The crew 2026:
Prize's Jury Panel
The Jury of the 9th edition of the Biennial International Prize "Fabriano Watercolour 2026", established on 2010 by the City of Fabriano - UNESCO Creative City,
is served by 15 members in addition to the Chairman Valentina Verlato.
It represents an outstanding crew with some of the best watercolour Artists worldwide.
​Each of them will pick carefully four Artists to invite as participants (in total 60) at the Biennial International Contest "Fabriano Watercolour 2026".
Chairman of the Jury
Valentina Verlato was born in Valdagno (Vicenza) in 1964. She studied Flemish and Dutch Art History and graduated Doctor in Literature, in the University of Padova. She’s been painting watercolour since 1987, creating cartoons and strips and obtaining awards in the International Graphic Humorist Competition UMORISTI a MAROSTICA.
Juror of the last editions of the Biennial International Prize “Marche d’Acqua” Fabriano Watercolour, during last years she’s been featured in international books and magazines on watercolour technique.
She has taught classes and workshops in Italy and abroad. At present she works and teaches in her own atelier in Isola Vicentina and runs classes at the ‘Accademia dell’Acquerello’, in Padua.
Jury Member 2026
1st Prize Winner FW2022
Jury Member
since FW2016
Jury Member since FW2020
Jury Member 2026
new entry
Former Chairman 2020 and Jury Member 2026 and of previous editions
He was elected to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours (1995) and in 2012 the Royal Watercolour Society and recognized as an Associate of the International Guild of Realism USA.
Jury Member 2026
1st Prize Winner FW2018
Watercolor Artist, Realist, Magic Realist. Self Taught.
Living and working in Sofia, Bulgaria. Discovered watercolour as a means of expression.
1975 - Born in the town of Bansko, Bulgaria
Jury Member since FW2024
1st Prize Winner FW2020
Jury Member 2026
new entry
Jury Member since FW2018
Jury Member since FW2020
Jury Member since FW2020
Jury Member since FW2018
Former Chairman 2024
Jury Member 2026 and of previous editions
1°Prize Winner FW2016
She studied Flemish and Dutch Art History studies and graduated Doctor in Literature at Padua University.
She’s been painting watercolour since 1987 and is an elected board member of Venetian Watercolor Association
Former Chairman 2014
Jury Member 2026 and of previous editions 1°Prize Winner FW2012
Jury Member FW2016 and FW2026
Industrial and Graphic designer, marketing and communications consultant, creative.
She founded and organised the Fabriano InAcquarello convention that she directs with a focus on international connections, mutual and technical sharing
Giorgio Pellegrini
Prize's Curator
«As former Director of the Fabriano's Paper and Watermark Museum and Curator, my view of the Biennial International Prize "Fabriano Watercolour", now in its ninth edition, is of a kind of creative partnership between high quality handmade papers and the very top selection of international Artists painting in watercolour.»