Stuart Pearson Wright


Stuart Pearson Wright is an English portrait artist, winner of the BP Portrait Award.

Life and works

Wright went to school in Eastbourne, Sussex and graduated from Slade School of Fine Art, University College of London, receiving a B.A. in Fine Art.
He won the BP Travel Prize in 1998. When he was 25 the National Portrait Gallery acquired his painting of the actor John Hurt.
In 2001 he won the BP Portrait Award with his painting of six presidents of the National Academy. It was described as "astounding", showing the men surrounding a dead chicken. As part of his prize he was commissioned to paint author J K Rowling and that painting is part of the National Collection.
Wright won the Garrick/Milne Prize in 2005. An exhibition of his work entitled Halfboy was on show at The Heong Gallery of Downing College, Cambridge from 2 November 2018 to 6 February 2019.

Personal life

Pearson-Wright was conceived by artificial insemination, and does not know his father.
He is married to Polly and has a son, named Wulfred.