Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Competition 2025 – Exhibition Now Open

We are delighted to announce that the Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Competition 2025 exhibition is now open! Running from 11th October – 22nd November 2025, this year’s exhibition showcases the very best in traditional and contemporary printmaking from across the UK and around the world.

Visit the Gallery:
Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery, Ironbridge, Shropshire
Opening Hours:

• Tuesday–Friday: 10am – 5pm

• Saturday: 10am – 4pm
  Admission: Free | Free Parking

About the Competition

The Ironbridge Fine Arts Printmaking Competition celebrates creativity, technical skill, and innovation in contemporary printmaking. Open to both UK and international artists, the 2025 competition offered over £9,000 in prizes, including Gunning Etching Presses for UK and international winners.

Each submission is carefully reviewed by our in-house judging panel, ensuring that the exhibition showcases a diverse range of techniques, styles, and artistic voices. From traditional etching and mezzotint to monoprints, photo-etching, and experimental approaches, this year’s entries demonstrate the vibrancy and innovation of printmaking today.

2025 Prize Winners

We are proud to celebrate our outstanding winners:

UK Winner – Sumi Perera

• Work: ‘MC Escher’s Handkerchief 2’

• Medium: Tetra Pak – incised and peeled cardboard
  Sumi’s work explores folded geometric forms and layered textures, creating a playful yet precise illusion of three-dimensionality.

International Winner – Marco Poma

• Work: ‘Danza Frenetica’

• Medium: Zink Etching
  Marco’s dynamic print captures movement, transformation, and the flow of natural forces in an expressive, energetic composition.

Special Prizes

• Recognising innovation, skill, and storytelling across the exhibition

• Student awards include professional framing and exhibition placement

For full details on all prize winners, visit our Competition Winners Page.

Meet the Judges

Our expert panel ensures that the competition is judged with authority and insight:

• Dave Gunning BA (Hons) – Master Printmaker & Designer of Gunning Etching Presses

• Jenny Gunning BA (Hons) ARBSA – Master Printmaker, Author & Co-Owner of Ironbridge Fine Arts

• Brendan Flynn – Curator and Lecturer in Fine Art

Guest judges bring additional perspectives, reflecting the latest trends and developments in contemporary printmaking.

Explore the Exhibition

Whether you are a collector, fellow artist, or simply a lover of print, the exhibition is a unique opportunity to:

• See award-winning prints in person

• Discover new techniques and artistic approaches

• Purchase original prints and support talented printmakers

You can also explore the Virtual Exhibition & Collect to view works online, learn more about the artists, and connect with available prints.

Plan Your Visit

Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery

• Dates: 11th October – 22nd November 2025

• Location: Ironbridge, Shropshire

• Hours: Tuesday–Friday 10am–5pm | Saturday 10am–4pm

• Admission: Free

• Parking: Free

• Places to Stay & Eat in Ironbridge

  Planning a visit? Make the most of your trip to Ironbridge with our helpful guide to local accommodation and dining options. Discover charming hotels, cosy B&Bs, and excellent restaurants — all just a short walk from Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery. View Full Guide Here

We look forward to welcoming you to the gallery to celebrate the incredible talent of our printmakers.

Support and Sponsors

We are grateful to our generous sponsors, whose support helps us reward exceptional printmaking and share it with audiences both in the gallery and online. Find out more about our Sponsors and Awards.

Discover, Enjoy, Collect – and Celebrate Contemporary Printmaking with Ironbridge Fine Arts!