Makenzy Beard, a 19-year-old artist from Swansea, is set to appear on the SkyArts television program Portrait Artist of the Year. Beard discovered her artistic abilities during the Covid lockdown when she began experimenting with her mother’s painting supplies in a garden shed.
The competition requires participants to complete portrait paintings of celebrity subjects while being observed by a panel of judges and television cameras. The winner receives a £10,000 commission to paint British actor and musician Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery. Beard expressed confidence about participating, stating she felt prepared for the competitive format after having watched previous seasons of the program.
Beard has already achieved significant success in the art world. She displayed one of her early portraits at the Royal Academy Summer Show in 2021 and has since sold paintings for thousands of pounds each. Her work has also generated over £45,000 in charitable fundraising efforts. She is currently developing her second major collection, which will comprise approximately 20 paintings exploring her philosophical interests and perspectives on global issues.
The upcoming collection addresses subjects including animal cruelty, child poverty, and mental health, alongside lighter treatments of everyday challenges. Beard described her artistic process as primarily intuitive rather than formally trained, allowing her work to evolve organically. She noted that her recent pieces contain greater conceptual depth than her earlier work. She is currently seeking partnership with a gallery to exhibit her new collection and indicated openness to her work becoming more politically engaged as she gains maturity and experience.
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