Kitty image scoops portrait award

Tift says his paintings are "intensely realistic" Enlarge Image

A portrait of Lucien Freud's first wife Kitty Garman by British artist Andrew Tift has won the BP Portrait Award.

Tift was awarded £25,000 and a commission worth £4,000 at London's National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday.

The artist, who lives in Walsall, West Midlands, had exhibited at the Portrait Awards ten times. This was the fourth time he had been shortlisted.

The works of all three shortlisted artists will be on display at the gallery until 17 September.

Tift's painting shows Ms Garman, also known as Kathleen Epstein, in a variety of "talking head" poses inspired by John Freeman's Face to Face TV interviews of the 1960s.

"I work in a highly detailed, intensely realistic manner and aim for an absolutely pure and objective likeness," he said.

"I seek to convey people in the most understanding, intimate and sympathetic way that I can."

'Remarkable'

Judges called the portrait a "remarkable and penetrating study".

It was completed for the New Art Gallery in Walsall.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT AWARDS In pictures: The three winning paintings

The gallery houses an art collection belonging to Garman's family, which includes works by Van Gogh, Monet, Constable and Renoir.

Lucien Freud painted several portraits of Garman during their marriage, the most famous of which is Girl With White Dog, which shows her lying with a breast exposed and a dog on her lap.

The National Portrait Awards have been running for 27 years. A record 1113 entries were received for the competition this year.

Taking second place, and winning £8,000, was Mexican artist Rafael Rodriguez Cruz.

His oil painting, Model 1, was part of a series entitled Model of a Self Portrait.

Glaswegian Angela Reilly won a third prize of £4,000 for her self-portrait.

The awards were presented by Roxy Music singer and art collector Bryan Ferry.