Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition 2026
A call for creators of 2D Art, Prints and Applied Art (3D Work). Your chance to participate in the third Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition
Monday August 17 – Monday August 31 2026
Offering 14 prizes from a prize fund of over £2,500.
Cowbridge a historic town, in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales is the setting
for our third biennial Open Art Exhibition. Cowbridge is already renowned for its famous
Music Festival and Food and Drink Festival – now the Cowbridge community vision is
extending to the world of art and design. We welcome entries in two categories, with
selected entrants exhibited in the Old Hall, Cowbridge, CF71 7AH.
Prizes
| 2D ART, PRINT, DRAWING & DIGITAL First Prize £500 | 3D & APPLIED ART First Prize £200 |
| Second Prize £350 | Second Prize £150 |
| Third Prize £250 | Third Prize £100 |
| Highly Commended 9 X £100 |
VISITORS PRIZE £100
TOTAL PRIZE FUND £2,550
Entrant Information
Information for Entry
| ENTRIES OPEN – Tuesday April 7 CLOSE – Sunday July 12 | CLICK HERE to access entry page. As a reference, use name and number of entries. Eg. JSmith3/A.Evans1) To be sent to cowbridgeopenart@gmail.com or by post to – Cowbridge Open Art, 1 Castle Precinct, Llandough, Cowbridge CF71 7LX |
| Entry fees | 1 / 2 / 3 works £12 / £18/ £22 respectively |
| Methods of Payment | 1. by Bank Transfer to – Cowbridge Open Art, Sort code 30 – 99 – 50 Account no. 47177960 2. Cheque by post – to address listed above. |
| Conditions | All artists must be age 18 or over. All work must be for sale and are subject to a 25% commission. Entry fees are non returnable and do not guarantee acceptance of work into the exhibition. Acceptance is by the discretion of the judges. The exhibition will be stewarded at all times, there are two security cameras in the main gallery, but all work is submitted at the artists’ own risk. |
| Notifications of acceptance | From 22 July |
| Submission of accepted work | All successful work must be delivered to the Old Hall, High Street, Cowbridge Sunday Aug 9 – between 10 – 4pm Monday Aug 10 – between 10 – 4pm |
| Official Opening | Sunday August 16 – 1.30- 4pm |
| Exhibition Dates | Monday August 17 – Monday August 31 Opening Hours 9.30am to 5pm) |
| Location | The Old Hall, High Street, Cowbridge, CF71 7AH |
| Categories | 2D Art/Print & Digital – 3D & Applied Art |
| Prize Fund | £2,550 |
Successful entrants will be notified asap after July 22 and the winners notified before the Opening event on Sunday, August 16 2026
Judges
Mr Roger Haigh
Roger Haigh is an artist and designer working in Cardiff. He graduated from Cardiff College of Art and following a teaching qualification from London University, taught in several schools in the Cardiff area before becoming Head of the Department of Art and Design at Cardiff High School. As well as teaching the basic discipline of painting, drawing and three dimensional studies, he also taught graphic design, photography, textiles and art history.
For twelve years he has been a senior examiner/moderator for A level Art and Design and has been a member of the Board of Studies for Welsh Art Colleges foundation courses. Roger has been a regular visiting lecturer and competition judge at the South Wales Art Society and Cowbridge Art Society and undertakes speaking engagements for art organisations in the South Wales area.
Jan Pennell
Jan Pennell’s career in the art world took off after she graduated with a degree in Art and Aesthetics and a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education as a mature student. Seizing the opportunity for change she worked at Model House Craft & Design Centre for 4 years, went on to run the art gallery at Rhondda Heritage Park for 14 years before opening a gallery in Caerphilly which she ran for 10 years until her retirement in 2021. She also taught art for adult education for over 25 years.
As former owner of Y Galeri Caerffili, Jan became increasingly fascinated with ceramics so in her retirement she developed this new found interest. Today she makes handmade ceramics inspired by Wales with eight stockists dotted across Wales including Oriel Mon Gallery & Museum in Llangefni, Llandaff Cathedral & next month at Blaenafon World Heritage Site.
A big thank you to our sponsors!
With thanks to the sponsors of Cowbridge Open Art 2026!
COWBRIDGE ARTS GROUP
Cowbridge Open Art Exhibition 