SKY ARTS PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Curtis Holder wins Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
“Taking part in Portrait Artist of the Year was an exciting, if at times nerve-wracking experience. It was inspiring to work alongside so many talented artists, sharing our stories and our love of creating art.
Throughout the competition I had the honour of drawing wonderful, diverse famous faces, including drag queen The Vivienne, author Bernadine Evaristo and actor Eddie Izzard. Each of them is a pioneer in their field and they were all inspiring to draw.
The challenge to produce each portrait in only four hours created a sense of urgency and energy that encouraged me to experiment, pushing my drawing forward in unexpected ways.
Winning the competition, and the commission to draw ballet dancer Carlos Acosta for the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, was the opportunity of a lifetime. The whole adventure has been a precious and self-affirming experience.”
— Curtis Holder
“Curtis is a bright, pulsing light. He brings a freshness and there’s something really new and exciting about what he’s producing.”
— Kathleen Soriano, Curator and Portrait Artist of the Year Judge
THE PORTRAITS
Carlos Acosta
Winner’s Commission
For the winner’s commission, Curtis drew world-renowned Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta. The portrait is now hanging as part of the permanent collection at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the UK.
Carlos Acosta, coloured pencil on paper, 150 x 120 cm
Eddie Izzard
The Final
In the final, three artists competed in their last four-hour challenge. The sitter was actor, comedian and activist Eddie Izzard, who selected Curtis’s drawing as his favourite work.
Eddie Izzard, coloured pencil on paper, 80 x 120 cm
Family
The Final Commission
The three finalists were briefed to create a portrait of a friend or family member without any time restrictions. Curtis drew his partner Steve and their whippet, Freddie.
Family, coloured pencil on paper, 120 x 120 cm
Bernadine Evaristo
The Semi-Final
In the semi-finals the eight winners of the heats competed for three spots in the final. The sitter was Booker Prize winning author Bernadine Evaristo.
Bernadine Evaristo, colour pencil on paper, 120 x 120 cm
The Vivienne
The Heats
In the first stage of the competition 72 artists competed in a series of heats for a place in the semi-final. The sitter for Curtis’s heat was drag queen The Vivienne, the first ever winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
The Vivienne, coloured pencil on paper, 120 x 60 cm
Self-portrait
Submission
To enter the competition all the artists submitted a self-portrait. From over 1,000 entries, 72 artists were selected to take part in the heats.
Self-portrait, coloured pencil on paper, 59 x 84 cm