Ironbridge Fine Arts: Call to Artists
Current Calls. Listed by deadline date
Ironbridge Fine Arts
Printmaking Competition 2026
Enter by 11th May 2026 5pm
Print • Share • Inspire
Entries are now open for the Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Open 2026, a worldwide celebration of printmaking. At Ironbridge Fine Arts and Framing, printmaking sits at the heart of what we do; from the global use of our Gunning Etching Presses to exhibitions, workshops, and our annual c...
Open for Entry
Entry Deadline: 11/05/2026, 5pm
Exhibition Location: UK
Exhibition Type: Gallery and Online
Full Details, Entry Terms & Conditions
Ironbridge Fine Arts
Printmaking Competition 2026
Enter by 11th May 2026 5pm
Print • Share • Inspire
Entries are now open for the Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Open 2026, a worldwide celebration of printmaking. At Ironbridge Fine Arts and Framing, printmaking sits at the heart of what we do; from the global use of our Gunning Etching Presses to exhibitions, workshops, and our annual competition. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your work, reach an international audience, and be part of a curated exhibition that celebrates both tradition and innovation. Open to UK and international artists, entrants may submit up to six pieces for consideration and the chance to compete for recognition and prizes, while also becoming part of a supportive and creative community of printmakers.
Opportunities for Artists
We’re proud to present a generous line-up of prizes from leading names in the art world, thoughtfully curated to support and elevate printmakers:
UK Printmakers
- Win a Little Thumper Gunning Etching Press worth £1550 plus additional prizes — see the full 2026 Printmaking Prize List below.
- Featured in our physical exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as in the online exhibition.
- Included in the official printed exhibition catalogue.
- Attend an exclusive Private View on 4th July 2026 (12 PM – 4 PM) with live demos, artist talks, and networking with judges and fellow creatives.
- Students enjoy discounted entry, and 10 students will have their work professionally framed for free using AR70 Invisible Art Glass — courtesy of Centrado Trading and Ironbridge Fine Arts.
International Printmakers
- Win a Mini Thumper Gunning Etching Press (£1,000 value, including international shipping).
- Selected artworks showcased in the online exhibition.
- Displayed digitally on-screen within the gallery space during the physical exhibition.
- Included in the official printed exhibition catalogue.
All Prizes
Ironbridge Fine Arts UK Prize - Little Thumper Gunning Etching Press worth £1550
Ironbridge Fine Arts International Prize - Mini Thumper Gunning Etching Press worth £1,000 including international shipping
Ironbridge Colour Prize: An exclusive opportunity to create your own custom ink colour, with 10 pots produced, and a permanent feature in the Ironbridge Printmakers Ink Range.
Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Prize: Three artists will be selected as Featured Printmakers in a dedicated exhibition at the Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, showcasing their work in a celebrated UK space.
Leicester Print Workshop – One printmaker receives a year’s studio access.
Art Lab – 3-month access to studios for the selected artist.
Roberson and Co Prizes – Two printmakers receive comprehensive printmaking kits with tools and materials for multiple processes.
Centrado Trading Framing Prize – Ten students’ artworks will be framed in Centrado Luxe Moulding with Invisible AR70 Artglass for exhibition display.
Hahnemühle UK Ltd Paper Prize – £200 worth of professional printmaking paper.
Lion Picture Framing Prize – Four printmakers will have their artworks professionally framed by Ironbridge Fine Arts into a beautiful New Moulding by Lion Picture Framing ready for the exhibition display.
St Cuthberts Mill Prize - One printmaker will receive 25 sheets of Somerset satin 250gsm printmaking paper worth £176.00
John Purcell Paper Voucher – £150 to spend on premium printmaking and fine art papers.
Speedball Prize - £120 worth of vouchers to use against Speedball Acrylic Screen-printing inks or Akua inks.
South West Art Prize – £100 voucher for materials plus a one-day hire of their printmaking studio.
Essdee Prizes – £100 voucher for one printmaker and £50 voucher for another (materials for lino and relief printing).
Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative Prize - One printmaker will recieve a free place on a weekend printmaking course at Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative
Edinburgh Printmakers Course Place – Space on an evening or weekend course in 2026 (subject to availability).
Spike Print Studio Prize - One printmaker will receive a one day colour mixing course at Spike print Studio
CraftCourses Voucher – £100 redeemable against creative courses UK-wide.
West Yorkshire Print Workshop Voucher – £80 credit for membership or courses (valid until 31 March 2027).
East London Printmakers Prize – One year’s free associate membership plus a box set print and an invitation to exhibit in the annual Festival of Print.
Fine Art Trade Guild Prize – One year of Associate Membership with access to industry expertise and eligibility for the Guild Artists Showcase.
Pressing Matters Prize – Three magazine issues and a branded tote bag.
Spike Print Studio Course – One-day colour mixing workshop.
Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative Course – Weekend printmaking course place.
White Hart Vouchers – £50 to spend at the Ironbridge venue.
Visual Art Network Voucher – £20 discount for purchases in the VAN Gallery.
The Yard Print Studio Prize - One Printmaker will recieve a £50 gift voucher for courses and workshops available at The YardPrint Studio, run by printmaker Nichola Goff in the Forest of Dean.
Printmaking Today prize - One printmaker will receive a year's subscription to Printmaking Today magazine.
Judging Panel
Our in-house judging team comprises artists and professionals with lifelong knowledge, industry experience, and deep expertise in printmaking. Alongside an exceptional lineup of guest judges, this year’s panel brings a broad spectrum of artistic insight and perspective. They understand the craft from every angle – technical excellence, creative vision, and the standards that define outstanding printmaking. Together they will celebrate innovation and skill, recognising work that reflects both mastery and artistic ambition.
In-House Judges
- Jenny Gunning ARBSA – Master printmaker and Guild Certified Framer
- Dave Gunning BA (Hons) – Renowned artist and inventor of the Gunning Etching Press
- Brendan Flynn – RBSA Professor of Art History and curator
Guest Judges
- Greg Davies – Comedian & TV Personality
- Chloe Barnes – Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2025
- John Cooper – BBC1 Interior Design Masters 2025
Important Dates
Entries Open: 3rd March 2026
Entries Close: 11th May 2026
Selection Notification: 23rd May 2026 (log in to check if your work has been selected for the Physical & Virtual Exhibition)
Artwork Delivery Window: 19th – 20th June 2026 (10 AM – 4 PM)
Private View & Prize Ceremony: 4th July 2026 (12 PM – 4 PM)
Exhibition Ends: 26th September 2026
Artwork Collection (if unsold): 2nd & 3rd October 2026
How to enter
Entries are submitted online only via the Olist platform.
Applicants must create an account on Olist to submit.
Entry fee: £22.00 per artwork (non-refundable).
Student and under 25s: £18.00 per artwork (non-refundable).
Criteria: Any printmaking process with a maximum framed size 50 x 50cm
Up to 6 pieces per artist may be submitted.
Upload high-quality images, plus a description and details (technique and size).
All applications must be completed before 5pm on 11th May 2026.
It is the artist’s responsibility to confirm eligibility & no refunds will be given.
Please read the terms and conditions prior to entering
Technical Support:
If you experience issues during submission, contact lori@oess.uk with screenshots. Lori will respond promptly.
Follow Us
For updates and news, follow us on Instagram:
@ironbridgeprintmakers
@ironbridgefinearts
Follow Us
For updates and news, follow us on Instagram:
@ironbridgeprintmakers
@ironbridgefinearts
Call Status: Open for Entry
Exhibition Location: UK
Exhibition Type: Gallery and Online
Entry Deadline: 11/05/2026, 5pm
Exhibition Contact: Sarah@ironbridgefinearts.co.uk
Key Dates
Entries Close: 11th May 2026, 5pm
Selection: 23rd May 2026 log in to check if your work has been selected for the Physical & Virtual Exhibition
Artwork Delivery Window: 19th – 20th June 2026 - 10 am to 4 pm at Ironbridge Fine Arts, Shropshire, TF8 7NJ
Private View & Prize Ceremony: 4th July 2026 (12 PM – 4 PM)
Exhibition End Date: 26th September 2026
Artwork Collection if work is unsold: Between 2nd & 3rd October 2026 during gallery opening hours 10 am till 4 pm
Entry Pricing and Concessions
Standard Prices.
Maximum Artwork Entries: 6
First or Single Entry Price: £22.00
Additional Entries: £22.00 per artwork up to 6 artworks.
Student and Under 25s
Maximum Artwork Entries: 6
First or Single Entry Price: £15.00
Additional Entries: £18.00 per artwork up to 6 artworks.
Extra Questions
When entering this call, the organisers request that you answer the following questions.
Terms and Conditions
Printmaking 2026 Terms & Conditions
1. Eligibility
The competition is open to printmakers worldwide.
All submitted works must be original prints created by the artist using recognised printmaking processes (see Section 4).
Works may be:
- Editioned prints
- One-off prints
- Monotypes or monoprints
- Artist Proofs
Giclée prints, digital reproductions, or reproduction prints of any kind are not eligible.
There is no set theme. The aim of Printmaking 2026 is to showcase excellence in contemporary printmaking worldwide.
2. Submission Procedure
Entries must be submitted online only via the Olist platform.
Applicants must create an account on Olist in order to submit work.
Maximum of 6 artworks per artist
Maximum framed size (UK physical exhibition): 50cm x 50cm
High-quality image required (JPEG or PNG, 1–4MB)
Full description required (technique, size including frame, edition details)
Entry Fee:
£22 per artwork
£18 per artwork (students)
It is the artist’s responsibility to ensure their work meets all eligibility and presentation requirements before submission. Entry fees are non-refundable.
3. Sale & Commission
Works may be marked:
- For Sale
- Not For Sale
If for sale:
- Prices must be inclusive of VAT where applicable
- Prices must be confirmed at submission
- Prices cannot be changed after selection
If a work sells:
- The artist receives 60% of the sale price
- Ironbridge Fine Arts retains 40% commission (inclusive of VAT)
- The gallery manages all sales transactions.
If a framed work sells and a customer requests another print from the edition, the gallery may contact the artist to confirm availability and supply cost. Any subsequent sale is subject to artist confirmation.
4. Accepted Printmaking Techniques
Submissions are invited in the following processes:
- Etching (any metal)
- Drypoint
- Mezzotint
- Photo-Etching (Solar Plate, Dry Film, Photogravure, Photo Emulsion)
- Collagraph (including collage, card cut-out, carborundum, Tetra-pack)
- Relief printing (Lino, Woodcut, Engraving, Woodblock, Multi-plate, Reduction)
- Monotypes & Monoprints
- Lithography
- Mokulito
- Viscosity Printing
- Letterpress
- Gelli Plate Printing
- Cyanotype
- Silkscreen
- Gyotaku
- Botanical Transfer Printing
- Printmaking collage (using the above processes)
Only original printmaking processes are accepted.
5. Selection Process
All submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee.
Works will be selected based on:
- Artistic quality
- Technical ability
- Originality
- Overall presentation
The selection committee’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
The gallery reserves the right to refuse work that does not meet size, framing, or eligibility requirements.
6. Exhibition Details
Physical Exhibition:
Selected UK works will be exhibited at Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, Shropshire.
Online Exhibition:
All selected works (UK and International) will be displayed digitally on the gallery website and virtual exhibition platform.
International entries will be included in the online exhibition only.
Catalogue:
All selected works will be included in the Printmaking 2026 Catalogue, available for purchase online.
7. Key Dates
Online applications close – 11th May 2026, 5pm
Announcement of selected works – 23rd May 2026
(Artists must log into the submission platform to check results)
Delivery of selected works – 19th–20th June 2026, 10am–4pm
Private View & Prize Announcement – 4th July 2026 (12pm–5pm)
Exhibition opens – 4th July 2026
Exhibition closes – 26th September 2026
Collection of unsold works – 2nd & 3rd October 2026, 10am–4pm
8. Framing & Presentation (UK Applicants Only)
All submitted works must be framed to a minimum Level 2 Conservation standard using professional fine art materials.
Accepted hanging systems:
- D-rings
- Strap hangers
- Mirror plates
Not accepted:
- Sawtooth hangers
- Clip frames
- Damaged, unstable, or poorly constructed frames
Frames must be clean, structurally sound, and fitted with appropriate hanging hardware.
Work not meeting these standards may be refused.
International applicants do not need to provide physical framing.
9. Delivery (UK Applicants Only)
All selected works must be delivered between:
- Date: 19th and 20th June 2026
Time:10am–4pm
Location: Ironbridge Fine Arts, Shropshire, TF8 7NJ
Work arriving outside this window may not be accepted. The gallery cannot receive deliveries outside the stated times.
Packaging materials will not be stored. Artists must remove packaging at delivery or make their own arrangements for return packaging.
All works will be condition-checked upon arrival. Any damage present on arrival will be documented and may result in the work not being hung.
10. Insurance
Artists are responsible for insuring their own work during transit and exhibition.
Ironbridge Fine Arts is not liable for loss or damage during transit, exhibition, or storage.
11. Collection & Storage
Unsold works must be collected between:
2nd & 3rd October 2026
10am–4pm
Uncollected work will incur a £10 per day storage fee.
After 30 days of non-collection, work may be removed and disposed of at the gallery’s discretion.
12. Packaging & Shipping Return Service
If preferred, unsold works may be returned via the gallery’s Packaging & Shipping Service:
1 Artwork – £35
2 Artworks – £45
3 Artworks – £55
4 Artworks – £65
5 Artworks – £75
6 Artworks – £85
Once work leaves the gallery premises and is handed to an external courier, Ironbridge Fine Arts is not responsible for loss or damage in transit. Artists are strongly advised to arrange appropriate insurance.
13. Copyright & Image Use
Artists retain full copyright of their work.
By entering the competition, artists grant Ironbridge Fine Arts permission to use images of the submitted work for promotional, exhibition, catalogue, website, and marketing purposes.
If an artist does not wish for their work to be used for promotional purposes, they must notify the gallery prior to submission.
14. Data Protection
Personal information provided during submission will be processed solely for the administration of the competition and handled in accordance with data protection legislation, including GDPR.
15. General Agreement
By submitting work, artists confirm:
- The work is entirely their own creation
- All submission details are accurate
- They agree to all Terms & Conditions
- They accept that the selection committee’s decision is final
Please Note: The above terms and conditions are provided by the exhibition organisers.
For terms and conditions which apply to the use of the OESS entry system please view below:
OESS Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy