‘Portrait Artist of the Year: The Exhibition’ at Compton Verney to feature Series 7 winner Curtis Holder’s drawing of Carlos Acosta

If you are a fan of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year you may be excited to discover that an exhibition celebrating eight years of the TV series will take place at Compton Verney Art Gallery in Warwickshire from 19 February - 05 June 2022.

All of the works I created during Series 7, including my commission piece of ballet dancer Carlos Acosta, will be shown in the exhibition. It will actually be the first time my portrait of Carlos has been on display to the public as the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery remained closed after lockdown due to repair and maintenance work. It’s very exciting, as I haven’t yet seen the work hung yet myself! My portraits of Eddie Izzard, Bernadine Evaristo and drag queen The Vivienne will also be on show, along with my large drawing ‘Family’ of my partner, Steve, and our whippet, Freddie.

The exhibition is being curated by one of the programme’s judges, Kathleen Soriano, and will feature over 120 works of art selected from more than 1,000 artists who have taken part in the programme over the years.

Showcasing the range of styles, media and approaches taken to portraiture, the exhibition will consider past winners and their prize commissions for major museums and galleries, as well as examining how the genre of portraiture has been tested through the range of diverse and personal styles that have been revealed.

Carlos Acosta, coloured pencil on paper, 150 x 120 cm, 2020