Curtly Thomas

2020_BP_Portrait_Award_work_0378

By Mary Millner

© Mary Millner

Mary Millner had studied at the London Art School at the start of her career and returned to education to take a course at the Royal Drawing School in 2004. Her work has been seen in exhibitions including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Lynn Painter- Stainers Prize and the Jerwood Drawing Prize and is held in private and public collections including those of Westminster Abbey and the Science Museum.

The portrait is of the stylist and South London personality Curtly Thomas. Thomas is widely recognised for his choice of wearing historical costume every day. The artist and sitter were introduced by mutual friends and discovered a shared interest in dressing up and costume. Thomas wears a velvet frock coat from the wardrobe department of the National Theatre.