and deep technical insight to the judging panel. His commitment to supporting artists and preserving craftsmanship makes him a valued and authoritative voice in the evaluation process.

Peter Davis is a prize-winning painter whose work has been in the John Moores Painting Prize, the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery, and The Cass Art Prize 2025. He is an elected member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP). As a BTA judge, he is particularly interested in work that explores contemporary narratives – whether through people, place, or a wider response to the world we're living in today. He’ll be looking for authenticity, clarity of intention, and a compelling sense of storytelling, where the artist’s voice is clearly evident in the work.

Catherine Sweet is the Founder of BobCat Gallery, an online and nomadic gallery focusing on original and affordable artwork. She is also an independent curator regularly working on both physical and virtual exhibitions, as well as pop-up retail experiences across London. Catherine is a practicing visual artist, and sits on advisory committees for several local and international arts organisations, including ArtCan.

Frances Featherstone is a multi-award-winning British figurative oil painter. She is known for her series ‘From The Perspective Of Angels’ exploring figures in intimate spaces seen from the heavens. In 2025, she received the Oil Painting Prize at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. 

Frances is represented by Arcadia Contemporary in New York and holds a First-Class Degree in Fine Art. She brings to the panel over 20 years’ experience of exhibiting and entering competitions as a full-time artist. She also brings her previous experience as a Senior Designer at the BBC, which has given her new ways of seeing and an appreciation for composition and design. 

In her own work, she is guided by an appreciation for storytelling. Narratives serve at the heart of her work, with which she seeks to fill her paintings with ideas and conceptual depth such as uncovering the beauty in the everyday, the desire for solitude and comfort, and the collapsing of the distance between the real world and the world of dreams.