Congratulations to RP Toby Wiggins for winning this year’s RP Prize for best Small Portrait with ‘Ezra Aged Six and Three Quarters’. A prize of £2,000 for the best small portrait in the exhibition, measuring not more than 38 x 30.5 cm (15 x 12 inches) unframed.
Toby Wiggins RP, ‘Ezra aged six and three quarters’
How did this portrait start?
I had finished a few quick studies – Ezra was very active at this point. I then sat him in various positions, sitting watching TV in a yellow chair. I thought the colour of the chair really worked and the light captured perfectly.
Yes, I can see there’s a lovely shimmer happening over the painting, is there more than one medium being used?
No, just oil actually. I tend to not use varnish. I tend to sometimes give the paint a light rub with more oil over it, just in some areas and to work the surface again a little. The painting is around 6 months old and sometimes, especially if you work on gesso with oil, the outcome effect can come off in that way.
I just wanted the head and the neck painted for the simplicity of it. I’d say this was around 6/7/8 hours of work broken into small chunks of 10/15 minutes because he just wouldn’t sit still for long enough!
Are those the exact colours from the chair as well?
No, you’re right, the chair is quite a bright yellow. I came back to the study after it was completed and reorganised small elements of it, adding little bits into the background clarifying certain areas and edges.
So in effect, there’s two phases. One being observation from life, using brushes and the other being after that had dried and having had time away from it, I play with and alter it. This was done intuitively but with a feeling for the formal elements working together.
What are you up to now and have coming up?
I’m working on some landscapes. I’m also painting a small portrait for someone in New York which is a commission. Then as far as other stuff, I’m also teaching.
Mark Sepple Photography, PV 2025
