EDINBURGH.- The Scottish Arts Trust announced John Clark Motor Group as headline sponsor of the Scottish Portrait Awards in Fine Art 2026.

The new sponsorship coincides with a landmark move that will see the awards hosted at the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait, Edinburgh for the first time from 28 November 2026 – 11 April 2027. Entries are now open for the award – the winner will take home £5,000 plus a National Galleries of Scotland portrait commission.

As well as supporting the Scottish Portrait Awards in Fine Art, John Clark Motor Group’s new multi-year partnership with the Scottish Arts Trust will include a series of bespoke spotlight exhibitions in several of their showrooms across Scotland, giving potential car buyers an opportunity to browse and also buy work by some of Scotland’s most exciting artists.

Of the sponsorship, Sara Lagerman, Divisional Marketing Consultant says, “John Clark Motor Group has a long and proud history of working with the communities that we operate in and we understand the importance of giving back. This includes supporting promising talent, in this case, the creativity and innovation of fine artists from across Scotland who are excelling in their field.”

Gordon Mitchell, RSW, RSA, RGI, Director and Chair of the Fine Art judging panel says, “This partnership is founded on the shared commitment towards offering new ways to access, understand and experience art. The multi-cycle, multi-faceted sponsorship with John Clark Motor Group aligns with our values, and cultivates a space for dialogue – I’m excited to see what we can deliver for the arts in Scotland with this new support.”

Organised by the Scottish Arts Trust, the Scottish Portrait Awards is Scotland’s biggest awards for portraiture. Open to anyone over 16 years, born, living or studying in Scotland, regardless of experience, the Scottish Portrait Awards has quickly established itself as a barometer of contemporary Scottish art practice, giving visibility to a mix of well-established artists as well as newcomers.

Up to 120 works will be selected for the fine art and photography exhibitions. The exhibition will also include 60 works selected from the free-to-enter Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Award.

Since its inception in 2017, the Scottish Portrait Awards has discovered and recognised almost 500 incredible artists. Many of the artists have continued to advance their careers with exhibitions and commissions. Previous shortlisted fine artists include Calum Stevenson who became the youngest and first ever Scottish winner of Sky Portrait Artist of the Year in 2021 and who returns as a fine art judge, Helen Wilson RSW RGI PAI and Graeme Wilcox.

The John Clark Motor Group is the headline sponsor for the Scottish Portrait Awards in Fine Art. MPB continues its long term support as headline sponsor for the Scottish Portrait Awards in Photography.