THE organisers of the Scottish Portrait Awards have launched a new nationwide competition to celebrate the best portraits taken with a mobile phone.

The Scottish Arts Trust established the free-to-enter competition with a prize of £500 as part of the organisation’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

The Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Award is open to anyone over the age of 16 living in Scotland.

The top 50 photographs will be featured in a rolling digital display which will travel around with the Scottish Portrait Awards exhibition during its six-month journey around Scotland in 2024/25.

The National: Project Saturn by Kenny GordonProject Saturn by Kenny Gordon (Image: Kenny Gordon)

The top 100 longlisted works will also be featured in an online exhibition.

Colin Heggie will chair the judging panel alongside fellow photographers Ben Douglas, Jane Murray, Robyn Braham and Nina Davidson.

He said: “The best camera most people have is the one in their pocket.

“Everyone with a phone can capture a memorable and meaningful image, what matters is the emotion hidden behind the photo and the stories it tells.

The National: Rosina Jumps by Yvonne KilleanRosina Jumps by Yvonne Killean (Image: Yvonne Killean)

“Free to enter, the exciting new Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Award is an opportunity to get involved – we want portraits from across the country that reflects Scotland today in all its diversity, portraits which tell the stories of our time.

“So put your camera phone on standby and have a great time clicking!”

Entries to take part in the Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Award and the Scottish Portrait Awards 2024 are currently open until May 2.