BY CHRISTINA WHITE
A PORTRAIT of a Catholic headteacher has won a major prize.
The depiction of Dom Antony Sutch, headmaster of Downside School near Bath, has been awarded the most prestigious prize in British portraiture.
Catherine Goodman's study beat 661 other entries to win the BP Portrait Award 2002 at the National Portrait Gallery on June 17. Goodman received a cash prize of £25,000 her painting will be on display in the National Portrait Gallery in London until September 15.
The BP prize, now in its 22nd year, was set up to encourage young artists to focus upon and develop the art of portraiture within their portfolio. The judges for the 2002 award included Charles Saumarez Smith, Director of the National Portrait Gallery; Des Violaris, Director of UK Arts and Culture; the artist Nicola Hicks and Andrew Graham Dixon, art critic and broadcaster.
The painting was commissioned by Downside, which has a tradition of commissioning portraits of headmasters. Dom Antony Sutch described himself as "thrilled if mildly embarrassed". He said: "My joy is for Catherine Goodman, who is such a perceptive, subtle artist."
Applicants for next years' award should contact The National Portait Gallery (020 7306 0055) in December for an application form, prize details and regulations.