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Swansea teenager Makenzy Beard features on Portrait Artist of the Year
Overview
Nineteen-year-old painter Makenzy Beard from Swansea, who discovered her talent during the Covid-19 lockdown, is competing on SkyArts' Portrait Artist of the Year. Beard has previously sold artwork for tens of thousands of pounds and raised over £45,000 for charity. She is currently preparing her second collection, which incorporates her interest in philosophy and addresses themes such as animal cruelty, child poverty, and mental health.
Key points
- Makenzy Beard is a 19-year-old artist from Swansea competing on television's Portrait Artist of the Year.
- She discovered her painting talent during the Covid-19 lockdown while using her mother's old paint brushes in a garden shed.
- The competition winner receives a £10,000 commission to paint actor and musician Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery.
- Since displaying a portrait at the Royal Academy Summer Show in 2021, she has sold artwork for thousands of pounds and raised over £45,000 for charity.
- Her upcoming second collection features approximately 20 paintings reflecting her view of the world and interest in philosophy.
- Her latest works cover topics including animal cruelty, child poverty, and mental health.