Contents
Artists can enter up to six works across any medium, with entry fees starting at £15 for one piece and capped at £70 for six. Key dates include the submission deadline on 28 August and the exhibition running from 14 to 23 November 2025. Winners will be announced via email on 3 October, setting the stage for a high-profile prize giving at the exhibition’s opening.
Whether you’re a painter, photographer or mixed-media artist, the ING Discerning Eye 2025 is a must-enter for anyone seeking exposure and recognition. For globally renowned best photo challenges to participate, Deartline brings you the latest and most prestigious opportunities.
The ING Discerning Eye 2025 Prizes
The ING Discerning Eye 2025 awards over £13,000 across a range of purchase and mentoring prizes, offering both financial rewards and professional development.
- ING Purchase Prize: £5,000
- Discerning Eye Founder’s Prize (in honour of Michael Reynolds): £2,500
- Discerning Eye Chair’s Purchase Prize: £1,000
- Parker Harris Prize: one year’s subscription to The Art Ladder mentoring programme plus two one-to-one mentoring sessions, worth £600
- Mervyn Metcalf Purchase Prize: £500
- The Discerning Eye Sculpture Prize: £300
- The Discerning Eye Cityscape Prize: £300
- The Discerning Eye Landscape Prize: £300
- The Discerning Eye Portrait Prize: £300
- The Discerning Eye Print Prize: £300
- Regional Prizes (up to seven awards): £300 each
- Tabish Khan’s Critic Purchase Prize: £200
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the ING Discerning Eye 2025
Unlike many competitions, the ING Discerning Eye does not segment entries into rigid categories. Instead, it celebrates small-scale art in all media, from drawing and painting to photography and sculpture, united by the size restriction that gives the exhibition its distinctive focus.
ING Discerning Eye 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Deadline to enter: 28 August 2025, 5 pm BST
Exhibition dates: 14–23 November 2025 at the Mall Galleries, London
Entry Fees: Artists may submit up to six works; fees are charged per number of works submitted:
- One work – £15
- Two works – £30
- Three works – £40
- Four works – £50
- Five works – £60
- Six works – £70
How to Enter:
Register and submit your work online via the ING Discerning Eye 2025 Open Call page. Upload high-resolution images (JPG or PNG), provide titles, dimensions and medium for each piece, select the number of works, pay the corresponding fee, and complete the entry form before the deadline. You’ll receive a confirmation email upon successful submission.
About the Jury
This year’s exhibition is curated by six independent selectors, each responsible for choosing artworks for their own mini-exhibition:
- Curtis Holder – award-winning artist
- Polly Morgan – acclaimed British taxidermist
- Richard Ansett – biographical photographer
- Rosie Millard OBE – broadcaster and journalist
- Dr Chris Stephens – Director of the Holburne Museum
- Nicholas Scott – leading Pop Art collector
Why Enter ING Discerning Eye 2025?
ING Discerning Eye 2025 offers a rare blend of competitive prestige and accessibility. With over £13,000 in awards, it ranks among the most rewarding small-scale art events in the UK. Exhibiting at the Mall Galleries connects you to collectors and critics, while the independent selection process ensures your work is judged on its own merits. Plus, the mentoring prize provides invaluable professional guidance.
To explore even more photo challenge prizes and opportunities, visit Deartline’s curated listings for the latest calls.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the ING Discerning Eye 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
- Open to artists born or resident in the UK.
- Only small-scale works are permitted; entries must comply with size restrictions.
- Each of the six selectors chooses independently; there is no committee vote.
- At least 33% of each selector’s exhibition must come from open submissions.
- Shortlisted works must be available for exhibition from 14 to 23 November 2025.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
