Sophie Hann is a self taught Australian artist although she studied for one semester at the New York Studio School in NYC on a scholarship. Hann received a Bachelor of Art in History and Visual Art from Flinders University. 

With a career spanning two decades, Sophie Hann’s accolades include the Dyason Bequest (AGNSW) and the Ruth Tuck Travelling Scholarship. She has been a finalist in major prizes including the Heysen Prize for Landscape, the Lester Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Brett Whitely Scholarship, Shirley Hannah National Portrait Award, Wollongong Art Prize, Kennedy Prize, Prospect Portrait Prize, Calleen Art Award, Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize, Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize, Fleurieu Prize, John Fries Memorial Prize, the King’s School Art Prize, the Lloyd Rees Prize and the Alice Bale Memorial Award. Hann has received several grants and residencies including the Nancy Fairfax Artist Residency and the BigCi residency.

Hann is interested in human ecology - the relationship between humans and their environment and environmental ethics, which explores the moral relationship between humans and the natural world, including our responsibilities towards the environment and its resources. Animals, people and natural world features strongly in her work.

Awards / Residencies

2026
Finalist, The Lester Prize, WA
Finalist, Colleen Art Award,, NSW
Finalist, Percival Portrait Prize, QLD
Finalist, Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA
Feature Artist, 2026 Loreto Contemporary SpringArt, SA

2025
Finalist, National Emerging Art Prize, NSW
Finalist, The Lester Prize, WA
Winner, Eyewall Foundation Prize - The Lester Prize, WA
Finalist, Kennedy Prize, SA
Hanger’s Choice Award, Kennedy Prize, SA
Finalist, Wollongong Art Prize, NSW
Finalist, Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize, SA
Finalist, Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA
Winner, Summer Small Works Prize, VIC
Finalist, Prospect Portrait Prize, SA
Recipient of the Nancy Fairfax Artist Residency, NSW
Recipient of the BigCi Artist Residency, Bilpin, NSW
Recipient CreateSA Project Grant

2024
Finalist, Shirley Hannah National Portrait Award, NSW
Finalist, Heysen Prize for Landscape, SA
Finalist Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA
Highly Commended, Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA

2023
Finalist, Portia Geach Portrait Prize, NSW
Highly Commended, Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA
Finalist, Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA
Finalist, Prospect Portrait Prize, SA
Catapult Mentorship, Guildhouse mentor for regional artist

2022
Semi Finalist, Doug Moran Portrait Prize, NSW
Winner, Hanger’s Choice Prize, Smallacombe Portrait Prize
Finalist, Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize, SA
Finalist, Smallacombe Portrait Prize, SA

2014
Finalist, Doug Moran Portrait Prize, NSW
Artist in Residence, Cleland Wildlife Park, SA

2013
Awarded Arts SA Professional Development Grant
Selected to paint Celebrity Portrait for Loreto Contemporary Spring Art
Private commissions (Australia & UK) 

2011‍ ‍
Finalist (Top 50), John Fries Memorial Prize, NSW
Awarded Arts SA Professional Development Grant
Artist in Residence, Saint Peter’s College, SA
Artist in Residence, Xavier College, SA

2010
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award, NSW  
Selected, Brunswick Street Small Painting Prize, VIC
Selected, Linden Postcard Prize, Linden Centre for Contemporary Art, VIC  
Awarded Arts SA Professional Development Grant 

2002
Finalist, Steinhoff Scholarship, Fleurieu Biennale, SA

2000
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award, NSW
Finalist, Brett Whitely Scholarship, NSW
Finalist, Heysen Prize for Landscape, SA
Finalist, Fleurieu Prize exhibition, SA
Selected, Salon de Refuse, NSW

1999
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award

1998
Finalist, King’s School Art Prize
Finalist, Lloyd Rees Prize
Finalist, Alice Bale Memorial Award

1996
Winner of the Ruth Tuck Travelling Scholarship
Awarded $5,000 Dyason Bequest, AGNSW