The RP's top five portrait artists 2018
Want to know which portrait painters have attracted the most commission enquiries in 2018?
The Commissions Consultant at the Mall Galleries - who works with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (aka RP) - recently published her annual post about the portrait artists attracting the most enquiries about commissions during the annual exhibition (and - but I'm guessing - during the course of the year).
I also took a look back at the artists listed between 2015 and 2018.
It's interesting to see how favourites have changed (and not) over time because it reveals:
The latter includes the heading Very few stuffed shirts and lots more women!
The fuddy duddy factor was seriously reduced!
READ MORE......>>
The Commissions Consultant at the Mall Galleries - who works with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (aka RP) - recently published her annual post about the portrait artists attracting the most enquiries about commissions during the annual exhibition (and - but I'm guessing - during the course of the year).
I also took a look back at the artists listed between 2015 and 2018.
It's interesting to see how favourites have changed (and not) over time because it reveals:
- which portrait painters are perennial favourites
- how a higher profile for portraiture - or change in subject matter / style - can affect the rankings
- why websites matter
In turn, this provides information for those interested in portrait painting as to the preferences of the most important people i.e. the clients with the money who can afford to commission a painting for what will be a not insignificant amount of money.
So - first the rankings and then my commentary on what I think this tells you.
Plus something important to know for those wanting to place a commission - at the end!
Plus something important to know for those wanting to place a commission - at the end!
Top Portrait Artists in 2018
see https://therp.co.uk/top-five-portrait-artists-2018/ and my review of the RP annual exhibition in 2018 - Review: Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition - Unstuffed!The latter includes the heading Very few stuffed shirts and lots more women!
The fuddy duddy factor was seriously reduced!
A Price Guide for Commission fees is listed below for each artist - as listed on the RP website. These always exclude expenses such as frame and the artist's travel and accommodation for sittings.
Commissions start at £8,000 for a 20×16 inches portrait in oils.
He generated the most enquiries in the year in which a portrait of his was also selected for the BP Portrait Exhibition. He became a member of the RP in 2002 and Hon Treasurer 2005. In 2008 was made President, the youngest in the Society’s history. In 2011, Alastair was also commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in London, to paint Tony Blair for their permanent collection. I suspect his three paintings of women of importance in the annual RP exhibition also contributed to his success with queries this year. I particularly liked his portrait of Professor Julia Black of the LSE - and I'm thinking a lot of other women would have done likewise. He also has a very accessible website with nice large images of his portraits.
I do wonder whether his name coming up first in the RP's lists of portrait painters accepting commissions also makes a difference....
Paul Brason RP (http://www.paulbrason.co.uk)
Commission for a single portrait in oil starts at 20 x 16 inches £8,000.
Former President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Alastair exhibited three portraits of eminent women at this year’s exhibition.
Review: Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition - Unstuffed!
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| Professor Julia Black, Interim Director of the London School of Economics 2016 - 2017, and Pro-Director for ResearchAlastair Adams PPRP Oil, 134 x 85 cm, NFS |
I do wonder whether his name coming up first in the RP's lists of portrait painters accepting commissions also makes a difference....
Paul Brason RP (http://www.paulbrason.co.uk)
Commissions start at £7,500 for a 12" x 8" portrait in oil.
David Cobley RP NEAC - https://www.davidcobley.com/Commissions start at 20 x 16 inches £8,500 for a single portrait in oil.
Elected to the RP in 1997.Two portraits in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery. He's been selected for various prestigious art competitions and won a number of awards. In career terms he morphed from being an illustrator into painting portraits on commission - and other paintings (figurative/still lives/interiors). His portraits vary quite a bit in terms of perspective and palette and - I'm guessing - he likes to change the nature of the portrait for the individual who is being painting
Commissions for single portrait in oil start at 20 x 16 inches £6,000
Brason is a perennial favourite - and he's the ONLY one to be identified as a top five portrait artist in the last three years. He was also a a finalist in The National Portrait Gallery’s Annual Portrait Awards from 1980 to 1993. Do look at his impeccable drawings as well as his paintings! He is an excellent draughtsman and master of tone and colour such that he looks like he's painting very accurately whereas he actually simplifies quite a lot but represents what he paints very well. (Check out his paintings of garlic to see what I mean). He also keeps backgrounds simple, plain and unfussy. His subjects look animated rather than stuffed shirts. His self portrait suggests that we need to look to Piero della Francesca (1415-1492) for inspiration and influence on his style. Overall I can well understand why he's very popular amongst those wanting to commission a portrait.
Paul’s commissions have included HRH Prince Philip, Earl Spencer, Sir Roy Strong and may notable figures from the Arts and Academia.PS I also LOVE his drawings of children!
David Cobley RP NEAC - https://www.davidcobley.com/
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| Swifts Forever David Cobley RP NEAC Oil, 104 x 142 cm, NFS |
Vice President of the RP (2002-2008). Well known for being one of the few who paint families - painting her sitters in their homes and also painting children and family dogs - with one dog being included for free! (It's always struck me that liking dogs or cats and being able to paint family pets is a pretty useful asset for a professional portrait painter!) She has also painted royalty and painted a number of commissions for various schools and colleges. She also paints interiors of homes. Her paintings has a very clear painterly style which - I'm guessing - people will either love (or not).
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| The de Laszlo Family Susan Ryder RP NEAC Oil, 111 x 127, NFS |
Commission for a single portrait in oil starts at 20 x 16 inches £8,000.
His Self Portrait entry was used to advertise the 1998 BP Portrait Award which helped to establish his reputation as a portrait painter. Elected a member of the RP in 2016. Has painted over 100 commissioned portraits for corporate and private clients. Strong on suit, shirt and tie portraits. his corporate clients tend to be academic institutions of one form or another. Won the Changing Faces Prize in 2012 for a particularly effective portrait of a young girl with an obvious facial disfigurement. It was both frank and respectful - and I thought it was excellent.
NOTE: Mark Roscoe uses a Flash website. While a popular format some years ago, most browsers have moved away from Flash as a standard and Apple has never liked it which means it's unlikely that the website will be viewed by many using Apple devices. It's a point worth noting by anybody who is using Flash for their website. The lack of a specific URL for individual portraits also means it's impossible to share a portrait you particularly like.
