The Bath Prize Exhibition of Paintings

The third annual Bath Prize painting competition has been declared the best ever, attracting over 390 original paintings inspired by the historic World Heritage city of Bath.

Bath has been one of the most important artistic centres in England for centuries, attracting artists from all over Britain and beyond, including Walter Sickert and Thomas Gainsborough, who spent 16 years painting portraits of the rich and famous in Bath from 1758-1774.

This year's Bath Prize competition was entered by 270 artists, each of whom were allocated a specific location in the city to paint , ensuring a wide variety of both classic and lesser known images of Bath, from the Royal Crescent and Bath Abbey to the Old Corset Factory and Sion Hill allotments.
The unique collection of original Bath Prize paintings will be exhibited in at the Octagon Chapel, Milsom Street, Bath from Friday 21st October to Thursday 27th October from 10am to 5pm (12pm-4pm on Sunday) and will then be sold at a live auction on Friday 28th October at The Guildhall.

Michael Porter from The Bath Gallery, one of the competition sponsors, is delighted with the response from painters across the country. "They came to Bath during the summer and produced a remarkable portrait of the city with work in a wide variety of styles and media. Many painters were attracted by the prospect of the £7,000 top prize and all were attracted by the artistic potential of the Bath's wonderful views and architecture and taking part in ‘Britain’s most enjoyable painting competition."

Entry to the exhibition and the auction is free and there are likely to be some excellent bargains, with estimates ranging from less than £200 to over £3,000.

The competition judges will be lead by Peter Brown, NEAC, an all-weather painter renowned for his work in Bath over the past 15 years.

Bids for the Bath Prize paintings can be made in advance at The Octagon or by attending the live auction in person at The Guildhall in Bath from 7pm on Friday 28th October. Alternatively, bids can also be made online from the comfort of your own home, either in advance or by bidding live during the auction at www.wessexauctionrooms.co.uk. Online bidders are advised to register well in advance of the auction to familiarise themselves with the bidding process.

The Bath Prize auction offers an excellent opportunity to adorn your home or business with original and affordable paintings of the stunning architecture and heritage of Bath, and may also give inspiration for unique, individual gifts for Christmas.

For further information please visit www.thebathprize.co.uk or email info@thebathprize.co.uk