The Henley Festival has announced the top three in its new RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize.
The award is part of the festival’s charitable programme, RISE, and aims to support emerging talent in the visual arts.
The inaugural winner of the prize is Raoul Orzabal, who will receive £1,000 for his detailed landscapes and cityscapes inspired by early 20th century modernist paintings and abstraction.
Aquar Altered by Raoul Orzabal (Image: Henley Festival) The two runners-up, Curtis Chan and Susan Kellaway, will each receive £500 for their work.
Mr Chan is recognised for his dream-like compositions filled with nostalgia and contemporary desires, while Ms Kellaway is celebrated for her vibrant and subversive paintings of the female figure.
Curtis Chan was one of two runners-up (Image: Henley Festival) All three artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Audi High RISE Gallery at Henley Festival 2025, which will take place from July 9 to 13.
The RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize aims to highlight and support outstanding visual artists aged 18 and older who are in the early stages of their professional careers or have yet to establish a reputation among art curators, buyers, and critics.
Emma Ellis, head of RISE programme development at Henley Festival, said: “We are delighted to announce the very first winner and runners-up of the RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize.
“The judges were extremely impressed by the standard of the artists’ work, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to support them in their emerging careers.
“The prize is an extremely welcome addition to our RISE programme and we look forward to continue discovering and championing outstanding talent in the creative fields, whether promoting visual arts through the RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize, or celebrating musicians with the Westcoast RISING Star Award.”
And then I’ll have my sandwich by Susan Kellaway (Image: Susan Kellaway)
Table for Three by Susan Kellaway (Image: Henley Festival) The Henley Festival is the UK’s only black-tie music and arts festival, offering a unique experience with music, comedy, cabaret, art galleries, and sculpture installations.
The festival is known for its festival art, featuring a wide range of paintings, prints, sculptures, and drawings.
The RISE programme provides a platform for aspiring professionals in music, visual art, and production, providing them with an opportunity to learn and perform.
Musicians get the chance to perform on the dedicated RISE stage, visual artists are able to exhibit their work in the Audi High RISE gallery, and production students work backstage across the site with some of the leading lighting and sound companies in the industry.