Online: 2025

It’s time for MPO: Online 2025! Our annual celebration of everything you’ve worked on over the last year and are most proud of. Whilst ostensibly a competition, the MPO Online is also about sharing and connecting as part of the amazing global miniature painting community.

Entry

The Miniature Painting Open: Online 2025 is entered through the online entry system: https://entry.miniaturepaintingopen.co.uk/

Here you can enter, upload your images and administrate all your entries.

Award System

MPO makes use of the Open Format Award System.

Recognition is not constrained to a traditional framework of just a single Gold, Silver, and Bronze award. Instead, it allows for the presentation of as many awards at each level as deemed necessary. This year we also use Commended Awards for all categories.

In addition to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, there are also the following individual awards:

  • Creativity Award – Considering creativity as much as painting
  • Grimdark Award – Our favourite Grimdark style piece
  • Best Base Award – Best Base!

Levels

  • Beginner: For people just starting out on their miniature painting journey but keen to share their work.
  • Standard: Geared towards artists with skills ranging from everyday to intermediate, welcoming participants of all backgrounds.
  • Master: Tailored to cater to seasoned painters who have amassed an impressive collection of awards and accolades.

You must choose the same level for all your entries; you cannot have entries in both levels.

Only commended awards will be given for Beginner.

Categories

You may enter once per category.

  • Single Figure – Figures up to and including 54mm in scale and 80mm in total height (including reasonable mounts).
  • Unit – 2 or more figures, any scale.
  • Vehicle or Warmachine – Any scale.
  • Monster – Any scale.
  • Large Scale and Bust – Figures larger than 54mm; busts of any scale.
  • Sculpture – Fully scratch-built and unpainted figures; digital sculpts allowed if physically printed.
  • Orkvember – Special 2025 category themed around all things orky.
  • Diorama – Large displays with a theme or narrative.

Scale notes and category guidance are provided on the official event pages.

Judges

Standard Level

Andy Wardle is one of the most decorated modern miniature painters around and the perfect head judge for the MPO.

Henry Steele is known for his calm, clear, and insightful approach to teaching miniature painting and brings a keen eye for unique, bold styles.

Master Level

Erik Swinson is one of the most admired current competition painters in the world and a much respected painting tutor and judge.

Will Brightly is a rising star in the miniature painting world, going from strength to strength and consistently producing exceptional work. Known for his calm, gentle approach as a tutor, he makes learning both approachable and enjoyable. And of course, there’s no denying the quality of the meme reels either.

There is a deliberate international feel to the judging panel. We want the MPO: Online to bring together painters from all over the world.