Kildare photographer wins top artistic award

Naas-based photographer Tony G Murray has been awarded the Friends of the RHA annual award 2025 at the prestigious 195th RHA annual exhibition, held in association with law firm McCann FitzGerald. The award was presented during a weekend of celebrations hosted by the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin.

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Two works - Silent Forest 1 and Silent Forest 3 - were selected for inclusion in the exhibition. Silent Forest 1 was chosen as the recipient of the Friends of the RHA Annual Award.

The award winning photograph Silent Forest 1 Credit: Tony G Murray / Murray Imaging Studios

“Having two of my photographs selected for the RHA Annual — from over 4,500 entries — was a thrill in itself. To then learn that one was a recipient of the Friends of the RHA Annual Award is an incredible honour,” said Tony.“It’s especially meaningful to see photography acknowledged in this way, alongside a broad range of contemporary art. I’d like to thank Dr. Abigail O’Brien (President, RHA), Patrick T. Murphy (Director, RHA), the Friends of the RHA selection committee, and the entire RHA team for a weekend I will never forget.”

Tony attended the RHA president’s dinner in the gallery’s main space. He was formally presented with the award by Dr. Abigail O’Brien PRHA, President of the RHA and curator of this year’s exhibition.A previous winner of this award was Kildare artist, Martin Gale RHA in 2014.

The photographs were conservation framed by local framer Niamh Harney (Inniscara Bespoke Framing) using smoked limewood and art glass. Inniscara accommodate Tony’s professional framing work.

Mr Murray, originally from Navan, Co. Meath, is a photographic artist and fine art printer based in Naas, Co. Kildare, his work has previously been exhibited at the RHA.

He is also founder of Murray Imaging Studios, one of Ireland’s foremost specialists in high resolution, colour accurate artwork digitisation.

He is currently digitising the permanent collection of the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny for gallery director, Anna O’Sullivan and collaborates with many of Ireland’s leading artists and private collectors.

The RHA annual exhibition is Ireland’s longest-running open submission art show. First held in 1825, it remains a cornerstone of the Irish visual arts calendar and a vital platform for both emerging and established artists.

The 2025 exhibition received 4,565 entries from 2,584 artists, from which 422 works were selected through open submission. Including contributions from RHA academicians and invited artists, this year’s show presents a total of 561 artworks across disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, print, and architectural models.

The exhibition is open to the public free of charge from until Sunday August 3, 2025.