We're delighted to announce the winners of the Wrexham Painting Prize 2026, now on show at Open Institute.

This year's prize was judged by three Wrexham-based painters: Eloise Hawes (@hawesart), Seren Ambrose-Ellis (@serenambroseellispainting) and Georgia Barley(@georgiaduvart). From 256 entries, 70 artists were selected and 133 paintings went on show.

Main Prize

City Lake by Steve Cass (@stevecass_art). Steve also wins a materials prize from Tom Robertson (@tomrobertson.paint).

Runner-up Prizes

Flight Plan by Joanna Hart (@joannahartart)

Wooden Prince by Simon Klein

Dreams of a New Life by Paul Lemmon (@paullemmon_art)

Scrying from the Curtail by Jamie Kirk (@jamiekirkartwork)

Materials Prizes from MH Paints (@mhpaints)

The Ravages of the Axe No. VI by Gareth Kemp (@garethkemp)

Lamorna' series (vi) by Richard Bell (@richardbellart)

Congratulations to all the winners. Thank you to every artist who entered, to our judges, and to Tom Robertson and Micheal Harding Paints for sponsoring the materials prizes.

The exhibition is open at Open Institute until Monday 19 October. Come and see the work in person.

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.