What an inspiring evening at the 9th Women in Art Prize on Wednesday 16th September at The British Library. ✨

It was so wonderful to be surrounded by so many talented women, all coming together to support and champion other women in the arts.

The prize opens so many important doors for emerging female artists through cash prizes, mentorships and residencies , but perhaps most importantly, it creates an opportunity for women artists to be seen, recognised and acknowledged.

As a woman speaking from experience, the art world can be tough! It can be even harder for women to be represented, fairly paid and given an equal playing field. This is exactly why initiatives like the Women in Art Prize are so important.

I had such a brilliant time judging all the gorgeous artworks. It was genuinely difficult to choose, and I only wish we could have given more prizes, as there were so many wonderful works that didn’t quite make it through this time. To those artists, please don’t be discouraged there’s always next year! ❤️

A huge congratulations to @gabrielleduploy and @strings_drums for pulling off yet another epic event. I absolutely loved seeing the incredible art on display this year and being part of such a special evening.

Here’s to continuing to champion and celebrate women in the arts!

Full list of 2026 Women in Art Prize Winners

Digital & Moving Image Prize — Yichu Li, Yichu 1.0

Eve Arnold Photography Prize — Yang Zhou, Faërie V

Sculpture Prize — Abi Joy Samuel, So Very Far Off, Lie More Ruins

Printmaking Prize — Deborah Hercun, Ombrello

Overseas Artist Prize — Sierra Merda, VVITCH

Young Woman in Art Prize — Nadia Zekouki Andres, The Weight of Rest

Fitzjohn’s Mature Artist Prize — Jane Andrews, Something Dreadful This Way Comes

Tim May Mentoring Programme Award — Venetta Nicole, Faraway

Susan Angoy Artists of African & Caribbean Heritage Prize — Eve Morrison, I Have a Dream

Hampstead School of Art Abstract Painting Exhibition Prize — Vanessa Mitter, Flowers for Anna

Akhmatova – You Will Hear Thunder

Square Feet Gallery Exhibition Prize — Leena McCall, Still Life with Marigolds (Self-Portrait)

Hosking Houses Trust Residency Prize — Michele Ashby, Quietly becoming

Brigitta Spinocchia Freund Future Collectible Prize — Rafaela de Ascanio, Las Dos Caras de Rafaela

Georgina Pounds Gallery Award — Nadia Zekouki Andres; Haohao Huang; Poppy Tingay, The Weight of Rest; The Weight of Your Lightness; She Feels Tiny in the Morning

Women in Art Prize x Synonym Gallery Artist Development Award — Claudia Robles-Gil, Los Mariachis de Xochimilco

Painting Prize — Abby Hope Skinner, Vigil

PRIZES AWARDED:

The Eve Arnold Photography Prize – £1,000 cash award.

The Sculpture Prize – £1,000 cash award and the opportunity to exhibit at The Mandrake Hotel, London.

The Digital & Moving Image Prize – £1,000 cash award. The award will be presented by BAFTA-nominated actress and BAFTA-winning executive producer Alix Wilton Regan, who works across film, television, stage, video games and radio.

The Overseas Artist Prize – £1,000 international award recognising outstanding global talent.

The Painting Prize – A fully funded one-week artist residency in Morocco, including flights and accommodation, valued at £2,900 and awarded by renowned artist Rosso Emerald Crimson, the first Women in Art Prize winner.

The Printmaking Prize offers the winning artist a dedicated feature and three-month artist page on Printed Editions, a leading online platform for original prints and editions, reaching an international audience of collectors.

The Susan Angoy Artists of African & Caribbean Heritage Prize – £2,000 cash award together with a place on the prestigious Tim May Mentoring Programme with acclaimed artist Sharon Walters.

The Brigitta Spinocchia Freund Future Collectible Prize – recognising exceptional emerging artistic talent with a £1,000 award.

The Women in Art Prize x Synonym Gallery Artist Development Award – offering an emerging woman artist based in Mexico the opportunity to produce a commissioned public artwork in Mexico City, exhibit with Synonym Gallery and participate in Mexico City Art Week 2027.

The Young Woman in Art Prize, supported by Daler-Rowney, awarding £1,000 worth of professional art materials together with a one-week residency in Bracknell.

The Hampstead School of Art Abstract Painting Exhibition Prize.

The Square Feet Gallery Exhibition Prize, offering an exhibition opportunity in Marylebone, London.

The Hosking Houses Residency Prize, providing a one-month residency for women artists aged over 40 in Warwickshire during 2027 or 2028.
The Georgina Pounds Gallery Prize including the winning artist in their booth at Zona Maco Art Fair in Mexico City in February 2027.

The Fitzjohn’s Mature Artist Prize – £2,000 award, plus the opportunity to create a bespoke artwork for Fitzjohn’s new show apartment in Hampstead.

JUDGING PANEL

Arngunnur Aegisdottir, Creative Director of Mall Galleries

Brigitta Spinocchia Freund, Principal & Creative Director of Spinocchia Freund

Bushra Fakhoury, Lebanese-British Sculptor (PhD, MRBS, CAS, SWA)
Edie Jones, Director of Marketing & Communications, Saatchi Yates Gallery

Georgina Pounds, Architect & the founder of the Georgina Pounds Gallery in Mexico City

Heejin No, Advisor, Curator & Co-Founder of Skipwiths
Isabel Langtry, Principal of Hampstead School of Art
Katy Richfield, Director and Head of Curation, WIAP
Lee Sharrock, Founder and Editor of Culturalee

Maria Enriqueta Arias, Founder & Director of Synonym Gallery, Mexico City

Nicky Della Mote, Curator and Champion of emerging artists & Head of International Social Commitment at Chanel
Sophie Parker, Director of Photo London
Stefanie De Regel, Director of TAEX, a curated digital art marketplace
Sue Spaull, Director of Programmes at The Art Academy, London
Susan Angoy, University of Sussex Governor, Charity Trustee & Funder
Violeta Sofia, Artist, Photographer, and Activist

These awards collectively represent one of the UK’s most comprehensive programmes supporting women artists through financial investment, exhibition opportunities, international exchange and long-term career development.

🥂 And huge thanks @pomellespritz @wildidol.official @doubledutchdrinks @ghelamco @twiggles_uk @rosalindsstudio for all their support!