Wigan artist's self-portrait selected to appear in prestigious show

Lauras self-portrait which has been accepted into the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition

Laura Quinn Harris said she was “over the moon” that the painting will be part of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ annual exhibition 2020, after several unsuccessful bids to enter the show.

Her artwork, which is named Self-Portrait With Haemorrhage, will be among those on display at Mall Galleries in London in May.

Acclaimed painter Laura, who lives in Swinley, said: “The Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ annual exhibition is a really prestigious show.

“It’s really difficult to get into. I have entered it three or four times now and this is the first time I have been selected for it.

“There’s such a great standard of artwork always at the show from really big, famous artists.

“The Royal Society has quite a few members and at the show there is always about half of the work from members and the other half selected by an open call.

“I was really excited to be in it.”

The 35-year-old’s work has been shown in many different places and she was particularly pleased to be part of this exhibition.

“It’s one of those shows that, as a portrait painter, it’s one of the biggest ones to get into. I’m over the moon to finally be selected for it,” she said.

Laura regularly does portraits of herself and this work is especially striking as it shows her with a haemorrhage in her eye.

She said: “It’s a painting of myself with a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage in my eye. It’s not very pretty.

“I had the haemorrhage before and when I got it for the third time, I thought it would make a good portrait.

“I took some photos of myself at the time and stashed them away and didn’t get round to painting it for a while.

“It kind of looks a bit scary-looking, but it wasn’t painful at all. I kept the palette quite dark and enhanced my freckles a bit.”

The painting was done a few months ago and the show in London, which runs from May 7 to 22, will be the first time it has been exhibited.

Another piece by Laura is currently on display at the Contemporary British Portrait Painters’ inaugural exhibition at CASS ART Islington.

It features work by more than 30 artists, who all met via Instagram, and each measures 30cm x 30xm.

As well as showing her paintings, Laura continues to create new artwork, this time inspired by a trip overseas.

She said: “I am working on a North Korea project at the moment, in between commissions.

“In 2018 I went to North Korea and visited a broad range of people so I can create a series of portraits of a cross-section of society.

“I have completed two paintings so far and I am gradually building up the work from that.”