Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2025

The highly anticipated Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2025 (Sussex PAOTY) is again bringing an exhilarating celebration of artistic talent and community spirit. Taking place on Sat 22 March 2025 (1-6pm) at Worthing’s The Venue, this live painting competition will feature nine outstanding finalists, each tasked with creating a portrait in just four hours—all in front of a live audience.

An esteemed panel of three judges will assess the final works and crown this year's Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year. The event is a showcase of Sussex’s vibrant creative community, as well as a major fundraiser for Chichester CAN—a non-profit initiative supporting local artists through exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities.

If you're a fan of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, you'll love this! We are honoured to have last year’s Sky Arts winner, Wendy Barrett, on our judging panel, alongside acclaimed artists Amy Dury and Eden Maseyk, co-founder of Helm Gallery.

The competition will feature three celebrity sitters, each posing for three of the finalists. With over 60 artists submitting their work, selecting the final nine was no easy feat for our judges. Gary Mansfield, artist and host of the renowned Ministry of Arts podcast, will serve as our event host, conducting interviews with artists, sitters, and judges throughout the day.

Supporting Chichester CAN: Empowering Local Artists

Founded by artist and entrepreneur Louise Duggan, Chichester CAN (Sussex Creative Art Network CIC) is dedicated to providing opportunities for local artists to exhibit their work, host workshops, and build a stronger creative community in Chichester and beyond.

"Chichester CAN is all about building opportunities for local artists and strengthening our creative community. The funds raised from this event will support a variety of projects throughout the year, helping artists showcase their work, collaborate, and grow," says Duggan.

“This annual event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our artists, judges, and supporters—all of whom have donated their time and resources to bring this competition to life.”

Tickets on sale now. Find the here…

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