The Guthrie Award is awarded annually with few exceptions to at most two recipients by the

Royal Scottish Academy The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is the country’s national academy of art. It promotes contemporary Scottish art. The Academy was founded in 1826 by eleven artists meeting in Edinburgh. Originally named the Scottish Academy, it became the ...

and is one of the most prestigious art awards in Scotland. It is named after the artist James Guthrie.

Foundation of award

The award was founded in 1920. It was to commemorate the presidency of the

by James Guthrie. It is awarded for the most outstanding work adjudged in the

exhibition of the year to artists under the age of 35 (although the joint winner of the first award David Macbeth Sutherland was around 37 in 1920).

Scottish-based

It is usual for the award to go to a painting and its artist, but occasionally sculptures and sculptors have also won. In 2021 the award was won by the artist and film-maker Emily Beaney for an experimental documentary. The award is open to any nationality, but the exhibition participants must be based and active in Scotland. The 1994 winner Joe Fan was originally from Hong Kong; the 2008 winner Trine Pedersen was originally from Denmark; the 2023 winner Daniel Nelis is originally from Ireland.

Members and non-members of the RSA

The under 35 age requirement and the sheer number of exhibits - now around 600 annually - mean that the Guthrie Award is difficult to win more than once; however this has been done: by Heather Ross in 2006 and 2007; and by Julie-Ann Simpson in 2014 and 2019. Non-members of the RSA can apply to be in the Open exhibition, although around only a couple of hundred non-member exhibits make it through annually from the thousands of applications received, as around 400 exhibits are reserved for members.

Prize monies and medals

Usually the award is awarded singularly, but on occasion the award has gone to joint winners. The award, originally made by an anonymous donor but in 1930 revealed to be the late (17th) Earl of Moray, who gave a monetary value on the capital endowment of £1000 as well as the honour of the award. Nowadays a medal is also presented. In its early years, the monetary award was £50. Today the award monies stand at £750. If the award is shared, the prize monies are also shared.

List of Guthrie Award winners

The List of Guthrie Award winners is a list of artists who have won the award.

References

{{Reflist, 2 Awards established in 1920 Early career awards Contemporary art awards British contemporary art 1920 in art 1920 establishments in the United Kingdom Annual events in the United Kingdom Awards with age limits British visual arts awards Guthrie Award