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# Local artist makes final four
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/local-artist-makes-final-four/
- Published: 2019-05-06T22:31:04.000Z
- Updated: 2019-05-07T09:20:11.000Z
- Description: A University of Brighton graduate is among four artists shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award at London’s National Gallery, considered one of the UK’s most prestigious art competitions.
- Author: Besi

## A University of Brighton graduate is among four artists shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award at London’s National Gallery, considered one of the UK’s most prestigious art competitions.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web-600-19.jpg)

**CHARLIE Schaffer** said his painting has not only proved successful but it also helped him and his subject recover from depression: *“It became our therapies.”*

Charlie, who graduated in Fine Art Painting BA(Hons) in 2014, is no stranger to success. He previously beat a field of 2,000 to win the **Lynn Painter-Stainers** title Young Artist Award and he later collected the **Brian Botting** Prize *‘for an outstanding representation of the human figure’* three times.

This time Charlie and his co-finalists were selected from 2,538 entries from 84 countries and were chosen anonymously by a panel which included writer and presenter **Gaylenbe Gould**, artist **Gary Hume** and curator **Zoé Whitley**.

This year is the Award’s 40th year at the National Portrait Gallery and 30th year of sponsorship by BP.

The award has a first prize of £35,000, making it one of the largest for any global arts competition. The winner also receives, at the Gallery’s discretion, a commission worth £7,000, agreed between the National Portrait Gallery and the artist. The second prize winner receives £12,000 and a third prize winner £10,000.

![Imara](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web-400-1.jpg)

Imara

**Charlie said of his nomination:** *“At first there was a sense of disbelief, and then I felt a massive wave of relief. I had been working on this painting, primarily the fur coat, in an incredibly intense manor leading up to the deadline. It was only after receiving the acceptance email that I realised how glad I was that the hard work had paid off.*

*“Finding out about being shortlisted was a strange experience – we found out almost a month ago, and the prize giving isn’t for another month, so it was a bizarre mix of being excited whilst simultaneously suppressing that excitement in order to ensure I could still carry on working undistracted.”*

Charlie’s entry is a portrait of his close friend, **Imara** in her Winter Coat. The 27-year-old, originally from London, met Imara, an English Literature student, after he moved permanently to Brighton.

**He said:** *“What I look for in sitters is essentially honesty, or a willingness to be open. Imara immediately strikes one as having these qualities. This painting took four months, three times a week for three hours at a time, and occurred during a time in which both of us were going through quite a severe depression. This painting became both of our therapies, our saviour, our reason to get up in the morning and carry on.”*

Charlie described his time at the University as *“golden”*. **He said:** *“The course was a fantastic one in my eyes. You were expected to go into the studio, with no brief and to just make work, teaching you the importance of self-motivation, something that is integral to one’s future life as an artist.”*

Prize winners will be announced on June 10, 2019 and the BP Portrait Award 2019 exhibition will run at the National Portrait Gallery from June 13 to October 20, 2019.