Exhibitor

Egg tempera on wooden panel

Leslie Watts is a self-taught artist and illustrator whose work has been seen in group and solo exhibitions in Ontario. Watts has illustrated numerous children’s books for publishers in Canada and the UK. Her work was previously included in the BP Portrait Award 2013.

The portrait is of the artist’s son, Stefan. In choosing to use a traditional technique and a damask hanging behind the sitter, Watts wanted the t-shirt worn here to be the only clue that this is a contemporary image. As mother and son no longer live in the same house, some amendments to the composition were carried out via Skype.