Breech! by Ben Sullivan winner of the 2017 BP Portrait Award

Benjamin Sullivan wins BP Portrait Award 2017

In creating ‘Breech!’ Benjamin wanted to celebrate the love that had come into their lives and reflect on the worrisome time that the couple faced during Edith’s birth. Breech! depicts the artist’s wife Virginia breastfeeding their 8 month old daughter Edith, at a time when Sullivan says ‘a sense of calm descended after the usual period disarrangement…

Emma Hopkins, Lucy 100x70 oil on cotton

Rising Stars, two very different new Members

David Caldwell and Emma Hopkins have been elected Membership Artists who represent very different approaches to portraiture.  These new Members have been through the Society’s very rigorous selection process to achieve full Membership.   David Caldwell David Caldwell was born in Helensburgh in the West of Scotland in 1977. He studied at the Glasgow School of…

Richard Foster, Self Portrait

Our New President Richard Foster

Richard Foster is elected to the post of President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters “It is a real privilege to stand in the footsteps of great portrait painters such as Sir William Open, Augustus John and John Ward,” believes Richard. “As President, I will strive to ensure that we encourage and attract truly…

Part of Richard Foster's installation for East Lexham Church Norfolk

Art for church

    Richard Foster’s installation of art for the church in East Lexham, Norfolk, will stir further interest when an exhibition of preliminary works opens. Richard’s traditional religious works use contemporary portraits in their biblical scenes.  Maybe, if you see this exhibition, you will be in the company of angels!   Exhibition opens 10:00am to 4:00pm…

David Cobley 'Made to Measure' portrait of a taylor in his work place for portrait exhibition at Mall Galleries 2017

About the 2017 portrait exhibition

Portrait Exhibition Royal Society of Portrait Painters 4 to 19 May 2017  Mall Galleries, London SW1 This prestigious exhibition at Mall Galleries in central London acts a fascinating barometer of current trends. It is curated from recent portraits by our Members together with the best work from an open entry. In 2017 the open entry attracted almost…

Simon Davis 'Open Eye Signal' a portrait of Aliona Andrianova

Focus on Simon Davis with Aliona Adrianova

Portrait photographer Aliona Adrianova has taken portraits of members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. These form part of her series on contemporary artists in the setting of their own studios. Here, the photographer sets out not only to capture the true personae of the artists as creators, but also to explore their special affinity…