The Helen Herbert Portrait Award celebrates the enduring power of portraiture to capture personality, presence and human connection. Established in 2026, it honours the legacy of Norfolk-based artist Helen Herbert, whose work explored the individuality of the people around her and the relationships that shape our lives.

Norfolk-based artist Helen Herbert was a prolific and award-winning painter and a dedicated supporter of Holt Festival and the Sir John Hurt Art Prize. Her work drew deeply from personal experience and close observation of family life, celebrating the individuality of those around her and the connections between people and the environments they inhabit.

Helen’s portraits were known for their warmth, sensitivity and psychological insight, capturing both the character of her subjects and the subtle dynamics between individuals. Through this award, her legacy continues by encouraging artists to explore the expressive and emotional possibilities of portraiture.

Following Helen’s passing in 2023, this award has been generously endowed by her family in recognition of her life, her work and her commitment to the arts.

The judges will select a shortlist of works to be exhibited, from which one artist will be selected as the recipient of the award of £1,000.

Judges

Charlotte Crawley was born and bred in Norfolk and studied Art History at Cambridge and the Courtauld Institute. She has mainly worked in the museums sector, most notably at Windsor Castle and Norwich Castle Museum, where in 1992, she co-curated Family & Friends, a major regional exhibition of portraits from Tudor times to the present day. As Director of the East Anglia Art Fund, Charlotte organised several Open Art shows at Norwich Castle, which pioneered the selling of artworks within Norfolk Museums Service. She has also lectured widely across Norfolk and beyond.

James Glennie founded the Holt Festival Art Prize in 2010. He is an art adviser, valuer, writer and curator.

Entry Criteria

Open to artists working in portraiture across two-dimensional, wall-based media including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and mixed media. Submissions should demonstrate a strong engagement with portraiture and the ability to capture the presence, character or identity of a subject. Artists at all career stages worldwide are welcome to apply.

Holt Art Projects

Holt Art Projects invites submissions to its 2026 programme of contemporary art awards, culminating in a major exhibition in North Norfolk bringing together emerging and established artists from the UK and internationally. The awards continue the legacy of the Sir John Hurt Art Prize, founded in 2010 and inspired by the late actor and painter Sir John Hurt.

The programme now includes seven awards celebrating excellence across painting, portraiture, photography, ceramics, glass, environmental art and emerging practice. Shortlisted works will be exhibited as part of the Holt Art Projects annual exhibition programme in Holt and nearby Glandford, North Norfolk.

The exhibition opens with an awards reception on Sunday 19 July 2026, followed by a private view on Monday 20 July. It will then be open daily from 10am to 5pm until Saturday 1 August.

All works may be offered for sale unless otherwise specified by the artist. Holt Art Projects charges 28.2% commission (23.5% + VAT) on sales. The exhibition is promoted through press coverage, digital platforms and printed materials, attracting collectors, visitors and audiences interested in contemporary art.

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