Sky Arts has been searching across the UK and Ireland for the most talented portrait artist, and last night, the winner was announced as 25 year old Nick Lord who was discovered by DegreeArt.com in 2007 following his foudation degree show in Cardiff at Glamorgan College of Art and Design Technology.
Working with prestigious organisations including the National Portrait Gallery and The British Library and presented by Joan Bakewell and Frank Skinner, Sky Arts innovative competition traveled across the UK and Ireland in search of an inspiring and talented artist, who can be crowned Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2013.
Sitters across the series included Alison Steadman, David Rawle (Sky Ones Moone Boy), and Sophie Turner aka Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones.
Under the watchful eye of the three judges, Nick traveled to Paris with the other three finalists, for further inspiration and development, spending two days painting a surprise celebrity sitter, model, and author Sophie Dahl.
Nick’s painting of Dahl is now displayed in The National Portrait Gallery, and he is commencing a £10,000 commission of double-Booker prize and Costa Award-winning author Hilary Mantel for a portrait which will form part of the British Library permanent collection.
The Judges:
Kathleen Soriano is the Director of Exhibitions of the Royal Academy of Arts. Tai-Shan Schierenberg won the National Portrait Gallery’s Jon Player Portrait Award. Kate Bryan is Head of Contemporary at The Fine Art Society.
