Margate artist Brogan Bertie has been crowned the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2024, winning a £10,000 commission to paint broadcaster Lorraine Kelly, which will hang in National Galleries Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh.
Brogan, who is a leathermaker, won his heat in week three of the show by producing an exciting interpretation of actor Layton Williams, which judge Tai Shan Schierenberg described as a “a yummy, beautiful piece of painting”.
At the semi-final, his striking depiction of actress Joely Richardson secured his place in the final round of the competition.
Brogan said: “The experience on the show was better than I could have expected – a genuinely encouraging and joyful environment shared with other artists and art-lovers. What an incredible platform the team, the crew, and the judges have created to champion so many different approaches to contemporary portraiture! I feel very lucky to have been a part of it.”
In the final, the artists were put to the ultimate test, tasked with painting a double portrait of acting powerhouse couple Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne. A tense finale ensued but Brogan impressed with his unconventional portrait and his expressive, commissioned portrait of his partner Stef. Brogan competed against Paul Lee, a visual effects animator from Tunbridge Wells, and Jennifer Anderson, a portrait painter from Glasgow.
For the winner’s commission, Brogan depicted TV personality Lorraine Kelly sitting in an Orkney chair, wearing her favourite coat with Angus, her Border Terrier, on the move at her feet. Brogan said: “I wanted to use her outfit to wink towards her playful and conscious interaction with the spotlight while still investigating a more introspective, intimate side of her. The direct gaze is an invitation for the viewer to sit in conversation with Lorraine.”
The painting is on display and free to view at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh now.
Brogan graduated from London College of Communication in 2019 with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Visual Media. He worked in freelance illustration and animation until moving to Margate and training in leatherwork with Cope Studio.
The 29-year-old moved from London to Canterbury where his partner has family and then, four years ago, to Margate.
He said: “I applied {to be on the show} at the start of the year as I wanted to get back into art after taking a break from portraits for a few years.
“I didn’t expect anything but it was really good and one of the most positive experiences I’ve ever had. The production was gorgeous and I was in a room filled with other artists.
“Everyone was doing it to challenge themselves as it is not a normal way to make art, I went in not needing to prove anything to anyone else but just to prove something for myself.”
Brogan says his move to Margate has been brilliant. He said: “I started a queer swimming group when I first moved here and from there just fell in love with being here.”
Brogan says next on the list is “lots more painting” and a visit to family in Dundee so that he can also go and see his painting of Lorraine Kelly in situ at the National Portrait Gallery.
Copyright Andrew Barr Photography.
Imogen Gibbon Deputy Director and Chief Curator of Portraiture at National Galleries of Scotland, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Brogan’s portrait of Lorraine Kelly into the national collection and are excited for our visitors to experience this remarkably instinctive, playful and intimate portrait which wonderfully captures the connection between sitter and artist.
“This is a spectacular addition to Scotland’s collection and an instantly recognisable painting of a well loved and admired Scottish personality. Brogan captures all of the warmth and joy that we are so used to seeing on our TV screens from Lorraine Kelly.”
Portrait Artist of the Year is hosted by Stephen Mangan, with Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryan on the judging panel.
Find out more about Brogan at https://www.broganbertie.com/
Wow, a REAL artist with talent in Margate!
A London Artist living in Margate then……. Not born and bred, like all the others living here. Think it’s time to actually give people who were actually born here a chance to shine.
Eh? It’s a national competition, and everyone has a chance. He just happened to be the best, and as he now lives in Margate, it’s a local interest story.
Some good news for a change, well done.