BP Portrait Award 2009 winners
This year’s exhibition features 56 portraits, selected from a record-breaking 1,901 entries, submitted from around the world
The winner of the BP Portrait Award 2009 is London artist Peter Monkman. His portrait, Changeling 2, is part of a series of paintings of his daughter Anna, made at different stages of her life. The portrait explores the concept of the changeling, a child substituted for another by stealth, often with an elf. ‘I challenge the fixed notion of an idealised image of childhood and substitute it for a more unsettling, complex representation that exists in its own right as a painting,’ he explains. The initial idea for the portrait came from photographic studies of Anna playing in woods in Brittany where the light had a magical quality.
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Currently director of art at Charterhouse School in Surrey, Monkman studied visual arts at the University of Lancaster, John Moores University Liverpool and the University of London. Monkman has had work included in BP Portrait Award exhibitions in 1999, 2001 and 2003.
Second and third prize winners
The second prize of £8,000 is awarded to Michael Gaskell for the portrait of his son Tom who was 17 at the time of the first sitting. 'He was at the period in adolescence between boy and manhood,' Gaskell recalls, 'and, fleetingly, suspended between both.'
The third prize of £6,000 goes to Annalisa Avancini for Manuel. 'His eclectic personality is what attracts me,' she comments. 'His story shines through his face. Despite his young age – just 31 – his life is rich in experience.'
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The third prize of £6,000 goes to Annalisa Avancini for Manuel. 'His eclectic personality is what attracts me,' she comments. 'His story shines through his face. Despite his young age – just 31 – his life is rich in experience.'
BP Visitors' Choice Award
The judges have passed their verdicts on the winning portraits, but what do you think? Everyone has the chance to cast a vote when visiting the exhibition. The painting which proves most popular with the public will be announced later in the year.
In 2008, the BP Visitors’ Choice Award winner was José Luis Corella Garcia for Metamorphosis. Corella Garcia was selected by visitors at all four of the exhibition’s venues.
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In 2008, the BP Visitors’ Choice Award winner was José Luis Corella Garcia for Metamorphosis. Corella Garcia was selected by visitors at all four of the exhibition’s venues.
The BP Portrait Award 2009 exhibition is at:
- National Portrait Gallery, London - 18 June to 20 September 2009
- Southampton City Art Gallery - 28 September to 31 November 2009
- Dean Gallery of the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh – 12 December to 21 February 2010
BP Young Artist Award 2009
Introduced in 2007 for artists aged between 18 and 30, this year’s award goes to Mark Jameson for Benfica Blue.
Jameson painted the portrait of his sister Lyndsey, in less than a month. The sittings took place at his parent’s house in County Durham. He says, 'It was my intention to capture aspects of the subject's persona, but also to convey this in a modern and relevant way. The acrid colours and an informal composition contribute to an accessible and honest account.'
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Jameson painted the portrait of his sister Lyndsey, in less than a month. The sittings took place at his parent’s house in County Durham. He says, 'It was my intention to capture aspects of the subject's persona, but also to convey this in a modern and relevant way. The acrid colours and an informal composition contribute to an accessible and honest account.'
BP Travel Award 2009
Each year, exhibitors can enter the BP Travel Award. The winner travels to a chosen destination to paint local portraits.
Isobel Peachey wins the BP Travel Award 2009. She will journey to Switzerland and Belgium to sketch and paint portraits of people taking part in historical re-enactments. She will visit The Company of Saynt George, a Swiss group re-enacting the history of a small artillery company from the 15th century at the Castle of Lenzburg, near Zurich. She will also see The Napoleonic Association which portrays the life of a military encampment near Antwerp in Belgium. Peachey hopes to capture the unique mix of history, culture, authentic settings and the participants’ passionate involvement in recreating the past.
She receives a bursary of £5,000 to travel and paint portraits for display in next year’s BP Portrait Award exhibition.
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Isobel Peachey wins the BP Travel Award 2009. She will journey to Switzerland and Belgium to sketch and paint portraits of people taking part in historical re-enactments. She will visit The Company of Saynt George, a Swiss group re-enacting the history of a small artillery company from the 15th century at the Castle of Lenzburg, near Zurich. She will also see The Napoleonic Association which portrays the life of a military encampment near Antwerp in Belgium. Peachey hopes to capture the unique mix of history, culture, authentic settings and the participants’ passionate involvement in recreating the past.
She receives a bursary of £5,000 to travel and paint portraits for display in next year’s BP Portrait Award exhibition.
In this section
BP Portrait Award 2009 winners
Related website
Further details on the Portrait Award prize winners
