Published January 16, 2025 · 8 min read
Sky Arts Portrait Artist of Year: A Perfectionist’s TV Portrait Challenge
The idea seemed impossible for someone like me — a perfectionist who spent months perfecting every brushstroke. But with a little push from my 7-year-old son, I took the leap.
Sky Arts Portrait Artist of Year: Painting Against the Clock
I’d built my career as a portrait artist doing exactly the opposite of what Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year demands – taking months to create luminous paintings through countless layers of oil paint, each layer adding subtle depth until the person’s true essence emerged. My methodical approach had served me well, with commissioned portraits hanging in collections worldwide. But here I was, contemplating the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year (PAOTY) application form - Britain's most intense TV portrait challenge for painters.
The show’s format was simple yet terrifying: paint a complete portrait in just four hours, under bright lights and rolling cameras. While other artists thrived on this adrenaline-fuelled challenge, I was the painter who’d spend weeks just on a subject’s eyes.
A Father-Son Moment: “Just Do It, Daddy!”
Uncertain and full of doubt, I turned to my most honest critic — my seven-year-old son.
“Just do it, Daddy!”
Often the simplest advice is the best.
I submitted my application. When the call came that I'd been selected as a contestant, my stomach lurched - in just a few weeks, I'd be attempting in four hours what normally took me four months. There was no turning back now!
Behind the Scenes at Sky Arts Portrait Artist of Year
Picture this: The Wallace Collection in London, a glass ceiling flooding the space with ever-changing light, cameras everywhere, and me - trying to keep my hands steady as I unpacked my materials. The energy was electric. My sitter was the wonderful Claire Skinner (you might know her from Outnumbered or Ted Lasso), who proved to be the perfect model. Though that glass ceiling? Let's just say it taught me a few lessons about adaptability!
I'd practiced a few quick portraits before the show, but nothing could prepare me for the reality of painting under those conditions. The frequent interruptions for interviews with Joan Bakewell and Frank Skinner (both absolutely lovely, by the way) meant my actual painting time was more like a series of sprints rather than the marathon I was used to.
Unexpected Moments
Here's something I've never shared before: midway through my Sky Arts PAOTY heat, as the overhead light shifted dramatically, I had a moment of pure panic. In the Portrait Artist of Year competition, what judges don’t advertise is this: the real test isn’t technical skill – it’s maintaining creative vision between camera interviews and golden hour light shifts. This reality crashed over me as shadows danced across Claire’s face (see header image below), forcing me to adapt with every brushstroke. Terrifying? Absolutely. Thrilling? Like nothing I’ve experienced before.
Remember the old saying about best-laid plans? Well, I had to throw mine out the window and just... paint. And you know what? Sometimes that's exactly what we need to do as artists.
More Than Just a Competition
While I didn't win my heat (congratulations again to Danny Howes!), something special happened. Claire chose my portrait to take home, and Frank Skinner leaned in with what I'm pretty sure was, "You should have won!" (Frank, if you're reading this, feel free to confirm or deny!)
But the real victory wasn't in the placement - it was in pushing past my comfort zone. As a perfectionist who typically spends weeks ensuring every detail is just right, learning to embrace imperfection in front of cameras was a profound lesson.
Why Sky Arts Portrait Artist of Year Changed My Approach
That simple "Just do it, Daddy" didn't just get me on the show - it taught me that sometimes the best art comes when we let go of perfection and embrace the unexpected. Now, when I'm in my studio, I often hear those words echo, reminding me to take creative risks.
I've just submitted my application for this year's show - a self-portrait that takes quite a different approach from my usual style. Whether I'm selected or not, I know one thing: that day in 2018 reminded me why I fell in love with portraiture in the first place. It's not just about capturing a likeness - it's about freezing a moment in time, telling a story, revealing something deeper about who we are.
You can watch my episode and the full series of Portrait Artist of the Year on Sky Arts. If you're curious about the experience or want to see how these portraits come together under pressure, it's a fascinating watch.
Ready to Create Your Own Portrait Story?
Whether you're applying for Sky Arts Portrait Artist of Year or commissioning a portrait (and yes, I promise to spend more than four hours on yours!), I'd love to hear your story. Explore my portrait commission process here.
Looking for something equally special but already complete? Browse my available original paintings here.
