"The stated aim of Contemporary British Painting is to explore and promote current painting. The subtext to this is giving voice back to the artist, the originator and source of painting. The real discourse around current painting is generated painter to painter and emanates from the studio and not from the boardrooms of institutions, directors’ offices, lecture halls or galleries. This prize is artists submitting themselves to consideration and selection by their peers." Simon Carter, co-founder of Contemporary British Painting and lead selector of the CBP Prize 2018.

The Contemporary British Painting Prize is organised and run by members of CBP – painters just like you.

The aim of the prize is to explore and promote current painting, and we want to see the best of painting produced in the UK today.  

The prize is in three stages: long-listing, shortlisting, and judging. A selection panel of four members of Contemporary British Painting first draw up a long list, followed by a shortlist of a minimum of twelve artists for the prize exhibition.

A completely separate panel of judges - well-known figures in the art world such as curators, artists, and writers - select the prizewinner and one highly commended painter from the shortlisted works in the exhibition.

The winner receives £8000, a catalogue essay, an invitation to join Contemporary British Painting, and a selector position for the next CBP Prize. The Highly Commended Award is £2000.

Additional prizes include the YAS Exhibition Award and the Judith Tucker Memorial Prize.

The shortlisted artists each receive a £400 exhibitor’s fee.

Eligible artists are over 18, of any nationality, living and professionally based in the UK (except CBP artist members), and whose work has been completed since 1st June 2023. Your entry must include images of five different paintings - our definition of painting is very broad.

Information about the venues, all prizes, previous prizewinners and this year's selectors and judges can be found on our website.

Full details of entry requirements, including How to Enter, FAQs and Terms and Conditions, can be found on the Contemporary British Painting website here.

There is a lot of helpful information - answers to questions are likely to be covered, so please read carefully BEFORE you contact the curator.