Portrait wins a prize in national competition (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Portrait wins a prize in national competition

2:11pm Friday 26th June 2009

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AN UNEMPLOYED artist from Middleton St George, near Darlington, who entered the BP Portrait Award 2009 in a spirit almost of desperation, has won a £5,000 prize.

Mark Jameson, 29, whose picture, Benfica Blue, will be on show at the National Portrait Gallery in London until mid-September, obtained a degree in fine art at Sunderland University in 2003, but then struggled to make a living through painting.

He took up temporary jobs until this year when, after being out of work for four months, he produced a portrait of his sister, Lydsey, and entered the competition.

It took him less than a month, and despite what he refers to in his artist’s statement as its “technical shortcomings”, he has produced a strong portait, in which all the elements combine to convey the character of the sitter and something about her situation. The result is close to photo-realism.

“To be honest, I didn’t think it was totally finished,” said Mr Jameson, whose picture was immediately shortlisted for the Young Artist Award.

“I had a few exhibitions while I was at university, but that is the only time my work has been on display,” he said.

“Since university, I have worked as a barman, a waiter and office worker. I tried working as an artist, but I gave up after a while. I didn’t really have the resources. I didn’t have a studio, so I had to make do with my tiny bedroom.

It was really difficult to get by, so I had to take any job I could get just to make ends meet.”

Miss Jameson, 26, said her brother’s success had been a long time coming. “He has worked really hard and struggled to get it right. People told him to give up, but he stuck at it and now he’s getting the recognition he deserves.”

Speaking of the way he painted her, she said: “It is quite uncontrived, and gives an insight into how it is to live in some of the areas of the North. It looks cinematic, and I think it captures the awkwardness of someone looking at you for a long time.”

Mr Jameson attended last week’s ceremony at the National Portrait Gallery. After winning, he said: “I didn’t expect it. Just being there was good enough, but I’d already ruled myself out.”

He hopes the award will lead to portrait commissions and has a couple of public figures in mind who he would like to paint.

The exhibition will move to Southampton City Gallery and Dean Gallery, Edinburgh, later in the year.

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