Genoves: Nominated for the Paul Hamlyn Award in 1999

Sixty sculptors were proposed for the prize, but the final list was whittled down to Ekkehard Altenburger, Benedict Carpenter, Katy Dexter, Ana Genoves Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Marion Kalmus, Richard Trupp and Tom Woolford.

The judging panel included Glynn Williams, Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art and Peter Murray, Director of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The artists have been commissioned to create small scale maquettes of their work which are to go on display in London before the winner is announced.

Past winners of the painting prize include Maggi Hambling, Gary Hume, Prunella Clough and Patrick Caulfield.

Though the Jerwood Painting Prize is held in high regard, critics complain about the impossibility of judging the work of a famous artist with a long career behind them against an exciting newcomer.

Woolford: Is a studio assistant for Anthony Gormley

But the sculpture prize is only open to those under the age of 35 or within 10 years of graduating from art schools, so it tends to consist of relatively unknown or emerging artists.

Marion Kalmus is one of the more established artists, having created commissions for Tate Liverpool and the Royal Festival Hall.

Her permanent outdoor sculpture for the National Botanic Garden of Wales will be opened in 2001.

The youngest nominee, Benedict Carpenter, was born in 1975 but has already completed a public commission in New York State.

The winner will create an outdoor sculpture for the Jerwood Sculpture Park.

Maquettes by those short listed for the 2001 Jerwood Sculpture Prize will be on display at the Jerwood Space in Union Street, London SE1 from 6 November - 2 December 2001.

The prize winning sculptor will be announced on 20 November.