Formerly known as the John Player Award, the BP Portrait Award has, since its creation in 1980, become the most prestigious portrait competition of its kind in the world. BP succeeded tobacco manufacturer John Player as the title sponsor of the portrait award in 1990 as the tide turned on tobacco funding, and BP has had a representative on the panel since 1997. His work can also be found in many notable institutional and private collections. Held at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK, the annual portraiture competition is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious in the contemporary art world and is now in its 40th year (formerly known as the John Player Portrait Award). 1987: National Portrait Gallery, John Player Portrait Award Exhibition. Back in 1983, she won Second Prize (when it was called the John Player Award) at the Portrait Awards. Daphne Todd has the unusual distinction of having been awarded First Prize at the 2010 BP Portrait Awards, reputedly the most important portrait prize in the world. Her work is held in numerous collections around the UK which includes the prestigious National Portrait Gallery. Winner of the prestigious John Player Award (now BP Portrait Award), Michael has three portrait paintings and one pencil drawing in the National Portrait Gallery (London) collection. I no longer know the purpose of the annual BP Portrait Award. It is the successor to the John Player Portrait Award. Awards1982 – Finalist for the John Player Portrait award,National Portrait Gallery London.1986 -Prize winner at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. This year’s BP Portrait Award exhibition will run at the gallery from 26 June to 21 September 2014. 1984: Institute of Education, London WC1. This happened while the dynamics of the art world changed beyond recognition transforming its products, since the 90s, into costly commodities and later, after the new… Paula MacArthur was the First Prize Winner in the John Player Portrait Award and was also a Prize winner in the John Moores Painting Prize. BP has sponsored the Portrait Award for 30 years, taking over from the tobacco giant John Player. BP succeeded tobacco manufacturer John Player as the title sponsor of the portrait award in 1990 as the tide turned on tobacco funding, and BP has had a representative on the panel since 1997. Other Art Projects. The closing date for artists to enter their portraits to the competition is 3 February 2014.