Stuart Pearson Wright

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Stuart Pearson Wright (born 1975) is an English artist, known principally for his portraits, Wright also works in sculpture, film and printmaking. He is first prize winner of the 2001 BP Portrait Award.

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Early life and education

Stuart Pearson Wright was born in 1975, and went to school in Eastbourne, Sussex [1] and graduated from Slade School of Fine Art, [2] University College of London (1995–1999), receiving a B.A. in Fine Art.[ citation needed ]

Career

When Wright was 25 the National Portrait Gallery acquired his painting of the actor John Hurt. [1] The NPG also holds a pencil drawing of actress Parminder Nagra created by him in 2004, as well as a number of other British actors including Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall,Daniel Radcliffe, Nonso Anozie and Alan Rickman. [3]

An exhibition of his work entitled Halfboy was on show at The Heong Gallery of Downing College, Cambridge from 2 November 2018 to 6 February 2019. [4]

He was the featured artist in the first episode of the second series of the BBC TV series Extraordinary Portraits , where he painted a portrait of fundraiser and cancer survivor Harriet Middleton. [5] He subsequently donated the painting to Shetland Museum. [6]

Wright is currently represented by Flowers Gallery London and had a solo exhibition there in November 2023 called Miscellanalects.[ citation needed ]

Awards

Wright won the BP Travel Prize in 1998. [7]

In 2001 he won the BP Portrait Award with his painting of six presidents of the National Academy. It was described as "astounding", showing the men surrounding a dead chicken. [7] As part of his prize he was commissioned to paint author J K Rowling, and that painting is part of the National Collection.

Wright won the Garrick/Milne Prize [2] in 2005.

Personal life

Wright was conceived by artificial insemination, and grew up not knowing his father. However in 2019, following a DNA test, Wright discovered the identity of his Father, made contact and was received warmly. He has now been fully assimilated into his paternal family. [1]

He is separated from his wife, the musician Polly Wright and they have a son and a daughter. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lucasta Miller (20 May 2006). "Enigma of arrival". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 Stuart Pearson Wright (1975-), Artist
  3. ↑ "Parminder Nagra". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  4. ↑ Downing College website, http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/cultural-life/heong-gallery/upcoming-exhibitions/halfboy-stuart-pearson-wright
  5. ↑ "BBC One - Extraordinary Portraits, Series 2, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "The 'Harriet' unveiling honours phenomenal fundraising effort". Shetland Museum & Archives. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  7. 1 2 Maev Kennedy (20 June 2001). "BP prize for old flesh and fowl art". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Jessica Salter (29 November 2013). "Stuart Pearson Wright on Elvis, Keira Knightley and fatherhood". The Telegraph . Retrieved 10 February 2014.


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