We are proud to announce that Isabella Watling (2007) was awarded second prize in the National Portrait Gallery’s Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award for her striking “Zizi” (2023) portrait.
Considered one of Britain’s leading female portrait artists, Isabella trained during her formative years at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence. She received rigorous training in sight-size portraiture, following the tradition of masters like Van Dyck, Velázquez, and Sargent.
In keeping with this approach and testament to Isabella’s success, Isabella’s portraits are painted to the scale of life, under natural light, and always directly from the sitter. The Royal Society of Portrait Painters has exhibited her work as part of The Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Prize. Isabella’s work was also previously selected for the Portrait Award in 2012 and 2014.
Since its inception over 40 years ago, the prestigious Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries and showcases the best contemporary portrait paintings.
Isabella’s second prize winner, “Zizi,” was selected from 1,647 shortlisted entries. It is a portrait of the artist’s friend, painted while the sitter was finishing a master’s degree in Textiles. Portrayed wearing a shimmering, pale pink dress with visible piercings and tattoos, the choice of outfit and the textures of different materials nod to Zizi’s creativity and personality.
When asked what Isabella’s advice would be to the young, aspiring artists of St Hilda’s, Isabella answered, “Draw from nature, not photos, as it trains your eye the best. Also, study the old masters because you can learn much from whatever direction you choose.”
