The popularity of my “Artists with their Portraits” post every year – in
relation to the Portrait Award Exhibition – is a great incentive to get as
many pics as I can.
What my photographs help you to do – which
the online gallery
does NOT – is to see the size of the painting relative to the artist who
painted it.
Inevitably, I don’t manage to capture every artist. Although I’ve got most….
(Mainly, I think,
because very many of the artists had not yet realised that the badge they get
give to wear which says “artist” on it has a PURPOSE! ie. it enables
all the journalists to recognise all those who have painted a portrait in the
exhibition – so you can ask for a photo!)
At least this Press Preview morning was limited to the artists and their
sitters and the press. Which was a HUGE improvement on past years where all
the “hangers on” came along as well and well and truly got in the way.
So here are all the portraits of Artists with their Portraits.
WARNING: This is
A MAMMOTH POST and not a quick read. You will need sustenance to get to the
end!
It provides:
- my photo of the artist with their painting
- LINKS for those who might wish to view/follow their work:
-
website links are embedded in the artist’s name – followed by their
Instagram site -
followed by text in quotes that has been written by somebody from
information supplied by the artists
but the author has included a few conclusions of their own and certainly
has not understood all the words they used! See if you can work out which
one I mean.
The answer will be on Facebook in a few days - Summary of education and appearances in exhibitions etc.
The latter might give some insight to aspiring artists as to the level of education and experience of most artists who are selected. That said, some are self taught and for at least one artist, this is their first exhibition!
Last year I organised my photos and associated artists in groups by country they
live in.
- Self Portraits
- Portraits of Parents and Children
- Portraits of Women
- Portraits of Men
- Portraits of Groups
The prizewinners come at the end of their relevant group.
Hopefully this will provide some insight into the very different ways people portray people who are “similar”.
Self Portraits
I’m going to start with a couple of my favourites. The first is
complex and needs three images! The second has a story behind it.
Shinji Ihara (Japan)
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Light and Shadow (2025) By Shinji Ihara Oil on canvas (his self portrait appears in the shadow at the top – and….) |
Shinji Ihara was in last year’s Portrait Award with an absolutely
stunning painting. He’s returned this year with another one.
He’s getting a special spot in this post because I think I’m going to
be seeing him again (and again!).
-
His paintings are always about stories and are rather like a
puzzle and get more and more interesting as you study them. His
colouration and tonal control are also amazing!
-
Last year he produced an an immaculate painting in terms of both
story and the quality of the painting – where the focal point was
a white cat which had just died.
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| His partner at the bottom of the stairs, holding a mirror |
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The self portrait of Shinji taking a photo in the mirror in the hands of his partner |
In Japanese artist Shinji Ihara’s portrait of his partner, the
complex perspective places the viewer at the centre of a
dizzying relay between artist and sitter. Inspired by Jan van
Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) and created with a
similarly meticulous and highly sophisticated
technique, the painting is part of a long art historical
tradition of using mirrors to examine spatial and human
relationships.
About
Shinji Ihara
(Instagram)
-
Born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan in 1987; he currently
lives in Hiroshima Prefecture. - Education 2010 – BFA in Oil Painting of Hiroshima City University;
-
2012 – MFA in Oil Painting Materials and Techniques, Tokyo
University of the Art -
a close association with the
Drawing Lab at Hiroshima
has led to a number of opportunities - Exhibitions:
-
a number of solo exhibitions in Tokyo (with
Ken Nakahashi) and -
Since 2013, has has participated in a number of group
exhibitions each year – including major group exhibitions in
Asia and Europe. -
Ihara was also previously selected for the Portrait Award at the National
Portrait Gallery in 2024.
Pippa Hale-Lynch (UK)
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The Echo – Self-Portrait (2024) by Pippa Oil on panel |
This self-portrait has the quality of a doubly exposed photograph,
or one that has slipped and smudged in the process of development.
Hale- Lynch presents a distorted and ghostly image, expressing a
fluid and dynamic artistic identity. Akin to much of Hale-Lynch’s
work, this painting explores themes of solitude and grief stemming
from the loss of her mother. The rendering of movement and visual
obscurity reflects ‘the ephemerality of the human experience’.
About
Pippa Hale-Lynch
(Instagram)
-
b. 1992, she is a practicing architect and a contemporary figurative
artist based in the UK. -
She uses techniques learnt from training in 19th-century
representational drawing and over 12 years of practice. She creates
paintings using oils with multiple transparent glazes, scumbling
layers of paint and detailed brushwork. -
She exhibits in various group exhibitions – but I’m very surprised
she’s not been snapped up by a gallery. - Her work has been seen in the annual exhibitions of:
- the Royal Society of Oil Painters, 2023 and
- Bath Society of Artists, 2023.
-
She was a finalist in the 17th International Art Renewal Center
Salon, 2024 and Winner of The InsideArt Award and Figurative
Category Semi-Finalist -
She was awarded second place in the International Boynes Emerging
Artist Award, 2021.
she should very definitely apply for the Portrait Award Exhibition
– and
highlighted her in my review of the exhibition.
Some of you may remember this painting (below). See what I
mean?
My strong feeling is she will be back again – maybe with a bigger
portrait next time?
Still hasn’t sunk in that I will be seeing my own work hung at the
National Portrait Gallery 🤯 something I’ve been working towards
over 10 years and so delighted that it’s actually happening!
Comhghall Casey (Ireland)
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Self-portrait (2024) By Comhghall Casey Oil on canvas |
This self-portrait presents a jarring perception of physical proximity
to the sitter, and exhibits a pronounced tactility within each texture
– the weave of the hat, the hairs of the beard and the skin under the
eyes. This painting by the Irish artist Comhghall Casey is part of an
ongoing series that aims to record the physical and mental process of
aging while also documenting his changing technique and style. Created
over a period of months, Casey uses a mirror and direct observation to
capture his portrait from life.
About
Comhghall Casey ARUA
(b.1976)
Portrait Award left – given most of the rest have won the award and can no
longer enter. He neglects to mention he actually paints still life and typically
only paints one portrait a year – his own self portrait (which is typically small) of which there are now quite a few. At
some point in the future, a gallery is going to wake up to the exhibition
opportunity this presents.
He was a young man when we first met.
We won’t speak about the reason he’s now wearing a hat! 😉
-
born in Co. Donegal in 1976. His family then moved from Ramelton in
Co.Donegal to Omagh in Co. Tyrone in 1979. - Comhghall is pronounced as “Cole” as in Porter.
- In 2000 he moved to Dublin where he has since been living and working.
-
completed a BA (Hons) in Fine Art (Painting) at Belfast College of
Art. - In 2017 he was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Ulster Academy.
- He has exhibited in
- six solo shows at Solomon Fine Art, Dublin
- and in group exhibitions including
- Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions (2011-2013, 2016, 2019, 2020),
-
the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin (1999,
2001-2024) and -
the Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in 2002, 2013,
2015, 2024. -
he was selected for the 2019 Zurich Portrait Prize shortlist for an
exhibition run by the National Gallery of Ireland
Next portrait to the right is by…..
Archie Franks
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Self-Portrait in my Andy Warhol Skull T-shirt (2024) By Archie Oil on canvas |
The thickly applied paint combines with the intense contrast between
the clothing and background to provide a compelling formal
compositional structure for this self-portrait. Inspired by Frans
Hals’s Young Man holding a Skull (Vanitas) (1626–8), the artist
creates a contemporary instance of the traditional iconography of
memento mori: a reminder of the audience’s mortality; the Andy Warhol
t-shirt continuing the artist’s fascination with pop culture and the
gothic.
About Archie Franks (b.1986)
-
gained a BA (Hons) degree at the City and Guilds of London Art
School - followed by a post-graduate diploma at the Royal Academy Schools.
-
His work has been seen in numerous group and solo exhibitions
including - the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2011,
- Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2013-14 and the
- Lynn Painter Stainers Prize 2018.
Rachit Khandelwal (India / Scotland)
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The Sitter – Self-Portrait (2024) By Rachit Oil on canvas |
A curious emerald green pervades every part of this unique
self-portrait. Emerging from under the sitter’s slightly unkempt
hair, and obscuring our view of his wide staring eyes, the
colour is inescapable. Currently a student at Glasgow School of
Art, Indian artist Rachit Khandelwal has presented a version of
himself both anxious and introspective, ‘a state of mind that I
often find myself in’, he writes. The strength of colour works
at odds with the quietness of Khandelwal’s pose.
Viridian.
About
Rachit Khandelwal (Instagram)
-
b.2004 born in India
-
Currently living in Glasgow and studying at the Glasgow
School of Art for a BA (Hons) degree in painting and
printmaking.
-
This is the first time his work has been exhibited beyond his
school career.
Xu Yang (China / London)
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Tangled Waves: Leda and the Swan with Tang Dynasty Style Make-up (2024) by Xu Yang oil on linen |
This large, dramatic painting resists easy viewing through the
depth of the black tones and its sharp contrast with the
mask-like, porcelain face. Chinese artist Xu Yang achieves
such depth within her black paint through a mix of traditional
pigments, such as ultramarine and madder. A product of
cross-cultural influence, this recreation of the Greek myth of
‘Leda and the Swan’ visually connects the two protagonists
through echoing the Tang Dynasty court-style red lips of Leda
and the beak of the black swan. Using herself as a model, the
artist aims to raise important questions about diversity and
gender.
About Xu Yang (Instagram) (b.1996)
-
born Shandong in China in 1996
-
now lives and works in London
-
undertook a BA (Hons) degree in fine art painting at
Wimbledon College of Arts (2015-18) and then an MA in painting at the Royal College of Art (2020)
Her work is deeply rooted in an excavation of history, drawing
on influences from the Rococo era, mythology, and her own
Chinese heritage.
-
Her work has been seen in
-
solo exhibitions in London including a
commission for Tate Collective for LGBTQ History Month 2023
and in
-
numerous group exhibitions in London, New York and Hong
Kong.
I rather think she also enjoys dressing up too…..
Moira Cameron – First Prizewinner (New York / UK)
Judges Comments on First Prize
This portrait grabbed the judges’ attention with its bold,
non-naturalistic treatment of the figure combined with vivid
colour and use of pattern. The technique has an energy, vitality
and humour that contrasts with the introspective pose and
expression of the subject, creating a compelling tension.
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First Prize A Life Lived (2024) By Moira Cameron Oil on canvas, |
Moira Cameron’s self-portrait marks a return to her
independent artistic career, and her own solo exhibitions described by Cameron as ‘a
reinvention’. The portrait is an evolution of a self-
portrait made at art college. Cameron says: ‘The lines
on my face, the subtle shadows, tell a story of time
passing, of laughter and worry, of a life fully
experienced.’
About Moira Cameron
Instagram
- b.1962 in London to a family of artists
-
BA degree in fine art painting at Ravensbourne College of
Art
-
followed by an MA in fine art at Chelsea College of
Art.
-
She relocated to New York with her husband, Pop artist
David Spiller, where she created text and graffiti works.
The couple returned to the UK and Cameron paused her own
career to support Spiller until his death in
2018.
-
Cameron then worked in collaboration with her son,
Xavier, as Spiller + Cameron producing mixed media
collages that were included in numerous group and solo
exhibitions in the UK and USA.
-
she is now returning to make artwork on her own account
and currently has
an exhibition at the Long Sharp Gallery
Portraits of Parents and Children
There’s a requirement to work from life when entering this competition.
Which tends to lead to a number of portraits of those people who seem to
spend time with you on a regular basis – your family!
Only slightly less popular than the self portraits.
Yvadney Davis
(South London, England)
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Inset Day (2025) by Yvadney Davis Oil and acrylic on canvas |
About
Yvadney Davis (Instagram)
- (b.1981) Caribbean heritage, brought up in South London
-
her art practice is rooted in working class Black British
Caribbean heritage - foundation studies at Camberwell School of Art, UAL
-
followed by a BA (Hons) degree in fashion design at Central Saint
Martins. - She has a studio in South London
-
Her work has been seen in group and solo exhibitions including
Proverbs of the Windrush Child at Black Cultural Archives, London,
2023 and The Land Holds Secrets at Galerie Heimat, St Remy de
Provence, France, 2025. - She was a Semi Finalist in Portrait Artist of the Year – Sky Arts 2023
- She was a finalist in the Women in Art Prize 2024.
Her portrait is one of the feature portraits used to promote theA familiar domestic scene is the basis for Yvadney Davis’s
compelling exploration of mother-daughter relationships. Inset Day
captures ‘the duality of our emotions caught between love, duty
and a need for space’. With a mischievous energy, the artist’s
daughter scrambles over cushions on the back of a sofa. Davis, sat
brightly dressed but weary, holds a strong gaze that confronts the
viewer, expressing the weight of motherhood as imperative to, yet
distinct from, the freedom of childhood.
exhibition. It was the sole image on the formal invitation to the Awards
Ceremony.
Matthew Midwood (Hull, UK)
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Evelyn (2024) by Matthew Midwood Acrylic on canvas |
Matthew Midwood’s portrait is of his daughter,
Evelyn.
About
Matthew Midwood
-
(b.1974); He lives in Hull, makes work in his studio and has
been an active member of the artistic community in Hull since
2002 - undertook foundation studies at Lincoln College of Art
-
followed by a BA(Hons) degree in fine art: painting at
Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Art & Design. -
His work has been seen in solo and group exhibitions including
those at the Kingston Art Group Gallery, Hull (2011-18).
The artist seeks to capture the intentionality within the
tilt of the head and sideways glance, with which Evelyn
returns her father’s gaze. Intrigue is noted within the
portrait’s unfinished quality, and its provocative
combination of figurative representation and abstract
spatial composition.
His daughter in the portrait has one of those wonderful
“daughter” faces – somewhere inbetween sucking in the cheeks and
blowing them out when wanting to say something but choose not to
use words.
Whether the artwork is figurative or abstract, what he
strives for is something that looks real rather than just
representation. In essence, he likes colour and loves
drawing.
(His website)
Simon Watkins (UK)
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| Claire (2025) by Simon Watkins oil on canvas |
The portrait depicts Simon Watkins’s wife’s grandmother Claire, who lives with dementia. Seated at a table and listening to music with closed eyes, the minimalist quality of the painting captures the still, calm of an inner moment. The work highlights the peace that music can bring to those with dementia. Watkins’s subtle and poetic portrait is a profound reflection on light, space and the process of aging.
About Simon Watkins (Instagram)
- Born in London in 1988
- From his studios in London and Hertfordshire, he now paints portraits and still
- Art Education
- gained a BA (hons) in the history of art at the University of York
- followed by studies at the Charles H Cecil Studios, Florence.
- His work has been seen in group exhibitions including those of
- The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2016),
- the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2017) and
- Figurativas at the European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona, 2017.
lifes.
Mick McNicholas (UK)
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The Artist’s Mother (2024) By Mick McNicholas oil on aluminium |
The artist represents his 91-year-old mother, Joan. In
recent years, Mick McNicholas has painted her at every
visit, aware that their time together is short. The array of
colours and vanishing hands synthesise into a loving yet
wistful atmosphere. A wish to connect in a deep and lasting
way motivates the creation of these paintings, with
observation providing the means for generating a meaningful
bond. McNicholas utilises sittings from life and candid
photographic studies to create an authentic image.
About Mick McNicholas (Instagram)
- (b.1963) Mick McNicholas is an artist living and working in Wokingham, UK.
-
undertook foundation studies Hugh Baird College of F.E.
Bootle, Merseyside -
followed by an MA in electronic media at Oxford Brookes
University. - His work has been seen at
- the Venice Biennale 2024,
-
the Discerning Eye exhibition (2016, 2018, 2019 and 2023)
and -
First Prize at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI)
Portrait Event part of the ROI Annual Exhibition, 2023.
I found the overall posture of his mother to be one I’m sure a
lot of sons and daughters of elderly parents will be familiar
with.
Emily Stainer (South Africa/Australia)
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Mikayla (2025) By Emily Stainer Oil on board |
This portrait captures a youthful image of pose and play.
With the soft colours in the floral crown, rich skin tones
and flowing lines of the neck and face, this beautifully
painted profile portrait represents Mikayla, a friend of
Stainer’s daughter. Mikayla and Stainer’s daughter share
roots in Southern Africa, have lived in several different
countries and are now based in Brisbane, Australia.
Influenced by Elizabethan miniature painting, the artist
explores portraiture’s connections to belonging through
the sitter’s identity.
About Emily Stainer (Instagram)
- Born 1980 in South Africa, recently moved to Australia
-
gained a BA and an MA in fine arts at the University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg -
followed by an MA in the history of art at the Courtauld
Institute of Art, London. -
Her work has been seen in solo and exhibitions in South
Africa, Australia and the UK -
She has previously been selected for the Portrait award at
the National Portrait Gallery in 2006, 2017
and 2024.
I’ve met Emily before in this exhibition at the NPG and her
portraits of children are always small and superb!
Portraits of Single Women
Roxana Halls
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Dr Pam Hogg (2025) by Roxana Halls Oil on linen |
Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg collaborated with Roxana Halls when devising the pose for this arresting portrait. Dramatically displaying her favourite scissors, Hogg is dressed in a striking green jumpsuit set-off against a vivid red background with monochrome depictions of her designs. The artist aims to capture the sitter’s ‘fearless, inventive, and provocative’ style and express her admiration
About Roxana Halls (Instagram)
- (b.1974) is a London-based figurative painter who is best known for her images of laughing wayward women who refuse to conform to society’s expectations.
- She is a largely self-taught artist
- her website has an amazingly long list of exhibitions
- she has held numerous solo exhibitions including at the National Theatre, South Bank, London and her first institutional exhibition, Die Augen der Roxana Halls was held at Haus Kunst Mitte, Berlin in 2023.
- Her work has been included in group shows internationally
- It is also held in the collections of the
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the
- National Museum of Science and Industry.
She has been widely praised for her draughtsmanship, wry humour and what art critic Brian Sewell called “the eerie narratives behind the portraiture.”
Roxana Halls’ portrait of Katie Tomkins – Mortuary & Post Mortem Services Manager at West Hertfordshire NHS Trust has been acquired for the permanent collection of the SCIENCE MUSEUM as part of their Covid-19 Collecting Project. The portrait was selected from among over 15,000 Portraits for NHS Heroes worldwide to represent them.
Jamie Routley
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Elle (2024) By Jamie Routley Oil on linen in an oval frame |
An Old Master sense of quality and composition characterises
Jamie Routley’s oval portrait of Elle. A blend of the
classical and modern is echoed through the sitter’s
contemporary, Asian-inspired silk ikat dress; while Elle’s
low bun hairstyle draws ‘a quiet yet significant connection
between Elle and her late paternal Korean grandmother, who
used to wear her hair the same way.’ This is symbolic of the
sitter’s pride in their Asian heritage displayed in this
calm and confident portrait.
About
Jamie Routley RP (Instagram)
-
Born in Newport, South Wales in 1982, Jamie Routley was
educated entirely through the Welsh language at Ysgol Gyfun
Gwynllyw - He lives in London with his wife and two daughters
- Art Education
-
undertook a BA (Hons) degree in Illustration at Swindon
College -
followed by studies at the Charles H. Cecil Studio, Florence
(2004-2008) -
His work has been seen in numerous exhibitions including those
of -
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2012, 2013, 2017,
2019, 2020-25). -
In 2019 his self-portrait was purchased for the Ruth
Borchard Collection in the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait
Prize. -
He was previously selected for the Portrait Award at
National Portrait Gallery in 2012 (winning the Young Artist
Award), 2013 and 2020. -
In 2022 he was elected as a member of the Royal Society of
Portrait Painters. -
He also serves as a council member of the Artists’ General
Benevolent Institution (AGBI), one of the UK’s oldest
charities
I didn’t recognise this as being a portrait by Jamie Routley –
maybe because it wasn’t full length with an interesting dog or
other interesting feature or quirk within the portrait! There
again it’s been an age since I saw an oval portrait….
Nathalie Beauvillain Scott
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Maxine – Business Woman Wife Mother Nurse (2024) by Nathalie Beauvillain Scott Oil on canvas |
This striking, hyperrealist portrait of Maxine, a nurse and
businesswoman, creates a sense of direct connection between the subject and viewer. One in
a series of portraits by Beauvillain Scott entitled Faces of
Guildford, the work was originally conceived in recognition
of Maxine’s many achievements, but as the sittings went on
‘I realised I really wanted the viewer to be able to
perceive her strength, compassion and caring
personality.’
About
Nathalie Beauvillain Scott (Instagram)
b.1971 in born in Fontainebleau, a little town near Paris. Began to
live in the UK in 1993 where she has worked as a mural and portrait artist
Studied at the Atelier de Sèvres – Babylone, Paris School of
Art.
Her work has been seen in solo and group exhibitions in the UK
including that of
- the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2015) and
previously in the Portrait Award at the National Portrait
Gallery in 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2015.
Nathalie started the project Faces of Guildford 5 years ago resulting in several exhibitions in various locations in the the town centre. It included 16 oil portrait paintings and 14 pencil drawings of Guildfordians who have had an impact on the community in the past and the present.
What a great way of making a contribution to your community as well as marketing your skills as a portrait artist who can be commissioned locally!
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Ukrainian Girl (2025) by Nelson Hernandez Oil on board |
What Nelson thinksA female figure with her back to the viewer stands at a
window, through which shines a wintry light illuminating
individual strands of her light blonde hair. Chilean artist
Nelson Hernandez’s spectral portrait of his Ukrainian friend,
Kseniia, captures a brief moment in time: ‘I was moved by her
stillness as she gazed out the window. Suddenly, the drawing
in her hoodie evoked in me a scene of war, a metaphor of her
past and the burden she carries.’ (Gallery text)
personally, I’d like to thank Kseniia for being the
inspiration behind the work and for helping me bring it to
life.
What I liked about this portrait is the very well designed
composition and the fact it’s a portrait with no face.
About
Nelson Hernandez (Instagram)
-
Born in 1984, he is a contemporary Chilean painter
currently living and working in London. - Art Education:
-
undertook a BA degree at the Faculty of Arts, Pontifical
Catholic University of Chile -
followed by an MA in painting at the Royal College of Art,
London. (see
RCA2025: Postgraduate Show. Royal College of Art) -
His work has been seen in numerous exhibitions in North and
South America -
winning first prize in the Artespacio Joven BBVA Gallery
competition, Santiago, Chile. - In 2024, Hernandez undertook a residency at GlogauAIR, Berlin.
Richard Kitson (Yorkshire, UK)
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Alice IV (2024) by Richard Kitson oil on canvas |
with no clothes on will know why Richard is standing as he is.
This is the fourth painting in a series of works
focusing on Richard Kitson’s model and friend, Alice.
Both an exploration of the sitter and the process of
portrait making itself, the artwork creates a feeling of
authenticity. Composed as the sitter naturally arranged
herself in the studio, a sense of intimacy is given by
the close focus and cropping of the torso. Kitson
produced this portrait over a period of months, allowing
him to ‘take in more information about my sitter as
their moods differ during the various sittings.’
About
Richard Kitson
(Instagram)
-
(b.1981) Originally from Keighley, Yorkshire, a
figurative artist now based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire -
undertook a BA (hons) degree in fine art at the University
of Leeds -
followed by an MA in fine art at Leeds Arts
University. -
His work has been seen in exhibitions including those
of -
the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2020 and
2023), - the Ruth Borchard Self- Portrait Competition 2011
-
he was selected as a participant in the Sky Arts
Portrait Artist of the Year in 2018
(the text in the exhibition has the wrong date)
Martyn Harris (West Midlands, England) – Third Prizewinner
 |
| Memories (2024) by Martyn Harris Oil on board |
During his time as artist in residence at the Art Yard Gallery, Martyn Harris noticed local resident, Gillian, who often spent time in there. After building a friendship with her, Harris asked if she would sit for a portrait. Gillian was a guest when the portrait was unveiled by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and though the image touches upon themes of loneliness, sorrow and the weight of time, both artist and sitter found their collaboration uplifting.
About Martyn Harris ARBSA (Instagram)
- Age: 60+ Born in Halesowen; now lives in Cradley, West Midlands
- Education: Mentored by W R Jennings (1927-2005) a respected landscape artist
- Occupation:
- a portrait and landscape artist. He became a full-time artist eight years ago,
- following a career that included jobs as a mechanical engineer and draughtsman.
- Harris’s artworks have been
- exhibited regularly with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
- selected several times for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ annual exhibition.
- Previous appearances in this award: none
Most of the portraits in the National Portrait Gallery in London
are of men on their own.
Brenda Zlamany (USA)
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Two Dogs (Portrait of David Hockney Inspired by Whistler’s Mother) (2024) By Brenda Zlamany Oil on linen |
- (b.1959) studied at
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Maine
-
followed by S. W. Hayter’s Atelier 17, in Paris
and - the Tyler School of Art, Rome.
-
Her work has been seen in numerous group and solo
exhibitions in the USA and Europe. -
She has been commissioned to make portraits for The
Rockefeller University, New York, NY and the Sterling
Memorial Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
The portrait represents one of the most celebrated
British contemporary artists, David Hockney. Brenda
Zlamany has known Hockney since she modelled for him
in the 1980s, this painting recalls a recent visit to
the artist’s studio, capturing a moment of ‘quiet
joy’. The title and composition reference the 1871 by
James McNeill Whistler. With Maurice Payne’s etching
Two Dogs (1998) on the wall, and Zlamany’s own
self-portrait subtly reflected in the glass, the
painting expresses ideas of community and shared
history.
Her portrait was also picked by The Times as a highlight of
the exhibition
Brenda told me the two dogs refer to both his etching of his
two dogs Stanley and Boogie but also to the house shoes on
his feet, which – in the US – are sometimes called
“dogs”.
This is her self-portrait in the wine glass
PS She has a fascinating website – worth a look!
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| Brenda’s self portrait in the wine glass |
Kevin Kane
(Glasgow, Scotland and London)
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Lord and Master (2024) By Kevin Kane Oil on board |
About
Kevin Kane (Instagram)
- Kevin Kane (b.1969) – born in Glasgow
-
Education: BSc applied physics followed by an MSc applied
statistics and is currently undertaking a BA degree in
Contemporary portraiture at the Art Academy in
Southwark. (making him one of my more unlikely portrait artists!)
He’s exhibited in a number of group exhibitions. In 2024, these
included Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Scottish Portrait
Awards, Spectrum Art Fair, Miami, and the KKWEER Arts exhibitions
(2022 and 2024).
Kevin has all the characteristics which suggest to me he’ll be
back again in future.
This striking portrait was created after the artist and sitter
met at a charity event. ‘Immediately connecting over shared
experiences as gay Catholics growing up in suburban Glasgow,’
Kevin Kane explores sexuality while referencing the artist and
sitter’s Scottish connection through traditional wear and
Scotch whisky. The books serve as ‘meaningful references to
our common background and the stories that shaped us.
when I started to tour the exhibition.
The surface of Dide’s portrait of the sculptor Laurence
Edwards seems alive with a kinetic, electric energy. In
a Realist style, but exhibiting Cubist influences, the
painting is marked by a graphic use of colour. The
complex spatial composition, from the background mirror
to the looming boot in the foreground, creates a sense
of disorientation. Responding to the sitter’s work and
persona, the portrait incorporates maquettes of Edward’s
sculptures and explores ‘the messy plaste splattered
existence of artists in their studios’.
About
Dide
-
(b.1988) is an award-winning painter, poet and
composer-soprano-violinist -
however she only started to teach herself how to
paint during a covid pandemic lockdown. -
I would call her
a polymath. She won scholarships and grants to study music at the
Royal College of Music JD and philosophy at the University
of Cambridge. She has a first degree from the University
of Cambridge and numerous awards for her non-art
interests. She has also studied eight languages. -
Her work has been seen in group exhibitions including
those of the -
Society of Women Artists at the Mall Galleries, London –
where she won the Young Artist award in 2023 -
the Royal Society of British Artist Rising Stars (2023
and 2024) at the Royal-Overseas-League, London and
in -
competitions including the Women in Art Prize and the
Aesthetica Art Prize.
Ashley Ogilvy (Cape Town, South Africa)
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| Call me Albie (2024) By Ashley Ogilvy Oil on aluminium |
In 1988, South African lawyer and anti-apartheid
activist, Albie Sachs survived a car bomb
assassination attempt, losing his right arm and the
vision in his left eye. Sachs went on to help draft
a new constitution for South Africa and was
appointed a Constitutional Court Judge by Nelson
Mandela, following the country’s first democratic
elections. Ashley Ogilvy’s portrait depicts a
flamboyantly dressed Sachs standing before piles of
books and among some works from his own art
collection.
About Ashley Ogilvy (Instagram)
- b.1960 in. South Africa
- initially trained as a graphic designer before studying
fine art with teachers in South Africa, the USA, UK and
France. - Her work has been seen in numerous group
exhibition in Cape Town and at the exhibitions in London of - the New
English Arts Club and - the Royal Society of Portrait
Painters. - She was a finalist in the South
African Portrait Awards in 2017, 2019 and 2021 winning
second prize in 2021 - She previously selected for the
Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in 2024.
Joshua Waterhouse RP (Somerset, UK)
%20by%20Joshua%20Waterhouse.jpg)
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James (2024) by Joshua Waterhouse Oil on panel |
This skilfully painted, hyperrealist portrait by
Joshua Waterhouse is a quintessential trompe- l’oeil
due to its meticulous detail. It is part of a
triptych, which includes portraits of the sitter’s
two brothers, Thomas and Matthew, as commissioned by
their father. Head twisted to face the viewer, we
see the reflection in James’ glasses, their direct
gaze as if noticing the viewer walking by.
About
Joshua Waterhouse RP
(Instagram)
-
Born in Newcastle in 1989. Lived and worked in London
for 10 years before moving to Somerset in 2024 with
his wife and son. -
Art Education: Very much influenced by the Northern
Renaissance. -
Foundation in Art & Design at Edinburgh College
of Art -
followed by studying Fine Art & French at the
University of Aberystwyth, graduating in 2014 with a
First Class Honours. -
Joshua also spent a year in Paris studying Art
History at the Sorbonne (Paris IV). -
His work has been seen in group exhibitions including
those of -
the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2017, 2019,
2020, 2022, 2024) and -
previously in the Portrait Award at the National
Portrait Gallery in 2016.
His portrait is the third of a series done as a
commission for a family. I saw the other two when they
were exhibited at this year’s annual exhibition of the
Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Commissioned by
the father, the mother was coming to the PV to find
out what her husband had done – and that the third
wasn’t there because it was going to hang in this
exhibition!
Owain Hunt (UK)
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| Figure in Blue (2024) by Owain Hunt Oil on canvas |
Dressed in a blue denim jacket and striped t-shirt, staring gently out at the viewer, Owain Hunt’s portrait of his old friend immediately expresses the deep sense of connection between artist and sitter. Painted over an 18-month period, the work explores themes of companionship. The deceptively modest portrait speaks to universal themes of the human condition, seen subtly in each individual, articulated brush stroke. The composition places the viewer opposite the sitter as if engaging in conversation; Hunt’s work is motivated by the human need to ‘invest deeply in relationships and have a shared lived experience’.
About Owain Hunt (Instagram)
- b.1994, based in the UK is a self taught artist.
- He has a BSc in economics from the University of Bristol and an MA in history.
- His work has been seen in the exhibitions of
- the Royal Society of British Artists winning the Rising Star Award (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024),
- the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024) and
- winning The New English Art Club Scholarship 2023.
- His work belongs to private collections in The United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Australia and the United States.
Tallulah Hutson (London, UK)
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| Waiting in Shade (2024) by Tallulah Hutson Oil on canvas |
The portrait is central to Hutson’s series of works exploring ideas of vulnerability and challenging traditional notions of masculinity. The pressures of gender expectations are visualised in this large portrait through a pervasive and persistent uncertainty. Tensions travel across the canvas, and manifest in a series of internal contradictions: between the face and the pose, the flowers and the sitter’s boots, the light and the darkness.
About Tallulah Hutson (Instagram)
- Born in 1996 and raised in London
- Education:
- undertook a Master’s degree in chemistry at the University of St Andrews,
- followed by painting training at Charles H. Cecil Studios, Florence, Italy.
- She is currently studying for an MA in painting at the Royal College of Art, London.
- Her work has been seen in a solo exhibition in London and group exhibitions in the UK and USA.
Ant Carver (East London, UK)
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Old Friends or Familiar Faces (2025) By Ant Carver Oil on linen |
Old Friends or Familiar Faces explores the
metaphor of the black dog and its contradictory
symbolism: from a reference to bad omens or
depression to a representation of belonging or
guardianship. The sitter first modelled for Ant
Carver in 2020, and has since ‘been a model that
I’ve returned to repeatedly as my work has
evolved.’ This portrait is based on a series of
quick charcoal sketches, small painted studies,
and experiments with composition and colour.
About
Ant Carver (b.1991)
-
undertook a BA (Hons) degree in fine art at Oxford
Brookes University. -
he lives in Bow and works from a studio in Hackney
Wick – the home of many artists! -
His solo exhibitions,
Look at the Mess We Made and
All Alone in a Crowded Room were seen in
London. -
His work has been included in numerous group
exhibitions including the Summer Exhibition of the
Royal Academy of Arts in 2023. -
He also paints
amazing murals
as commissions for large areas of blank wall!
Been visiting NPG since school trips and have
always gone to see the Portrait Award show so it
was amazing and a bit weird to see my painting
there.
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This is my pic of Ant taking a pic of his pic – which can now been seen on his Instagram account |
Thomas Arthurton (UK)
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After the Concert (2025) By Thomas Arthurton (on the right – with sitter Jacob Meining on the left) Oil and charcoal on canvas |
After the Concert was inspired by Thomas
Arthurton’s love of classical music and
represents Jacob Meining, violinist and leader
of the Bruckner Orchestra in Linz, Austria.
Seated and viewed from above, against a briefly
sketched charcoal interior, the sitter adopts a
complex pose embodying post- performance
exhaustion. The work is filled with a sense of
uncertainty, fragility and ambiguity, while the
disjunction between his formal attire and pink
trainers expresses both tradition and
contemporaneity.
About Thomas Arthurton (Instagram)
- b.1985 in Norwich
- Education:
-
studied art history at the University of York
and the Courtauld Institute of Art,
London. -
studied painting at the Classical Arts Academy,
Florence and the Saint Petersburg State Academic
Institute of Painting, Sculpture and
Architecture. -
His work has been seen in numerous international
exhibitions including -
the Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts
(2021), -
the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2020-22)
and in -
the Portrait Award at the National Portrait
Gallery, London in 2020
Sofia Welch (UK)
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Sean After Brockhurst (2025) by Sofia Welch Oil on board |
This witty and charismatic portrait by Sofia
Welch represents her fiancé Sean. Painted wearing
a dark green velvet smoking jacket, shirt and tie,
and set against an abstracted landscape, the
sitter holds the viewers gaze with an intense
stare. Stylistically evoking the ambience of
1930s, the painting was inspired by the evocative
and uncanny portraits by British painter and
etcher, Gerald Brockhurst.
About
Sofia Welch
(Instagram)
-
(b.1990) graduated from the London Atelier of
Representational Art in 2024. - Her work has been seen in
-
the Pastel Society Annual Exhibition 2017,
receiving the Young Artist Award, and -
the Royal British Artists Annual Exhibition
2017, receiving the De Laszlo
commendation. - Since graduating she has been selected for
-
the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2024
and - the Discerning Eye exhibition 2024.
-
she is also Director of Studies at the London
Atelier of Representational Art and has
produced art work for the film and television
industry, including large Netflix Productions such
as The Witcher and Black Mirror.
I summed her up at the Selected Artists blog post
stage as
Looks to me like one of those artists who has
been doing consistently well for some time –
without being shouty about it.
Finlay Trevor
%20By%20Finlay%20Trevor.jpg "Quest for The Mackintosh Man (2024) By Finlay Trevor")
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Quest for The Mackintosh Man Oil on board |
While the country was in lockdown
during the Covid-19 pandemic, artist
Finlay Trevor volunteered to help
with the lambing on his local sheep
farm in South Erradale in the
Scottish Highlands. Quest for The
Mackintosh Man is part of a larger
body of work that documents life on
the farm. Retired farmer, Willie
Mackintosh, is depicted through
woven brushwork of greys and browns
in an expression of his thoughts on
the land and the decline of the
rural industry
About
Finlay Trevor
(Instagram)
- (b.2003)
-
currently a painting student at Edinburgh School
of Art – and exploring the world of those who work
the land in a remote corner of North West
Scotland. - His work has been seen in group exhibitions at
- the Royal Scottish Academy and
- the Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh.
Finlay was telling me about his sitter has a theory
that he is related to a local Mackintosh person who
owns rather a lot – and that when he died, he would
then inherit the lot. Hence the title.
His degree show is worth a look.
Michelle Liu (USA/UK) – Young Artist Award
winner
Young Artist Award:
The judges thought this was a beautifully
rendered and sensitive portrayal of the
sitter,
technically accomplished but also full of
feeling. The portrait has a compelling
calmness, but details such as one slightly
raised eyebrow hints at the subject’s
interior life.
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Kofi (2024) by Michelle Liu Oil on canvas |
Michelle Liu attends weekly drop-in sessions at
Big Turtle Studio, London, where she painted
occasional life-model Kofi alongside her fellow
participants over the course of three Saturdays.
As a young artist, Liu says of the communal
sittings ‘My progress has come on in leaps and
bounds since I have had a community of artists
around me to share techniques, tips and
critiques.’
About
Michelle Liu
(Instagram)
-
(b. 1993) Recently relocated to the UK from her
native USA, - Works in technology
-
Interested in art since her teenage years at the
Otis College of Art and Design in Los
Angeles. -
She remains a long-distance member of the
Salmagundi Club, a New York City exhibition and
meeting space for representational artists and
continues to study the work of earlier figurative
artists. Liu’s work has been included group
exhibitions in the UK.
Tim Benson (England, UK) – SECOND Prize Winner
Judges Comments – Second Prize
The judges were impressed by Benson’s expressive and sculptural use
of paint to build a likeness. They felt that the intense focus on
his sitter’s face, the dignity bestowed on the sitter and the
celebration of difference, combined with the over life-size scale,
creates a powerful encounter.
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Cliff, Outreach Worker (2024) By Tim Benson Oil on canvas |
You can see a pic of tim with his sitter inFor Benson, portrait painting is about storytelling and chronicling
experiences. This large scale portrait of London outreach worker
Clifford Dobbs was painted as part of a series of paintings
depicting people with facial differences. Cliff’s jaw was broken
when he was a child and was never re-set, resulting in his facial
difference. Painting Cliff gave the artist the opportunity to
challenge historical notions of beauty in portraiture whilst also
advocating for the destigmatisation of facial difference.Due
to the sitter’s busy schedule, the portrait was made from sketches
and photographs taken in Cliff’s office, as opposed to Benson’s
usual process of a single four-hour sitting. Benson works quickly
and uses a limited palette, painting straight to canvas with a wide,
flat brush that prevents excessive detailing and allows him to
‘sculpt’ the facets of the sitter’s head in thick oils with as few
brush strokes as necessary.
Moira Cameron wins the £35K HSF Kramer Portrait Award at the National
Portrait Gallery
About
Tim Benson
(Instagram)
- Age: 47 (b. London 1978 and lives in London
- Art education: Middlesex University,
- Glasgow School of Art, and
- Byam Shaw School of Art.
- Occupation:portrait and landscape artist;
- Past President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London;
- Portraiture Tutor – Royal Academy of Arts.
-
He has won international commissions and taken part in various group
and solo exhibitions. - Previous appearances in the Portrait Award: 2012, 2020 and 2024.
Portraits of Groups
Lucille Dweck
I was very fortunate to get a photo of the next artist with her two
sitters Ollie and Orlando.
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Ollie and Orlando (The New York Couple) (2024) By Lucille Dweck Oil on linen |
The symmetry and contrast of this carefully composed portrait
expresses the nature of the relationship represented. Lucille
Dweck’s Ollie and Orlando (The New York Couple) pictures her two
friends hand in hand, staring deeply into each other’s eyes. The
couple are dressed in blues and blacks, visually striking against
the red wall. Inspired by the couples love, Dweck ‘had a very
strong compulsion to make this painting’. She seeks to express a
message of unity in a time of social and political division.
About
Lucille Dweck
(Instagram)
- b.1963 she specialises in painting water, people and seascapes.
- Education
- Foundation Course at St Martins School of Art
- Byam Shaw School of Art
-
she has also taught at Byam Shaw School of Art and other arts
schools - Her work has been seen in numerous exhibitions internationally
- she has also won various awards
-
you can find
a Jackson’s Art Interview with her – in which her portrait
features as it won the Judges Choice Award.
I feel that in my portraits I want to express the unique message
my sitter holds within them. It is a particular communication that
I hope will resonate with the viewer.
What comes next?
The next blog post is about the 10 portraits I like best – plus some
analytics
but I’m going back to visit the exhibition again before I write that one.
Below are the rest of the Artists with their Portraits blog posts (2015-2024)
Artists with their Portrait Paintings
I’ve been doing a post about artists with their portrait paintings since
2015
– except there were no posts when there was no exhibition due to the
Gallery closure for refurbishment.
REFERENCE Previous posts about the Portrait Award 2007-2025
that they’d found out about the exhibition, its background and how
to do well by reading my blog posts and looking at past exhibitions
in the posts below.
These are all my previous blog posts going back to 2007
about this competition
HFS Kramer Portrait Award 2025
BP Portrait Award 2019
BP Portrait Award 2018
BP Portrait Award 2017
Portrait Award 2015
BP Portrait Award 2014
BP Portrait Award 2013
