Derwent ® Announces Art Prize 2018 Finalists

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Derwent ®, internationally renowned artists’ materials brand, are proud to present the Derwent Art Prize 2018, on display at London’s prestigious Mall Galleries from 18 - 23 September 2018, showcasing the very best 2D & 3D artworks created in pencil, coloured pencil, pastel, graphite and charcoal. Following an international open call, 1278 artists from 64 different countries submitted a total of 3,299 artworks, the highest number of entries in the history of the Prize. Submissions were judged by an expert panel comprising Gill Saunders, Senior Curator, V&A; Chris Sharratt, Art Critic; and Clare Woods, Artist.

The shortlisted works offer an overview of international contemporary drawing approaches, from Seoul based artist Sunghun Jung’s surreal geometric drawing Fountain, to the panoramic depiction of Lagoa de Fogo drawn onto a saxophone reed by Portuguese artist Maura Barreto. French artist France Bizot’s intricate hand drawn books illustrate one way in which drawing can be realised in three dimensions, whilst Lithuanian artist Laura Guoke’s large scale portrait There you are, the Journey has almost Begun highlights the facility of graphite, charcoal and coloured pencils to create hyperreal imagery with a digitised aesthetic.

In addition to the selected artworks being hung in a public display at Mall Galleries, prizes totalling £12,500 will be awarded in a private awards ceremony on 20 September 2018. These include a First Prize of £6,000, Second Prize of £3,000, Third Prize of £1,500 and the Young Artist Award of £750 for an artist under 25 years of age. There is also a People’s Choice Award of £750, which gives the general public an opportunity to vote for their favourite shortlisted work. The poll will launch on the Derwent Art Prize Facebook page on 25 June 2018.