2020 Nominees

Portrait Artist of the Year

Sky Arts, Storyvault Films Ltd.

UK

Arts & Entertainment - Reality: Competition Series & Game Shows

Since its 2013 launch, the audience for Portrait Artist of the Year has grown exponentially. With over 4 times the slot norm, it is Sky Arts’ highest-rating factual programme ever. High audience engagement sees each episode spark hundreds of tweets. In 2018 it won Broadcast Digital Award for Best Popular Factual Programme and TBI Content Innovation Awards’ 2019 Factual Entertainment Programme of the Year. Key to its success are its positive tone and innovative format. It celebrates achievement over elimination, uncovering genuine talent. Previous winner Christian Hook now sells his paintings for £100k each and Gareth Reid was commissioned to paint Prince Charles. Attracting stellar sitters - 188 since its launch–the shows have featured the likes of Nile Rodgers, Mike Leigh, Sir Tom Jones, Sir Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Graham Norton, David Tennant, and Kim Cattrall. The format has been bought by Denmark’s Mastiff for DRG and was repeated in 2019 on Channel 4 in the UK.