South African wins UK’s Portrait Award

South African-born painter Susanne du Toit has won this year’s prestigious BP National Portrait Award in the UK. This is the third time in seven years that a South African walks away with top honours. What a week for South African art – it’s just seven days since Kemang Wa Lehulere won the 15th Baloise Art Prize in Basel!

Susanne’s painting depicts her 35-year-old son Pieter in a striking but subtle expressionist style of painting. Pieter was invited to pose any way he likes, as long as his hands were very visible as Susanne feels that the hands are essential in conveying a subject’s personality. 

In terms of expression, says Susanne: “I look to the body to provide as much expression as the face. Having said that, the averted gaze of this portrait, which was his choice, struck me as characteristic of his reflective character, and became intensely engaging.”

The portrait forms part of a series that Susanne has completed of her entire family. Susanne was born in and studied at Pretoria, before moving on to the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and finally settling in Crowthrone, Berkshire, in the UK in 1994. Her illustrious family includes her daughter Elize du Toit, former Hollyoaks actress, and Elize’s husband, actor Rafe Spall.

With a purse of £30 000 (approximately R470 000) as well as a £5 000 (approximately R78 000) commission from the gallery, the prize is sweet, to say the least, never mind the global renown. Susanne was praised for “her simple but outstanding portrait of her son” by the director of the National Portrait Gallery in London, Sandy Nairn, who also chaired the judging panel.

Family prevailed in this year’s awards, with John Devane being announced as runner-up for the painting of his three children. See a preview of the full exhibition of finalists here – all rather impressive, including an entry by another South African artist, Lionel Smit.

South Africa’s legacy of exemplary portrait painters includes Paul Emsley, who won the BP National Portrait Award in 2007 and painted the official Kate Middleton portrait last year (read more here), as well as Craig Wylie (read our interview here), who won the BP National Portrait Award in 2008.

It is thus hardly surprising then that South Africa should want to celebrate our talent at home with the inaugural Sanlam Private Investment National Portrait Awards (read more here) taking place this year.

The deadline for the Sanlam Private Investments National Portrait Award is 13 August 2013 and the winner of the R100 000 prize will be announced on 27 August. For more info and entry forms, visit spiportraitaward.co.za