Wrexham Painting Prize 2026
Diya (2026) Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 102x76cm by Lisa Denyer
We’re delighted to announce the 70 artists selected for the Wrexham Painting Prize 2026.
Join us for the exhibition opening and prize-giving ceremony:
Saturday 26 September
5–8pm
Open Institute, Unit 11, Island Green Retail Park, Wrexham
Come and celebrate an extraordinary range of contemporary painting from artists working across the UK, and find out who will receive this year’s prizes.
Selected Artists: Melanie Ahmed, Edwin Aitken, Craig Barber, Dale Beckwith, Richard Bell, Helena Benz, Suzanne Bethell, Carolyn Blake, Marja Bonada, Frances Boyle, Andrew Bracey, Claire Burgoyne, Steve Cass, Louisa Chambers, Graham Chorlton, Nancy Collantine, Elijah Davidson, Lisa Denyer, Andrew Ekins, Louise Evans, Brendan Fletcher, Nikki Foster, Harry Garner, Deborah Ann Graham, David Hancock, Izzy Hart, Joanna Hart, Jilly Hartshorn, Jeb Haward, Ruth Heaton, Marielle Hehir, Rhona Hobson, Xi Huang, Andy Jackson, Maya May Jex, Seren Morgan Jones, Gabriella Kardos, Gareth Kemp, Jamie Kirk, Simon Klein, Robert Lawton, Paul Lemmon, Sarah Longworth-West, Georgina Lowbridge, David Manley, Ian Maslen, Kate McClenaghen, Ben Midgley, Olga Minasyan, Shaun Morris, Elizabeth Nast, Paul Newman, Sean O'Farrell, Michael Paramore, Playpaint, Annette Pugh, Toby Rainbird, Sophie Rice, Chloe Roberts, Keeley Robinson, Melanie Russell, Mike Ryder, Esther Sample, Jayne Anita Smith, Puy Soden, Dorry Spikes, Gwennan Thomas, Jonathan Waller, Rupert Whale, Hannah Wooll
The exhibition will be open Thursday–Saturday, 12–4pm, until 17 October 2026.
Everyone is welcome. We look forward to seeing you there.
Jamie Kirk
Nothing to Declare, 2026
Oil and acrylic on canvas
61 × 50.5 cm
Louisa Chambers
Summer Trees, 2026
Acrylic on canvas
20 × 30.5 cm
Louisa Chambers
View (side profile), 2025
Acrylic on canvas
24 × 18 cm
Hannah Wooll
Tulips, 2025
Acrylic and acrylic ink on wooden panel
40 × 30 cm
Hannah Wooll
West German Girls, 2026
Acrylic and acrylic ink on wooden panel
35.5 × 28 cm
Hannah Wooll
Powder Room, 2025
Acrylic and acrylic ink on wooden panel
35.5 × 28 cm
Hannah Wooll
Pine, 2026
Acrylic and acrylic ink on wooden panel
Hannah Wooll
Adrift, 2026
Acrylic and acrylic ink on wooden panel
35.5 × 28 cm
Richard Bell
Painting No. 6 Clare Island (reprise), 2025–2026
Chalks and egg tempera on panel
61 × 50.5 cm
Playpaint
Sound Effects (Working From Home), 2026
Emulsion paint and acrylic varnish on paper mounted on painted wooden tray
43 × 32 × 3.5 cm
Lisa Denyer
Diamond Eye, 2026
Acrylic and filler on panel
24 × 18 cm
Lisa Denyer
Coven, 2026
Acrylic, emulsion and mixed media on found plywood
26 × 32 cm
Lisa Denyer
Diya, 2026
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
102 × 76 cm
Craig Barber
Hold, 2026
Oil on board, plaster and scrim
45 × 52.5 cm
Annette Pugh
At The Edge of The Water 1, 2025
Oil on canvas
61 × 81 cm
Annette Pugh
Blue Willow, 2026
Oil on canvas
25 × 20 cm
Mike Ryder
Always Together, 2025
Acrylic on wooden panel
28 × 36 cm
Dale Beckwith
Drought 1, 2025
Acrylic
7.5 × 19 cm
Mike Ryder
Belonging, 2025
Acrylic on wooden panel
28 × 36 cm
Ian Maslen
Brutal Sunset Memories, 2026
Cement, acrylic and spray paint on canvas
30 × 30 cm
Ian Maslen
Net Droste IV, 2026
Spray paint and acrylic on canvas
30 × 30 cm
Seren Morgan Jones
Dod yn ol at fy nghoed (Returning to my trees), 2026
Oil and acrylic on canvas
31 × 36 cm
Ian Maslen
Net Droste V, 2026
Spray paint and acrylic on canvas
30 × 30 cm
Rupert Whale
Journey: Home At Last, 2026
Acrylic on wood panels
180 × 50 cm
Simon Klein
Wooden Prince, 2026
Oil paint on canvas
71 × 56 cm
Simon Klein
You can all join in, 2026
Oil paint on board
35 × 27 cm
Carolyn Blake
Fragile Nostalgia 5, 2026
Oil on panel
24 × 18 cm
Graham Chorlton
Tree #1, 2026
Acrylic on canvas
33 × 23 cm
Graham Chorlton
Tree #2, 2026
Acrylic on canvas
30 × 23 cm
Georgina Lowbridge
Paternity Leave
Oil on aluminium
100 × 80 cm
Melanie Ahmed
An Uncomfortable Bed, 2026
Oil and collage on board
30 × 23 cm
Melanie Russell
Nest, 2026
Oil and oil stick on plywood
28 × 36 cm
Melanie Russell
Uncoil, 2026
Oil on plywood
20.5 × 25.5 cm
Melanie Russell
Wedged, 2026
Oil on canvas
30 × 40 cm
Kate McClenaghen
13:29, 2024
Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
30 × 40 cm
Paul Lemmon
Wonderground, 2025
Oil on panel
90 × 70 cm
Paul Lemmon
Hanging green, 2025
Oil on panel
30 × 40 cm
Paul Lemmon
Penumbra, 2025
Oil on panel
40 × 40 cm
Paul Lemmon
Remembered horizon, 2025
Oil on panel
40 × 40 cm
Sarah Longworth-West
Remain, 2024–2025
Oil paint and oil pastel on pigmented gesso panel
60 × 84 cm
Sarah Longworth-West
Shelter, 2024–2025
Oil paint and oil pastel on pigmented gesso panel
84 × 118 cm
Andrew Ekins
Molehill
Oil on paint skins, clothing and panel
Andrew Ekins
Blue Remembered Hill
Oil on paint skins, clothing and cushion
Andrew Ekins
Slippery Slope
Oil on paint skins, clothing and found furniture
Robert Lawton
Precious Things
Oil on found wood
17.5 × 14.5 cm
2026
Louise Alison
If It Were to Unravel
Oil and scrim on board
21 × 30 cm, depth 4 cm
2025
Gwennan Thomas
Threads
Oil on panel
15 × 20 cm
2026
Edwin Aitken
Weatherwood
Acrylic on canvas
42 × 30 cm
2026
Edwin Aitken
Counterpunch
Acrylic on canvas
42 × 30 cm
2026
Edwin Aitken
Nemesis
Acrylic on canvas
42 × 30 cm
2026
Esther Sample
Check
Pigment, oil and ink on khadi paper
42 × 59 cm
2026
Toby Rainbird
Mixed Tree
Oil, canvas and linen on wood
21 × 28 cm
2025
David Hancock
Star-Crossed in Blackthorn
Watercolour on gesso panel
70 × 50 cm
2026
David Hancock
A Lye-Tipped Arrow
Watercolour on gesso panel
50 × 70 cm
2026
Marielle Hehir
Stay Afloat
Ceramic — stoneware clay, various glazes
21 × 21 cm
2025
Harry Garner
Thinking Hat
Oil on canvas
30 × 40 cm
2025
Andy Jackson
Flash Lights (what do you have to offer inside yourfself?) Acrylic, acrylic gesso and paper on plywood 16.7 × 23.7 × 2.8 cm
2026
Nikki Foster
Headlights
Oil on canvas
30 × 40 cm
2026
Nikki Foster
Yellow Submarine
Oil on canvas
30 × 42 cm
2026
Helena Benz
The Monument
Acrylic on cradled panel
40 × 40 cm 2025
Helena Benz
The Dissociation
Acrylic on cradled panel
30 × 30 cm
2025
Helena Benz
The Unsung
Acrylic on cradled panel
30 × 30 cm
2026
Ruth Heaton
Gothic
Acrylic on wood panel
72 × 100 cm
2025
Jayne Anita Smith
She Rising
Acrylic and oil on prepared paper
21 × 30 cm
2026
Gareth Kemp
The Ravages of the Axe No. VI
Acrylic on canvas
120 × 180 cm
2025
Gareth Kemp
The Ravages of the Axe No. II
Acrylic on canvas
120 × 180 cm
2025
Gareth Kemp
The Ravages of the Axe No. VI
Acrylic on canvas
120 × 180 cm
2025
Gareth Kemp
The Ravages of the Axe No. II
Acrylic on canvas
120 × 180 cm
2025