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.

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. In 2026 she exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, London as part of the HSFK Portrait Prize.

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.

Ange Bell is an award winning Fine Artist specialising in portraiture. Her work focuses on the themes of origins and belonging and considers our desire to be seen recognised and valued. The act of retrieving and reviving is at the core of her practice, from the sourcing of material to the process of painting itself.

Bell is a member of the Contemporary British Portrait Painters and her work is in private collections worldwide and has been selected for numerous exhibitions including the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the Royal Ulster Academy.

I am looking for an artist who demonstrates a sound level of technical merit and presents a fresh and innovative perspective on their subject.

Florence Champ is a French Irish artist, winner of the BTA 2025 prize.

She is an oil painter focused on intimate scenes of daily life, as well as nostalgia tinged snapshots of our changing world. 

As a judge she will be looking for strong emotional response to the narrative in an artwork, as well as freshness and out of the ordinary perspectives.

Chris Longridge is a prize-winning artist who has featured in the British Art Prize, the Jackson Painting Prize, the scan.art prize and Sky Portrait Artist of the Year. He is a self-taught painter and works in oils, focusing mainly on the reinterpretation of Old Masters.

As a judge he is looking for evidence of original thinking and practice, as well as an understanding of the balance between intentionality and accident.

Rebecca Holton is a multi-award-winning British portrait and figurative artist. She has an MA (Hons) degree in Fine Art from the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art.

Her work has been included in exhibitions by The Royal Academy, The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, The Royal Society of British Artists, The British Art Prize and The London Biennale.

Recent awards include The British Art Prize for Portraiture, The Peter Kelly Commemorative Prize at The Royal Society of British Artists and first prize with both Chelsea Art Society and the Guildford House Open. 

Rebecca’s work captures the familiar and reflects the routines, relationships and moments that shape contemporary life.

'I am drawn to work that tells a story. I love looking up close!

For me, an artist needs to demonstrate confidence and skill in their chosen medium, and use this to strengthen the work's narrative.'

Tania Rivilis (b. 1986, Ukraine) is an internationally recognized portrait artist whose work delves into the evolving nature of self and human connection. Rooted in the portrait genre, Rivilis investigates how identity is shaped by the gaze—both of others and of oneself within the pictorial space. Her practice merges classical techniques with contemporary sensibilities, capturing the fragility and transformation inherent in interpersonal relationships.

Originally trained in Media Design in Moscow, Rivilis began painting in 2013 after relocating to Germany, where she embraced art as a calling. Since 2015, she has participated in numerous exhibitions across Europe and the United States. Her works are part of museum, gallery, and private collections worldwide.

Robert E. Wells is a Yorkshire-born artist, known for his cityscape paintings as well as rural landscapes and figurative works. A member of the New English Art Club and the Royal Society of British Artists, he regularly exhibits his work in solo shows, mainly in the UK.

I am looking for young artists who demonstrate confidence, individuality and a willingness to take risks in their work. I want to see a genuine passion for painting, a sense of curiosity, and the courage to push beyond the familiar. I am drawn to work that has the confidence to communicate, to engage the viewer and to create a meaningful connection.

Alongside this, I will be looking for a strong understanding of the craft of painting, particularly the expressive use of mark-making, and the ability to make a compelling visual statement. Ultimately, I want to see work that feels authentic, considered and alive with possibility.