NRT briefing
Teen who discovered her painting talent in garden shed competes for TV art prize
Based on reporting by BBC News.
The Brief
Makenzy Beard, a 19-year-old painter from Swansea, is set to appear on the TV art competition Portrait Artist of the Year, as reported by BBC News. Beard discovered her talent during the Covid lockdown when she tried her mother's old paint brushes in a garden shed.
She will paint celebrity sitters before a panel of judges, with the winner receiving a £10,000 commission to paint actor Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery.
Beard, who first displayed a portrait at the Royal Academy Summer Show in 2021, has sold paintings for tens of thousands of pounds and raised over £45,000 for charity. She is preparing a second collection of about 20 paintings reflecting her interest in philosophy and covering themes such as animal cruelty, child poverty, and mental health.
Beard noted her work is intuitive and not politically driven, saying she feels "too naive to project" her opinions. She is currently seeking a gallery partnership to exhibit the new collection.