BP Portrait Award 2010

Oil on wooden panels

The First Prize was awarded to Daphne Todd for Last Portrait of Mother, a devotional study of her mother, Mary Todd, on her death bed.

Daphne Todd, from East Sussex, has been selected for the BP Portrait Award exhibition for the third time. This is her first BP shortlisted portrait (though she won second prize in the Gallery's Portrait Award in 1984.) She attended the Slade School of Fine Art and was the first woman president of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. She has chosen to portray her mother Annie Mary Todd on her death bed and thereby to create a devotional study. Daphne says her mother, who had just celebrated her 100th birthday having lived with the artist for her last 14 years, had given permission for her daughter to paint her.

Egg tempera on wooden board

The Second Prize was awarded to Michael Gaskell for Harry.

Gaskell, who has exhibited throughout Britain and was second prize winner in last year's BP Portrait Award, is an artist from Sheffield, recently relocated to Leicester, who only got to know his sitter, Harry, when he agreed to sit for him. Having seen the sitter whilst he was out shopping with his family, Michael was persuaded to approach him by his wife. In the resulting portrait which was completed in a short burst of intense work over the winter of 2009-10, Gaskell tried to evoke a sense of what had drawn him to Harry, but he hopes that the image is also informed by what he gained from hearing about the sitter's experiences and aspirations.

Oil on panel

The Third Prize was awarded to David Eichenberg for Tim II.

David Eichenberg studied art at the University of Toledo in his home town. While he has exhibited throughout the United States, this is his first BP exhibited work. His portrait shows his friend, the sculptor Timothy A. Stover, seated at a metal bandsaw in the fabrication shop in which he works, located directly below the artist's studio in an old warehouse in Toledo, Ohio. The artist wanted the painting to read like a work by Holbein, where every item in the portrait represents an aspect of the sitter such as the highlighted shape on the wall representing a map of Ohio, where Tim was born and living at the time of the sitting.

Oil on canvas

The BP Young Artist Award 2010 was awarded to Elizabeth McDonald for Don't Be Too Serious.

Elizabeth McDonald painted her portrait of her friend and fellow artist, Camillo Paravicini, in his studio in her home city of Glasgow. While they worked in the same building, in neighbouring studios, the two artists hardly knew each other. She says while the clothing Camillo wears in the portrait - a black jacket and tie and black rimmed glasses - is similar to that which he would normally wear, his posture was staged to accentuate the tension between youth and maturity. ‘Through the sittings, and getting to know Camillo,' she says, ‘I not only found myself examining his personal style but looking closer at other aspects of his personality. Perhaps most intriguingly, I began to see simultaneously the boy in the young man and the older professional gentleman the young man could become.'

Oil on linen

The BP Travel Award 2010 was awarded to Paul Beel.

Beel wins for his proposal to paint a large-scale, plein-air group portrait of figures on a secluded Corfu nudist beach. The American artist, who now lives in Florence, Italy, has always wanted to return to the beach since he visited it eleven years ago with his wife on their honeymoon. He receives a bursary of £5,000 to travel to Corfu and paint the 2 x 4 metre canvas (or canvas triptych) portrait for display in the BP Portrait Award 2011 exhibition.

Oil on wooden panel

Mary Jane Ansell studied illustration at Brighton University and has also undertaken short courses in printmaking and life drawing. Her work has been seen in solo exhibitions in London and group shows in the UK and Europe including those of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2005 and 2007) and in the BP Portrait Award in 2004 and 2009.

The portrait is of Dan, a young man who had recently completed a teacher training-course, and had been offered his first teaching post. Ansell wanted to capture Dan's enthusiasm, and also his concerns about the responsibility he was about to take on.

Oil on canvas

Annalisa Avancini studied at the Arts High School, Trento, Italy and at the Istituto Marangoni, Milan. She won first prize in the 1st Contemporary Art Show 2006 at the Museum of the Americas, Miami and the Painting Prize for Young Artists 2007 at the Verona Fine Art Society. She won third prize in the BP Portrait Award, 2009.

The portrait is of David, whose family moved from Bosnia to a small town in Trento. At the age of seventeen, he is the only boy in a class of girls at the school where Avancini teaches. The portrait captures his transition from adolescence to maturity.

Oil on hardboard

Robin Bagnall undertook a foundation course at Cheltnham and Gloucester College of Higher Education followed by a BA (Hons) degree in fine art at Glasgow School of Art.

The self-portrait was painted from life at Bagnall's parents' home during his relocation from Scotland back to England.

Oil on canvas

Paul Benney is an established portrait artist whose work was included in the BP Portrait Award Exhibition in 1995, 1996, 2000 and 2008, and was shortlisted in 1997 and 1999. His work is held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the National Gallery, Canberra, and the National Portrait Gallery, London.

The portrait shows Benney's friend Paul Getty III who was paralysed by a stroke some twenty years ago. Benney says of the portrait: ‘My aim was to evoke the intense vitality of someone not able to express it in a conventional way'.

Oil on canvas

Oscar Burnett is a student who has recently taken an art foundation course at Chelsea College of Art.

The portrait is of Burnett's friend Richard, standing with the William Morris ‘Fruit' pattern wallpaper that decorated Burnett's flat - and was a talking point for visitors. Richard is wearing a shirt for which he was well known and that would make him easily recognisable to their friends.

Oil on linen

Jason Butler studied at Bristol University and Cheltenham College of Art. He is based in Jersey and his work has been seen in numerous exhibitions in the UK. His paintings were included in the BP Portrait Award in 2002 and 2004.

Rob Greene and Paul Lawford are friends of Butler who live and work in London and form the double act, The Rubbish Bin Men. The portrait was made from a series of sittings in Butler's Jersey studio. Butler wanted to capture the dynamic between the two men, one of a series of double portraits exploring particular relationships.

Acrylic on canvas

Darren Coffield studied at Goldsmiths College, Camberwell School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art. With Joshua Compston he founded Factual Nonsense, a gallery space closely associated with the emergence of the Young British Artists (YBA) movement. His work has been seen in numerous exhibitions in Europe and was included in the BP Portrait Award in 2003.

Coffield describes the Welsh painter, journalist and novelist, Molly Parkin, as his muse. As fashion editor of Nova magazine in the 1960s, she became a trend-setting celebrity in the 1970s. After touring her solo stage show in the 1980s, she has now returned to painting.

Oil on panel

Alan Coulson studied at Harrogate College of Art and Design. His work has been seen in exhibitions in London including that of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, 2010.

The portrait is of Coulson's wife, Ciara, and the sittings took place in their home. Coulson's aim was to make a portrait that reflected the intimacy of their relationship. Ciara sat sewing while Coulson made the studies that resulted in the choice of the final pose.

Oil on hardboard

Richard Cross is a lecturer in fine art who studied at Liverpool College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools. His work has been included in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (1985, 1986, 1990, 1991) and the National Portrait Gallery Portrait Award in 1986.

This is one of a series of self-portraits made to mark Cross's fiftieth birthday. The portrait was made from direct observation in the mirror tile included in the composition. The passport photograph shows Cross at the age of twenty and provides a contrast in his changing appearance and also the method of making a portrait.

Oil on canvas

Tom Dewhurst studied at Liverpool Art College and the Royal College of Art. His work has been included several times in the exhibitions for the Jerwood Drawing Prize, the Hunting Art Prize and the BP Portrait Award (1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1989, 2008).

The portrait shows Dewhurst's son, Laurie, helping in the family garden. Dewhurst was interested in making the comparison between his adult son and the now rather dilapidated shed in which he used to play when a child.

Oil on board

David Dipré undertook a Foundation Course at Camberwell College of Arts and studied fine art painting at the University of Central Lancashire. His work has been seen in group exhibitions in the UK including the BP Portrait Award 2001 and 2002.

This self-portrait was made from direct observation working entirely in natural daylight. Dipré worked at various distances from the mirror to examine details in his reflection. He rubbed down the paint with sandpaper if it had dried between sessions to reveal previous observations. The surface was reworked in this way many times.

Oil on board

Anna Dougherty studied at Merton College, Oxford and University College, London. Her work has been seen in numerous exhibitions in galleries in the south-west of England.

Dougherty was born without the lower part of her left arm. She says she has tried to allow her disability to affect her life as little possible, and says of the portrait ‘The self-scrutiny involved in making it was actually very uncomfortable.' Her love of the seventeenth-century Spanish artist, Ribera, was one of the reasons she studied the period for her MA.

Oil on canvas

Shaun Downey studied classical drawing and painting at Angel Studios, Toronto, Canada followed by an interpretive illustration course at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario. His work has been seen in solo and group exhibitions in New York and Toronto.

The portrait is of Downey's friend Dearbhail, painted in front of a backdrop of 1960s vintage Italian wallpaper. He says: ‘I was immediately struck by her haunting features. I thought Dearbhail would be perfect for the floral pattern motif, she has a kind of ‘60s rebellion in her face, but unmistakable kindness in her eyes'.

Oil on canvas

Wendy Elia studied at Saint Martins School of Art. Her work has been seen in solo exhibitions in London and in numerous group exhibitions including that of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2008). Her work was included in the National Portrait Gallery Portrait Award, 1983.

The portrait shows Elia's 87-year-old mother, Mary, holding a baby who is a composite portrait of her two grandchildren. Mary is surrounded by significant objects from her life including, on the fireplace, an enlarged version of the medal she had recently received for having served in the Land Army and Forestry Corps during the Second World War.

Oil on canvas

Daniel Enkaoua studied at Avni Institute of Art, Tel Aviv. His work has been seen in solo and group exhibitions in Europe, New York and Israel.

The portrait is of Enkaoua's son, Natan, who at the age of four asked his father to paint him as large as was possible. Enkaoua felt the painting acknowledged that his son wanted to be seen as an adult, while adults need to retain echoes of their childhood within them.

Oil on canvas on wooden panel

Born in Barcelona, Miriam Escofet moved to England and gained a BA (Hons) degree in 3D design from Brighton School of Art. She has had solo shows in London and Paris. Her work was included in the BP Portrait Award in 2007 and 2009.

The portrait is of Escofet's friend, Gillian, whom she had wanted to paint for some time. Escofet wanted to capture Gillian's individual style typified by her collection of vintage clothes and artefacts. The initial sittings took place in Gillian's home in natural light.

Oil on canvas

Nathan Ford took a BA (Hons) degree in fine art at Byam Shaw School of Art. His work has been seen in solo exhibitions in Bath and group exhibitions including those of the Royal Society of British Artists (2001, 2002) and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (1999-2006), whose Winsor and Newton Young Artist of the Year Award he won in 2001. His work was included in the BP Portrait Award in 2000.

The portrait is of Ford's friend Paul and was painted in London during January-February 2010.

Oil on wooden board

Foroozanfar studied illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. Her work has been included in the annual exhibitions of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2008, 2009) and in the BP Portrait Award exhibition in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The portrait is of Donovan, the son of a friend of Foroozanfar, shortly after his birth. She says of the portrait: ‘The inspiration was the innate calm and brilliant glow that are uniquely prominent during this newborn stage.'

Oil on canvas

Eliot Haigh is currently undertaking a three-year portrait painting course at Charles Cecil Studios, Florence.

The portrait is of Quena, a sitter whom Haigh has painted twice before. Haigh says of Quena: ‘She is a photographer thus always looking at other people, but I wanted to reverse that process and observe her.' The choice of palette and pose was a deliberate attempt to capture a private moment of contemplation.

Oil on canvas

Bruce Hanke studied fine art at the Pratt Institute, New York. His paintings have been seen in group and solo exhibitions in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts and in international juried exhibitions.

The portrait is of Hanke's son, Charlie. Hanke says: ‘My inspiration for this portrait was the connection and relationship with my sons and how they see me, the things I do that could potentially shape them - good and bad.'

Oil on canvas

Alex Hanna is an artist and part-time teacher of art who studied fine art painting at Sunderland Polytechnic. His work has been seen in group and solo exhibitions in the UK and was included in the BP Portrait Award exhibition in 1998.

The portrait is of Hanna's son, Sandy, who had just finished his first day at primary school, and sat watching the television in an almost trance-like state. Wearing his new school uniform made Sandy look slightly unfamiliar and inspired Hanna to paint his son in his new identity.

Oil on canvas

Jason Harper studied at Bournemouth College of Art and Design.

The portrait is of Jamie, an acquaintance who agreed to sit for a drawing that gradually became the basis for the painting. As the work developed over a period of months Harper says ‘the painting evolved away from a mere likeness of the sitter into something more intense.'

Oil on canvas

Wim Heldens is a self-taught, professional artist whose work has been seen in numerous group and solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States. He was previously selected for inclusion in the BP Portrait Award in 1998 and 2008.

The portrait is of Eric, a soldier in the US army. Eric had learned that he was to be posted to Utah and was trying to come to terms with moving so far from his family and friends. Heldens has painted Eric in his uniform with a depiction in the mirror of the unique landscape around Salt Lake to bring together these contrasting elements.

Acrylic on canvas

Kaye Hodges studied graphic design at Gwent College of Art, specialising in illustration. Her work has been seen in group exhibitions in London and the south east and was included in the National Portrait Gallery Portrait Award in 1981 and 1984.

The portrait shows Hodges's son, Leon, a keen hockey player who plays for his school and his local team, Marden Russets, at Marden in the Weald of Kent. Hodges was inspired by the luminosity of the team's yellow shirts and also wanted to capture her son's growing self-confidence and physical presence.

Oil on linen

Lyndsey Jameson gained a BA (Hons) degree in fine art from Sunderland University. Her work has been seen in group exhibitions in Sunderland and Darlington.

The portrait is of Jameson's younger brother, standing on the banks of the River Tees. His hair is wet and he is smeared with mud from the river bank. He holds a broken branch as a staff with which to guard his playground and looks out for intruders. His temporary childhood ownership of a piece of public land appears to be rite of passage common to many children.

Oil on linen

Mark Jameson took a BA (Hons) degree in fine art at the City of Sunderland University. His work has been seen in group exhibitions in Sunderland and Darlington and was selected for inclusion in the Jerwood Drawing Prize and the BP Portrait Award exhibitions, both in 2009.

The self-portrait is set against a section of the Parisian catacombs. Jameson describes the painting as a ‘memento mori' reminding the viewer that all human life must come to an end. He says the portrait marks ‘the onset of evening and the fading of youth'.

Oil on linen

Diarmuid Kelley studied fine art at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and Chelsea College of Art. His work has been seen in numerous group and solo exhibitions in London. He has won a number of awards including the National Westminster Bank Young Artists Competition and was a runner-up in the BP Portrait Award, 1995.

The portrait is of Kelley's friend, Major Chris Palmer, who had recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is wearing the dress uniform of his regiment, the Light Dragoons.

Oil on canvas

Rosy Lamb studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her paintings and sculptures have been seen in group exhibitions in France, Canada and the United States. She was artist in residence at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, 2001-3.

The portrait is of Lamb's friend Sylvia Whitman with her father George. It was painted in the small flat above the bookshop, Shakespeare and Company in Paris, which he opened over fifty years ago. The shop is now run by Sylvia who commissioned the painting. The title is a quote from George, and was all he said to Lamb over the course of about twenty sittings.

Oil on panel

Peter Layzell undertook a BA (Hons) degree at Coventry Lanchester Polytechnic. His work has been seen in a series of exhibitions at the Portal Gallery, London and has been annually selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition since 1986.

The painting combines a self-portrait with a portrait of Layzell's son Richard reflected in the mirror. Two of the photographs show Layzell's father and one is of the artist's grandfather. Layzell says: ‘I thought of them as I painted my own face and seeing myself gradually turn into my father, as all men seem to do.'

Oil on canvas

Raoul Martinez left formal education at the age of seventeen in order to work as an apprentice in the studio of the artist Paul Benney (also selected for this year's exhibition). Martinez left to set up his own studio after two and a half years, and is working towards his first exhibition.

The portrait is of actor Alan Rickman who is collaborating with Martinez on a project called ‘Creating Freedom', comprising a series of paintings with films by Martinez which Rickman is narrating. Martinez wanted the portrait to capture Rickman's grounded and relaxed presence

Oil on board

Helen Masacz undertook a BA (Hons) degree in fine art at Middlesex University. Her work has been seen in solo exhibitions in London and in group exhibitions in London and Australia and was included in the BP Portrait Award in 2004.

The portrait is of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Masacz approached Johnson to sit for his portrait and was invited to meet him at City Hall when she made drawings and took reference photographs. She included the shell he holds as a reference to the confident public persona he adopts.

Oil on canvas

George Melling studied at Kingston Polytechnic and Chelsea School of Art. His work has been seen in numerous solo and group exhibitions including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (1985, 1986, 2003, 2004, 2008) and the BP Portrait Award in 1990, having won second prize in 1987.

The portrait is of Melling's partner, Jack, who died after thirteen years together. The painting was made from the many portraits and drawings of Jack made during his life. As his age increased, Jack became deaf and so it was necessary to learn sign language. The title derives from one of Melling's earliest memories of their relationship.

Oil on canvas

Miguel Ãngel Moya studied art at the Facultad de Bellas Artes, Valencia. His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions in Spain and can be seen in a group exhibition in New York in summer 2010.

The portrait is of the Almus Quartet: Vicente Antón, Manuel de Juan, Octavio de Juan and Francisco Pastor. Moya graduated as a violinist and has become a friend of the Almus Quartet. For the portrait he posed them in a formation in which they would not usually play, and chose dark clothes to focus attention on their hands, faces and instruments.

Acrylic on linen

Spanish painter, Carlos Muro, is a self-taught artist who was a pupil of the Spanish Surrealist artist, Daniel Quintero. His work has been seen in solo and group exhibitions in France and Spain.

Muro created this multiple viewpoint self-portrait to show himself as accurately as possible. He was interested in showing the isolation and interior dialogue of an artist working alone in the studio.

Oil on linen

David Nightingale is a largely self-taught artist who is developing a series of works using the human body and portraiture as the beginning of the creative process. He has shown work out of his own studio and is planning a solo exhibition in London early in 2011.

This self-portrait was inspired by a painting by Francis Bacon. Nightingale's aim was to ‘portray both the inner and outer self using traditional painting techniques'. He has used studies from multiple angles to create a single, complex image.

Acrylic on linen

Tony Noble took a BA (Hons) degree in fine art at Loughborough University and currently works as an artist and a part-time primary school teacher. His work has been included in group shows at Leeds City Art Gallery.

Noble wanted to create a painting about the things that are important in his life. He chose to paint his studio at Redbrick Mill, Batley, West Yorkshire without tidying up as all the elements are important to his creative practice. Noble chose a pose to show his wife Jackie's elegant hands and felt their 17-year-old cat could not be excluded.

Oil on canvas

Benjamin Ogbebor studied art at Tower Hamlets College and undertook a BA (Hons) degree in graphic fine art at the University of East London. He works as a freelance graphic artist.

Ogbebor made this self-portrait as part of a project to produce a work using oil paints. He worked from reference photographs which he wanted to translate into a more traditional artists' medium. Ogbebor was inspired to create the work after looking at portraits by Rembrandt.

Oil and aerosol gold paint on canvas

Okamura studied at Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Canada and the School of Visual Arts, New York. His work has been seen in solo exhibitions in New York and Canadian cities and was included in the BP Portrait Award 2001, 2002, 2004-6, 2008 and 2009.

The portrait is of Okamura's friend Aimee, a college student, whose views on current world events Okamura was keen to explore and record. Aimee chose to wear a ‘Think Peace' t-shirt for her portrait which Okamura recognised as a sincere gesture and embellished the pose with white flowers as another symbol of peace.

Oil with acrylic background on canvas

Michal Ozibko studied at the Technical College, Sumperk, Czech Republic and at the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague. His work has been seen in several group exhibitions in Prague and Sumperk.

The portrait is of Ozibko's classmate, Jana. Ozibko posed her with iPod earphones to create a representation of how young people often appear closed off to the world. He and Jana are not close friends, giving him the opportunity to create a new persona to depict.

Acrylic on canvas

Thea Penna undertook a BA (Hons) degree in textile and surface pattern design at Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds and an MA degree in printed textiles at the Royal College of Arts. Her work has been seen in several group shows in London, and in a solo exhibition in her home town of Harlow, Essex.

The portrait is of Penna's two-year-old daughter Lila, painted by natural, winter daylight in their home. Penna says of the portrait: ‘I set out to capture the vulnerability that I, as her mother, see and feel all the time'.

Oil on canvas

Nicky Philipps studied at City and Guilds of London Art School and Studio Cecil-Graves. Her work has been seen in numerous exhibitions in London including the BP Portrait Award, 2005. The National Portrait Gallery commissioned her recent portrait of Prince William and Prince Harry for the Collection.

The portrait is of Paddy Renouf, a friend of Philipps and an aspiring artist. Philipps asked him to sit for her when they met at a dinner party. She says: ‘I had the most fun I ever had painting this portrait ... he never stopped talking, but is as interesting and informative as he is a character.'

Oil on board

Renforth trained in fine art and works as an occupational therapist. He has won Northern Arts and Southern Arts artist awards and his work was included in the BP Portrait Award in 2007 and 2009.

The portrait is of Renforth's sister, Debra who works as a nurse in an accident and emergency department in a Northumberland hospital. The pose shows her reflecting on her day.

Oil on wooden board

Rafael Rodriguez trained as an architect at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico and has had his portraits exhibited in museums and galleries in Mexico, Spain, Austria, Sweden, the USA and the UK. His work was previously selected for the BP Portrait Award in 2008 and he won second prize in 2006.

The twelve portraits are of friends, neighbours and people whom Rodriguez met on the street. He says his aim was to make a group of portraits: ‘Not of particular individuals, but of the "apostolic virtues" their faces reflect...I think I captured those virtues.'

Oil on wooden board

Ilaria Rosselli del Turco's work has been seen in solo exhibitions in Italy and several group exhibitions in London including the Royal Society of Portrait Painters' exhibitions (2006 and 2008) and the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2008 and 2009.

The portrait is of Geneva Rosett-Hafter, a professional dancer who has sat for del Turco on several occasions. The painting was completed in one day and was inspired by Italian Renaissance profile portraits where the head is placed following geometrical principles.

Oil on canvas

Giampaolo Russo trained in the fine arts painting faculty of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milan. His work has been seen in solo exhibitions in Zürich and Bern and in numerous group exhibitions in Switzerland and Italy.

The portrait is of Russo's friend Giuseppe, a professional photographer. During the four months needed to complete the portrait, Giuseppe would photograph the canvas after each sitting. Russo describes trying to capture a psychological insight while building the layers of thick paint, saying: ‘I tried to dig deeper into him by doing the opposite of digging.'

Oil on canvas

Fred Schley trained at the Academie voor Beeldende Vorming, Tilburg, The Netherlands. His work has been included in numerous exhibitions including the annual exhibitions of the Royal Academy of Arts (2007, 2008) and the BP Portrait Award in 2008. Portraits by Schley are in the collection of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Royal College of Music, London.

The portrait is of Chris Manders, the director of the Academie at which Schley was a student. Manders continues to follow Schley's work closely, however in this portrait his gaze is fixed on a newly completed building that he is assessing.

Oil on canvas

Nathalie Beauvillain Scott studied at the Atelier de Sèvres, Paris followed by two years studying fine art at Olivier de Serres Art School, Paris. She works mainly to commission and her work has previously been included in the BP Portrait Award in 2004.

The portrait is of Theo Pathitis, the businessman and entrepreneur best known for his appearances on the television series, Dragons' Den. The portrait was commissioned by mutual friends of the artist and sitter as a birthday present for Pathitis. During the sittings Beauvillain Scott came to know Pathitis better and was able to decide which elements of his personality to portray.

Acrylic on canvas

Brian Shields undertook a foundation course at Teeside College of Art and studied at Wimbledon College of Art. His work has been seen in the annual exhibitions of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2000) and was previously included in the BP Portrait Award, 1990.

The portrait is of Shields's partner, Claire, shown holding a book of poetry by the English nineteenth-century writer, John Clare. The painting is intended to show a quiet moment of reflection while reading the poet's work and is part of an ongoing project called ‘Preparing to Fly' which explores Clare's relationship with nature.

Oil on canvas

Benjamin Sullivan trained at Grimsby College of Art and Design and Edinburgh College of Art. His work has been included in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2002), the BP Portrait Award (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009) and won the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2007. His portrait of Lord Rees was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery.

Sullivan is currently Artist in Residence at All Souls College, Oxford where the sitter, Miriam, has been an assistant in the college buttery for many years. Sullivan's project at the college will result in a triptych of twenty-eight portraits of members of non-academic staff.

Oil on canvas

Edward Sutcliffe studied art with art history at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and took a post-graduate diploma at Central Saint Martins, London. His work has been seen in group exhibitions in Seoul and London and was included in the BP Portrait Award exhibition in 2000, 2007 and 2009.

The portrait is of Nora, who is Sutcliffe's girlfriend. The portrait was created from a series of sittings at Nora's London flat.

Oil on wooden board

Shany van den Berg is a largely self-taught artist living and working in South Africa. Her work has been seen in solo exhibitions in Stellenbosch and Johannesburg and in group exhibitions in South Africa and was included the BP Portrait Award 2009.

The portrait shows van den Berg's granddaughter, Leah, with the baby's great-grandmother, Sannie. Van den Berg was interested in exploring the way that family members communicate with newborn babies and contrasting the newborn child's vulnerability with the age and experience of Sannie.

Oil on canvas

Henry Ward studied at Goldsmiths College and undertook an MA at Winchester School of Art. His work has been seen in numerous international exhibitions in New York and London.

The portrait shows Professor Nadey Hakim performing his pioneering procedure the ‘finger assisted' nephrectomy, a method of kidney removal for living donors with significantly improved levels of safety and patient recovery. The painting was made from sittings, photographs and sketches and refers to Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicholaes Tulp. It will eventually hang in the Museums of Surgical Science, Chicago.

From left to right: Dr Said Dee, Dr Arno Roscher, Professor Earl Owen, Professor Rocco Maruotti, Professor Christopher Chen, Professor Nadey Hakim, John Fournier, Dr George Fayad, Professor Adel Ramzy, Dr Biagio Ravo, Professor Refaat Kamel.

Egg tempera on wooden board

Antony Williams trained at Farnham College and Portsmouth University. He won the Arts Club Prize in 2004 and 2008, and was runner-up in the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, 2007. His work has been frequently included in the annual exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts and was included in the BP Portrait Award in 1995, 1998, 2005 and 2007.

The portrait is of Eli, a professional artist's model who sat for the portrait over a period of four months. Williams says: ‘Her look of vulnerability as well as strength were most effectively expressed in a cropped composition.'