Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
I’m not sure if the programme tonight showed what a great time I had taking part. Yes it was very intense, but also inspiring and it was very positive experience for me. I loved having the opportunity to draw Fiona Shaw who was a brilliant model and had an lovely personality to try to capture. I really enjoyed working alongside some fantastic artists and congratulations to Corrine Pierre who was a worthy winner of the heat.
I was a bit disappointed that Fiona didn’t choose my drawing, but the positive feedback I received from Fiona and others was really encouraging.
When I returned home to my studio in West Wales I looked at my drawing and thought I didn’t really conquer that red paper! I decided to do an oil painting of Fiona using a photograph and the drawing I’d done. I found this process very therapeutic as I was able to take as much time as I liked! (Top of the page is my finished painting 40cm x 50cm oil on wooden panel). I’m very pleased with this painting, although I wish I’d been able to paint her whole figure including the lovely check trousers she was wearing!
The first time I took part in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year was in 2013, I definitely learned from that day and it helped me make the most of the experience this time. On this occasion I had a whole team of family supporters there at the Wallace Collection giving me encouragement. Thank you Phil Layton, Derek Hope, Gemma Green-Hope, Roberta Longoni, Judith & Roger Rackley, Paul Layton and Lucy Layton for being there. Many thanks as well to the members of the public there on the day who gave me positive comments and smiles!
I also just wanted to say how impressed I was with the whole running of the day for my heat. Everything was well organised and ran so smoothly, all the staff were so friendly, supportive and helpful, I felt really well looked after by everyone in the team.
Overall being chosen to compete was very affirming and although my work wasn’t selected to go on in the competition, being part of Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2018 has given me a creative boost so thank you all at Story Vaultfilms Ltd and Sky Arts.