The 'Michael Harding' Secret Coast Prize For Fine Art 2025

The Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art 2025 celebrates outstanding creativity and craftsmanship across all fine art media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and small sculpture. Open to artists at all stages, this new national award connects emerging and established talent with internationally recognised artists in a unique, rural gallery setting on Scotland’s Secret Coast. This year’s exhibition will feature invited guest artists Henry Kondracki RSA and José Luis Serzo, shown alongside selected artists from across Scotland, the UK, and Ireland. Three prizes will be presented: - The Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art (Main Award): £1,000 cash plus £1,000 in materials from Michael Harding Handmade Oil Colours - The Argyll & Bute Prize: £250 cash for artists living or working in the region - The Early Career Prize: £250 cash plus £500 in materials for students, graduates within 5 years, or late returners within 3 years. Selected artists receive professional exposure through inclusion in a national exhibition at Tighnabruaich Gallery, public promotion via press and social media and networking opportunities with jurors and invited artists. Submissions are open to all artists working in eligible media. Submissions will be juried by Jacqueline Marr, Lewis Mackenzie, and Ewan McClure. All applicants will be notified of results by the published date. All works must be for sale. Commission rates are 33% for emerging artists and 44% for established artists, with an additional 11% of each sale reinvested into SCCOCO’s artist development fund, supporting mentoring, residencies, and material grants. Selected works must be delivered to the gallery by the stated deadline; artists are responsible for delivery and collection.