THE winners of Scotland’s biggest awards for portrait photography and art have been announced.
Graeme Wilcox from Glasgow picked up the Sutherland Independent Scottish Portrait Award in Fine Art at the Scottish Portrait Awards over the weekend.
His painting entitled D in Stripes, which shows model Daria sitting in her dressing gown, was praised for the “strong sense of identity and personality in the sitter”.
After taking home the £5000 prize money, Wilcox said it was a “boost” just to be nominated.
“I've painted Daria a few times but usually she appears as a sort of ‘character’ in my work,” he said.
“In this painting I feel it’s much more a portrait of her. It’s a boost to be selected and great to be recognised in such a strong exhibition.”
Elsewhere, Jennifer Charlton from Duns became the first female photographer to take home the MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Colour Photography and £2000 for her portrait of a swimmer.
The winning photograph was taken as part of her BA Hons degree portfolio entitled A Hidden Community, which depicted people who had chosen to share their experience with mental health issues.
“For a number of years I’ve worked as a sports photographer in the male dominated arena of boxing,” said Charlton.
“Every time I stand ringside as the only woman amongst all the other photographers, I hope one female might see me and decide she wants to try it as well.
“Going to college to study photography as a single mum, I had no idea how I was even going to find a weekly sitter for the evening class, the logistics of doing a degree was unthinkable.
“I hope to inspire others in difficult circumstances that anything is possible if you want it enough.”
The MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Black & White Photography went to Kayhan Jafar-Shaghaghi, who also took home £2000 for his efforts.
Jafar-Shaghaghi’s winning photo shows a naked man facing away from the camera and was praised for its “great sense of quiet and an almost graphic quality.”
One judge said: “It is the biggest image in the photography exhibition, yet it was not the size of the work that drew our attention.
“Even if the work had been much smaller it would still have been a favourite.
“We love that it is a collaborative piece between the photographer and the sitter.”
Chris Close’s portrait of the Scottish author James Kelman took home the Albert Watson Portrait Prize while Ritchie Patton from Glasgow beat more than 1500 other entries to win the Scotland Now! Phone Portrait Award.
The Scotland Now! Award seeks to focus on recent portraits taken on a phone by anyone in Scotland and is free to enter.
Patton’s winning photograph shows a young girl looking through the netting of a trampoline.
“I’m extremely happy to win the award,” said Patton.
“As a photographer it’s always exciting to be recognised especially when judged by other excellent photographers.
“The money will aid in a trip I had planned next year to take photos on the Isle of Skye possibly traveling in a camper van with my family.”
The Scottish Portrait Awards 2024 exhibition can be seen at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh until September 28.
It will then travel to Duff House, Banff from October 4 to January 31 and to the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery at the Glasgow Art Club from February 8 to February 27.
