Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year Competition - 2026

Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2026 brought together artists and audiences from across the region for a live portrait competition celebrating the strength of Sussex’s creative community.

Held at The Venue, Worthing and organised by Chichester Creative Art Network, the not-for-profit supporting artists across Sussex, the event saw nine finalists compete in a four-hour live painting challenge, creating portraits of three guest sitters in front of a packed audience at The Venue in Worthing.

The sitters included ceramicist Rich Miller, judge on Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, musician and artist Jeremy Cunningham of the band The Levellers, and Councillor Cathy Glynn-Davies, Mayor of Worthing.
 

Judges Sara Reeve, Matt Murphy and Gary Mansfield faced the difficult task of selecting the winners from a high standard of work, with the competition showcasing a wide range of styles and approaches to portraiture.
 

The title of Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2026 was awarded to Sam Telford, with Milo Hartnol awarded second place and Kade Tame awarded third place.

The event continues to grow following its successful launch last year, offering artists a platform to present their work publicly while giving audiences a rare opportunity to witness the creative process unfold in real time.

With many contributing their time and skills voluntarily, this year, with the support of our sponsors, the organisers were also able to begin shifting that model - paying musicians and photographers, and contributing towards volunteer expenses.
 

As a not-for-profit initiative, Chichester Creative Art Network uses the event to support and reinvest in the local creative community, helping to build connections and create future opportunities for artists across Sussex.
 

Plans are already underway for the 2027 event.