Home   News   Article

Prestigious art award within reach for celebrated Highland artist Frank To after the UHI Inverness art lecturer’s work is shortlisted in Royal Birmingham Society of Artists National Drawing Prize





Artist Frank To.
Artist Frank To.

Award winning Highland artist Frank To has been shortlisted for another top national honour.

The artist, who is also an art lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands, is a finalist for the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists National Drawing Prize.

He will be representing the best of Scottish contemporary art as he is one of the few artists from Scotland to be shortlisted for the prize this year.

Frank To’s unique gunpowder technique has garnered him international recognition as a leading contemporary artist amongst art critics and high profile collectors alike - including actor Sir Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame), the Northern Ireland Executive, Edinburgh Castle and University of Cambridge.

In recent years he has also exhibited alongside some of the greats of the international art scene, including Banksy, Jimmy Choo and Antony Gormley.

Commenting on being short-listed, he said: “It is a honour to be shortlisted in this national royal drawing art prize. The piece that got shortlisted into the RBSA Art Drawing Prize is a Bernese Mountain dog running. I think this piece is a testimonial of me pushing my limits in my drawing skills.

One of Frank To's works, I Want to Break Free.
One of Frank To's works, I Want to Break Free.

“Also to be short-listed perhaps as the only Scottish artist for the prize is humbling. For me, it’s a way to show both nationally and internationally how Scottish contemporary drawing is still well regarded. I want to contribute to this in any way possible as one of the most prolific leading draughtsmen in Scotland.”

The RBSA Drawing Prize is a celebration of work by artists whose work is rooted in drawing.

Following the success of the 2023 Drawing Prize, the 2025 exhibition showcases an enormous variety of drawing practices and artworks, both in 2D and 3D.

As a technique prize, the entries came from artists working in all styles and media; the only restriction being that the technique used must be drawing.

This is only the second RBSA Drawing Prize and features a diverse range of entries and techniques, with unconventional and highly contemporary works sitting next to more traditional pieces.

Frank To’s selected piece ‘I Want to Break Free’ will go on show in the RBSA Drawing Prize Exhibition at RBSA Gallery, 4 Brook Street, Birmingham, from Friday, May 30 to Saturday, June 28.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More