Donegal-based artist Neil-Jack Hamilton shortlisted for AIB Portrait Prize

Donegal-based Neil-Jack Hamilton has been named among the 26 artists shortlisted for the AIB Portrait Prize with his piece in oil on canvas titled Jennifer McShane.

From hundreds of entries, the nominations for this year’s AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize have been announced by the National Gallery of Ireland.

Neil was born in County Down and comes from a family of artists. After graduating in Fine Art from the University of Ulster and having his work exhibited in numerous local exhibitions, he moved to Spain where he became involved in live performance drawing.

In 2018, Neil moved back to Ireland and began to specialise in oil portraiture. He was selected to be on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2022. Neil is regularly commissioned for portraits and also teaches life drawing in Donegal.

The AIB Portrait Prize shortlist includes painting, drawing, sculpture, video and photography demonstrating the breadth of contemporary Irish art. The winner of the AIB Portrait Prize will receive a cash prize of €15,000 and will be commissioned to create a work for the national portrait collection, for which they will be awarded a further €5,000.

Two additional awards of €1,500 will be given to highly commended works. Judges for the AIB Portrait Prize are Hughie O’Donoghue, artist, painter and writer. Emer McGarry, Director of The Model, Sligo and Simon O’Connor, Director of the Museum of Literature Ireland.

Exhibitions of the shortlisted works in both competitions run at the National Gallery of Ireland from November 9 to March 9. The winners of the prizes will be announced at a ceremony held in the National Gallery of Ireland on November 27.