London’s National Portrait Gallery has revealed three exceptional finalists for its Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award, selected from 1,314 international submissions. The free exhibition, opening on 10 July 2025, will showcase 46 contemporary portraits that redefine the boundaries of figurative art.
This year’s distinguished judging panel – including firebrand painter Maggi Hambling and Courtauld Institute’s Professor Dorothy Price – has selected works demonstrating remarkable technical mastery and emotional depth:
Tim Benson’s Cliff, Outreach Worker – A monumental oil painting challenging conventional beauty standards through its unflinching depiction of Clifford Dobbs’ facial difference.
Moira Cameron’s A Life Lived – A radical reworking of the artist’s 40-year-old self-portrait, layering decades of lived experience in thick, scraped oils
Martyn Harris’s Memories – An intimate study of ageing and reflection captured through meticulous brushwork
Now in its 43rd year, the prestigious award, newly renamed following Herbert Smith Freehills’ merger with Kramer Levin, continues its legacy as one of the world’s most significant portrait prizes. With £35,000 for the winner and over six million visitors to past exhibitions, it remains an unparalleled platform for contemporary figurative art.
“This year’s shortlist doesn’t just capture likenesses – it preserves human stories for future generations,” notes Contemporary Curator Amy Emmerson Martin. From Benson’s rapid alla prima technique to Cameron’s layered, time-worn surfaces, each work offers masterclasses in painterly innovation.
The exhibition runs until October 12, 2025, with the winners to be announced at a private ceremony in July. Art enthusiasts can expect to encounter raw emotional power, technical brilliance, and perhaps most importantly, unforgettable human connections frozen in pigment.
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Selected Artist Backgrounds
Tim Benson
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters president continues his mission to diversify portraiture’s beauty standards. His Cliff series challenges centuries of conventional representation through thick, sculptural brushwork.
Moira Cameron
After decades of collaborating with her husband, David Spiller, the Chelsea College of Art graduate returns to her own practice with this haunting reimagining of her younger self.
Martyn Harris
The former mechanical engineer brings draughtsman’s precision to his tender portrait of gallery visitor Gillian, capturing the fragile poetry of ageing.
“These artists remind us that every face contains multitudes,” observes judge Peter Brathwaite. The exhibition promises to be essential viewing for anyone interested in the cutting edge of portraiture.
“I’d like to congratulate all the artists shortlisted for this year’s Portrait Award. The Skill, artistry and quality of the submissions is inspiring, and I very much look forward to seeing these works hanging in the Gallery soon, free to access for all. I hope visitors enjoy this eclectic mix of contemporary portraits and the stories and sitters that inspired them. Amy Emmerson Martin – Contemporary Curator, National Portrait Gallery