Some people say their face is no oil painting.
But for renowned artist Colin Davidson, the oil painting of his face is so stunning it’s won him a £10,000 art prize.
Colin’s impressive artwork has won the Self Portrait Prize 2023, with his winning entry among a number of brilliant self-portraits by artists on display at The Atkinson in Southport.
The Self Portrait Prize is a biennial art prize that celebrates the practice of self-portraiture.
This year’s £10,000 prize, selected from over 1,800 entries, was won by Colin Davidson, an internationally renowned portrait artist who lives and works near Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Colin’s portrait sitters have included Brad Pitt, Ed Sheeran, Liam Neeson, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Lady Mary Peters, Marketa Irglova, Mark Knopfler and Seamus Heaney.
Colin used a 3D printer to create the base for his eye-catching artwork which he completed with oil paint.
He said: “I have been experimenting with 3D printing which then utilises the 3D quality of oil painting and using the paint itself for sculpture work.
“I still see this as a painting, just in a 3D format.”
Works from the Self Portrait Prize 2023 are on display at the Atkinson in Southport. Rob Cowan with his work ‘Rob’. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Colin, who hails from Bangor in County Down, has enjoyed creating artworks for many years.
He said: “I have been an artist since I was one year old and my Mum gave me my first paint brush! I have always loved to paint. I went to art school in Belfast.
“I have been painting portraits for the past 35 years.
“I was so shocked and surprised to find out that I had won.
“I look around this exhibition room at The Atkinson in Southport and there are many more superb self-portraits I prefer to my own.
“There are some very talented artists whose works are on display here.
“It was an honour to have been chosen as this year’s winner. I am truly delighted and thrilled to have won.”
Works from the Self Portrait Prize 2023 are on display at the Atkinson in Southport. Josh Thomson from Glasgow with his work ‘Self Portrait at 26’. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
He would love to see people visiting The Atkinson to see all the artworks on show, with admission free.
Colin said: “I think this exhibition is fantastic.
“The least interesting exhibit in this room is my painting.
“I am constantly drawn to other artists’ work.
“Considering they are all self-portraits, we are allowed a little glimpse into the minds and the lives of the artists who painted them.”
Works from the Self Portrait Prize 2023 are on display at the Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
It was quite a creative process to design his winning entry.
Colin said: “I initially made a model of my face, life size, in wax.
“I then carried out a 3D scan and 3D printed my face in parts.
“I used them as the basis to build the painting, using oil paints.
“There is the basis of a 3D print behind it all.”
Works from the Self Portrait Prize 2023 are on display at the Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The Prize, established in 2011, is the only art competition of its kind to focus on self-portraiture, and was inspired by Ruth Borchard, who between 1958 and 1971 created a collection of paintings dedicated exclusively to self-portraits.
With a small budget, limiting herself to just 21 guineas for each picture, she collected 100 self portraits. The rich and varied collection includes work by many well-known artists including Michael Ayrton, Anne Redpath, Euan Uglow, Itell Colquhoun and Keith Vaughan.
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