Buxton Spa Art Prize 2021
The Buxton Spa Art Prize (formerly the Buxton Spa Prize) is a semi-en plein air art competition celebrating Buxton’s culture, natural beauty and heritage alongside its summer festival season. It is now in its seventh year and returns once more to the Green Man Gallery.
There are a few changes this year, as the pandemic and the need for some level of distancing has to be taken into account. Registration will be simplified and will begin much sooner than in previous years, giving you all the chance to begin painting as soon as the weather improves.
The most important change this year is there are no set locations! Artists are free to choose their own location(s) anywhere within an approximate one mile radius of the Pavilion Gardens. This area includes a fabulous selection of town and countryside options giving you the opportunity to explore different styles. Perhaps even two entries featuring an expansive view and a more detailed or ‘zoomed in’ work.
The Competition
Work must be started at the chosen location(s) in and around the town but may be completed in the studio. Work is accepted in any 2D media except photography.
The winner of the 2021 Buxton Spa Art Prize will receive a grand prize of £4000 generously sponsored by The Trevor Osborne Charitable Trust. There is also a 2nd Prize of £1000 and a 3rd prize of £500.
Artists younger than 18 on 1 September 2020 are invited to enter the children’s and teen prize categories.
The Buxton Spa Sketchbook Prize (formally the Harold Riley Sketchbook Prize), an open competition for artists submitting a single sketchbook completed during the last year, has been suspended for this year, but will return next year.
Entries are judged by a panel of experts and guest judges selected from the town and art world. This year’s judges will be announced on 1 April.
Winners of the main, children’s and teen prizes will be announced at the preview evening on Thursday 24 June alongside the Buxton International Festival Choice. Winners of the People’s Choice award will be announced following the exhibition.
Key Dates & Information
1 April – open for entries via their website (closes 12 May)
15 April – 25 April – stamping and registration at No.6 The Square on Thursdays to Sundays between 10am and 2pm. Access to the Spa Prize office is via the terrace at the side of the property.
15 April – 18 June – submission of artwork
24 June – judging day, preview party and presentation of prizes
25 June – 25 July – exhibition open to the public at The Green Man Gallery
They are not able to host the Artist’s Social event this year.
For more information, visit the Buxton Spa Prize website – click here.
From November 2025, this website is owned and managed by Buxton Civic Association Ltd - Charity No. 258163.
Buxton Civic Association celebrates the natural and human heritage of Buxton including its outstanding buildings and wildlife. We conserve and enhance this heritage and advocate its importance in making Buxton a special place to live or to visit.
