BP Portrait Award


Annual exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery for this award for portrait painting.

I thought this year’s exhibition was better than some years as the pictures were mainly realistic. I do tend to struggle with abstract portraits.

My favourite was “Swallow” by Alexander Garner a classic portrait of a woman in the early 20th century tradition with a striking yellow background with swallows on.

I also though the picture opposite the entrance “Tess and the clay heads” by Ruth Murray was a wonderful study of texture and I love the similarity between the swirls of clay and the sitters hair.

There was also a very classic commissioned portrait of the High Sherriff of Lincolnshire which was glossy and highly finished. Great to know there are still people who can paint this sort of formal work.

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Independent
Evening Standard



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