Picture preview: BP Portrait Award 2012

The winner of this year's BP Portrait Award will be announced tonight, ahead of the annual exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery which showcases some of the finest portrait painters working today.

The exhibition will include 55 portraits selected from 2,187 entries from artists working in 74 different countries.

A winner will be revealed tonight from the four shortlisted artists: Aleah Chapin for Auntie; Alan Coulson for Richie Culver; Ignacio Estudillo for El abuelo (Agustín Estudillo) and Jamie Routley for Tony Lewis.

The Portrait Award is now in its 33 year at the National Portrait Gallery and 23 year of sponsorship by BP.

Click here or on "View Gallery" for a picture preview of some of the artworks