Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2025
In 2025, I participated in the Sky Portrait Artist of the Year competition. Impressing the judges with my monoprinting practice, I became the first printmaker to win the award, which led to a commissioned portrait of Mathematician and Broadcaster, Professor Hannah Fry, for the Royal Society.
Throughout the competition, I had four hours to produce portraits of prominent figures. In the heats and semi-finals, I created paintings with etching ink on aluminium of Clara Amfo and Mary Berry, who both selected my works to take home. With access to an etching press in the finals, I took the risk to make a monotype of actor Brian Cox, showcasing my medium and use of expressive mark-making to produce emotionally resonant portraits.
For sales enquiries and the full catalogue of available works made during the Sky Portrait Artist of the Year competition, please email contact@chloebarnesartist.com
The Commissioned Portrait | Hannah Fry
Hannah Fry
2025
Mixed-media (monotype, glazing and pastel) on Arches Huile paper
Unique artwork
126 x 94 cm
Following on from winning Portrait Artist of the Year, I was commissioned by the Royal Society to paint a portrait of Mathematician and Broadcaster, Professor Hannah Fry. The work was publicly unveiled at Hannah's David Attenborough Award lecture in December 2025.
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The Finals | Brian Cox
Brian Cox, The Finale
2025
Mixed-media (monotype, watercolour and pastel) on Hahnemühle paper
Unique artwork
80 x 60 cm image size
During the finals, I was tasked with painting actor Brian Cox. Wanting to demonstrate my printmaking process from start to finish, I printed a monotype using an Ironbridge Gunning Etching Press. On the day, I added watercolour and pastel additions, which I later completed in my studio, in the weeks following the finals.
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The Finals | The Commissioned Portrait
Matt, Friend
2025
Mixed-media (monotype, watercolour and pastel) on Hahnemühle paper
Unique artwork
106 x 78 cm sheet size, unframed
In addition to painting Brian Cox, I had to produce a portrait of a loved one over three days to present in the finals. For this task, I painted my best friend and housemate, Matt. The portrait was painted from life in my studio, with watercolour and pastel added post-printing.
The Semi-Finals | Mary Berry
Mary Berry
2025
Etching ink on aluminium panel
100 x 70 cm
During the semi-finals, I painted baker and television presenter, Dame Mary Berry. Without access to an etching press, I made a painting on aluminium using etching ink - a medium comparable to oil paint, but with a higher viscosity.
As a part of the judging process, Mary Berry selected my portrait to take home.
The Heats | Clara Amfo
Clara Amfo
2025
Etching ink on aluminium
80 x 60 cm
For the Heats, my sitter was British broadcaster and radio host, Clara Amfo. I produced a painting with etching ink on an aluminium box panel.
As a part of the judging process, Clara Amfo selected my work to take home.
Self-Portrait | My entry to Portrait Artist of the Year 2025
In The Days That Followed, Self-Portrait
2024
Mixed-media (monotype and charcoal) on Hahnemühle paper
Unique artwork
94 x 72 cm sheet size, unframed
My self-portrait entry to series 12 of Sky Portrait Artist of the Year. The portrait, a monotype with charcoal additions on Hahnemühle paper, was made in the days following a break-up. It was painted from a mirror in my studio.
For sales enquiries, including the full catalogue of available works made during the Sky Portrait Artist of the Year competition, please email contact@chloebarnesartist.com
