Portrait Artist of the Year

2013•11 series•Entertainment / Music/Arts

Available on Sky Arts

Artists are getting their time in the spotlight with `Portrait Artist of the Year', as a panel of esteemed judges travel across Europe in search of the brightest new star in the art world. Each episode features a regional competition in which contestants are challenged to produce a portrait of one of three famous sitters, and the judges then select who moves onto the semi-final. Top-three finalists have their work displayed in one of the UK's world-famous cultural institutions, and the winner will receive a £10,000 commission to produce an artwork that will become a permanent part of the British Library. Famous sitters featured include Sir Ian McKellen, Sophie Turner, Sophie Dahl, Maisie Williams, Julian Fellowes, Alan Cumming, and many more.

Episode 1Gabrielle, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Grace Neutral

In this first heat, nine artists create new portraits under the watchful gaze of the judges. (S8, ep 1)

Episode 2Gyles Brandreth, Karen Gibson, Sophie Cookson

The competition continues as the artists create portraits and present them to the judges. (S8, ep 2)

Episode 3Alexa Chung, Nish Kumar, Philip Glenister

Kathleen Soriano, Tai Shan Schierenberg and Kate Bryan judge more portraits in the heats. (S8, ep 3)

Episode 4Celeste, Lydia West, Alastair Campbell

The competition continues as the artists create portraits and present them to the judges. (S8, ep 4)

Episode 5Kelly Macdonald, Hugh Skinner, Polly Walker

The competition continues as the artists create portraits and present them to the judges. (S8, ep 5)

Episode 6David Olusoga, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Sergei Polunin

Kathleen Soriano, Tai Shan Schierenberg and Kate Bryan judge more portraits in the heats. (S8, ep 6)

Episode 7Chris Packham, Arlene Phillips, Ali Jawad

The competition continues as the artists create portraits and present them to the judges. (S8, ep 7)

Episode 8Ian Hislop, Emma Dabiri, Daniel Mays

The competition continues as the artists create portraits and present them to the judges. (S8, ep 8)

Episode 9Nick Mason

The competition continues as the semi-finalists create portraits of Pink Floyd founding member Nick Mason. (S8, ep 9) Also in UHD.

Episode 10Barry Humphries

...2021. Barry Humphries: In light of Barry Humphries' death, watch this classic episode which saw the late comedian sit for the contestants. (S8, ep 10)