The National Portrait Gallery London in conjunction with BP have announced their shortlist for the annual BP Portrait Award 2015. Among the 55 artists from over 2700 entries from 92 countries worldwide, is Sol Art Gallery artist Gavan McCullough. The BP Award is one of the most prestigious art competitions for contemporary art and the most important portrait prize in the world, with 1st prize being over €40,000 and a total prize fund of over €82,000. It will run at the National Portrait Gallery in London from 18 June - 20 September 2015. The exhibition will then go on tour to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh (10 October – 28 February, 2016) and the Ulster Museum, Belfast (March – June, 2016). McCullough's entry, entitled This is a meditative self-portrait executed in oil on canvas. Born in Ireland in 1972 McCullough studied Aeronautical Engineering in Belfast and later moved abroad, having lived for two years in Italy and five years in Berlin. He spent several years as a sculptor working in bronze and marble but since his move back to Co. Meath in 2009 has been concentrating on painting. While having worked in a semi-abstract style in the past, McCullough's work is currently figurative, concentrating mainly on landscapes but also portrait and figure work when possible. He is currently working on a series of portraits of individuals seeking asylum in Ireland. The good news follows on his success of being shortlisted for the Hennessy prize shown the National Gallery Ireland last year.