The winners of this year’s Scottish Portrait Awards, Scotland’s biggest awards for portraiture, have been announced with two Glasgow-based creatives scooping prestigious awards.
Graeme Wilcox, Glasgow is the winner of the Sutherland Independent Scottish Portrait Award in Fine Art and £5,000 with his painting ‘D in Stripes’.
The judges were unanimous in their choice, describing the work as ‘exceptionally painted’. Graeme Wilcox has submitted works to the Scottish Portrait Awards for many years but this is the first time he has achieved recognition.
Of his win, the artist said: "I've painted Daria a few times but usually she appears as a sort of ‘character’ in my work. In this painting I feel it’s much more a portrait of her. It’s a boost to be selected and great to be recognised in such a strong exhibition."
The new Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Award and £500 prize was won by Ritchie Patton, Glasgow with his entry ‘Trampoline’.
READ MORE: Works by Queen Victoria’s favourite artist to go on show in Dunfermline
By focusing on very recent portraits taken across the country since January 2023, the exhibition aims to create a virtual portrait of Scotland Now! The free to enter exhibition includes over 50 shortlisted works presented on a rolling screen that is travelling with the Scottish Portrait Awards exhibition.
Asked why he chose to enter the winning image, Mr Patton said: "I take a lot of photos of my children with my phone and I try to apply the same creativity and thought process as I do with other cameras.
"Like many, we spent a lot of time on the trampoline that summer. The texture of the trampoline net over the half in shadow face of my daughter added a little mystery."
Responding to what being the award’s very first winner means, he added: "I'm extremely happy to win the award, as a photographer it's always exciting to be recognised especially when judged by other excellent photographers.
"The money will aid in a trip I had planned next year to take photos on the isle of Skye possibly travelling in a campervan with my family."
Other top prize winners include Jennifer Charlton from Duns, winner of the MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Colour Photography and £2,000, the first female photographer to win the accolade. The winning photograph is one of a series from Jennifer’s BA Hons degree titled ‘A Hidden Community’, depicting volunteers who each courageously shared their stories on mental health.
Kayhan Jafar-Shaghaghi from Edinburgh has won the new MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Black & White Photography and £2,000 with the portrait ‘Chiselled Essence: Masculine Reverie 1’ which challenges the conventional idea of portraiture in photography.
Open to anyone over 16 years, born, living or studying in Scotland, regardless of experience, the Scottish Portrait Awards has quickly established itself as a barometer of contemporary Scottish art practice, giving visibility to a mix of well-established artists as well as newcomers.
The Scottish Portrait Awards 2024 exhibition can be seen at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh until September 28 before travelling to Duff House, Banff from October 4 to January 31, 2025 and to the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery at the Glasgow Art Club from February 8, 2025 to February 27.
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