Paintings of Emeli Sandé and Alastair Campbell are to go on display as part of a collection for this year’s National Portrait Award.
The works are among 55 which were picked for the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from nearly 2,000 entrants from 77 countries. They will go on display on Thursday.
Among the other works is a portrait of magician Drummond Money-Coutts by 31-year-old Agnes Toth. She said the illusionist was a “mesmerising character”.
Only two works have been shortlisted for the £30,000 prize announced tonight — John Devane’s portrait of his three children and Suzanne du Toit’s portrait of her eldest son.
The portrait of Sandé, inscribed with handwritten lyrics from her hit Heaven, was completed shortly after the release of her first single in her studio at record label EMI.
Artist Richard Evans, who describes himself as “semi-professional”, said he wanted to capture the “raw” essence of the singer before she became a global star. Paul Barker, 47, an assistant at an online lifestyle store, is being exhibited for the first time thanks to his portrait of Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell.
He said he was inspired to pick the communications strategist because of his mental health charity work. He said: “Alastair has gained a reputation of being tough and I felt there was a much deeper, sensitive side to him.”
