THIS YEAR’S SHORTLIST of entries to the Hennessy Portrait Prize have been announced – and they’re as stunning as ever.

The winner of the prestigious award will be awarded a commission to produce a portrait for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection and see their work hung in the National Gallery of Ireland.

Last year’s winner, Gerry Davis, went on to produce this portrait of Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin, which can now be viewed in the newly-refurbished gallery.

Here are this year’s candidates.

Kyle Barnes (Southampton)
Listening, oil on canvas

Source: Kyles Barnes

Shane Berkery (Co. Dublin)
Lady and the Cherry Blossoms, oil on canvas

Source: Shane Berkery

Bob Campbell (Co. Dublin)
Cosmic Kitchen, wax, acrylic and paint on plaster

Source: Bob Campbell

Comhghall Casey (Co. Dublin)
Self-Portrait, oil on canvas

Source: Comhghall Casey

Aileen Conroy (Co. Laois)
Aileen Johanna. Self Portrait (mirror reflection), oil on canvas

Source: Aileen Conroy

David Creedon (Co. Cork)
Billy Ramsell with Parnell’s Walking Stick, photograph on paper

Source: David Creedon

Bernice Guckian (Co. Sligo)
Little Dreamer, watercolour and pyrography pen on birch plywood

Source: Roy Hewson

Jacinta Guinan (Co. Mayo)
Natalia, acrylic and oil on canvas

Source: Jacinta Guinan

David Hamilton (Co. Down)
Cormac, acrylic on canvas

Source: David Hamilton

Gordon Harris (Co. Galway)
Kids Canvas, oil on panel

Source: Gordon Harris

Jack Hickey (Co. Cork)
My Time, oil on canvas

Source: Jack Hickey

Myra Jago (Co. Dublin)
Reflection, oil on gesso panel

Source: Myra Jago

Gerard Jefferson-Lewis (Stirling), Bortu Kavalor (20)
Stirling, United Kingdom, March 2017, photograph

Source: Gerard Jefferson-Lewis

Vera Klute (Co. Dublin)
Self-Portrait, video animation

Source: Vera Klute

Ivan Matancevic (Co. Dublin),
Natasa, oil on canvas

Source: Ivan Matancevic

Eilish McCann (Co. Wexford),
My son, feeding on my breast, monoprint on paper

Source: Eilish McCann

Eoghan McGrath (Co. Kilkenny)
After Adriaen Thomasz Key, oil on board

Source: Eoghan McGrath

Sean McGuill (Co. Louth)
Self Portrait, graphite on paper

Source: Sean McGuill

Cian McLoughlin (Co. Dublin)
Tronie (Woman Leaning Forward), oil on board

Source: Cian McLoughlin

Tom O’Dea (Co. Dublin),
Self-Portrait decoded genetic information comprised of complete Single Nucleotide pair differences from the reference human genome on thermal printed paper

Source: Tom O’Dea

Kenneth O’Halloran (Co. Dublin)
Winnie Lawrence, photograph on paper

Source: Kenneth O’Halloran

Nicholas Benedict Robinson (Co. Wicklow)
Drishcoora -Maeve and Keith Robinson, oil on birchwood

Source: Nicholas Benedict Robinson

Benita Stoney (Co. Mayo)
Tommy, egg tempera on gesso panel

Source: Benita Stoney

Zane Sutra (Co. Wexford)
Dun Laoghaire Fox, oil on canvas

Source: Zane Sutra

Read: 'My old teammates will be slagging me on WhatsApp': Portrait of Henry Shefflin unveiled >

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More