Glasgow artists won big at this year's Scottish Portrait Awards. 

Launched by the Scottish Arts Trust in 2017, the prestigious awards give visibility to both well-established artists and newcomers across the style spectrum, while celebrating the wealth of creative talent in Scotland today.

This year saw two Glaswegians take home the new MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Photography for black and white and colour. 

David Gillanders won the new MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Photography (black & white) along with £2,000, for his portrait ‘The Makers – Alastair. E. Blain, artist & poet’.

Glasgow Times:

The work is part of an ongoing portraiture project depicting Scottish people with an infectious passion for what they do and whose lives are devoted to the pursuit and perfection of their craft.

Speaking on his win, David said: "To win and for your work to be recognised is incredible. One of the great privileges of being a photographer is that you get to meet so many incredible people and walk in their shoes a little bit to try and understand them.

"Alastair, my sitter is a remarkable character, incredibly distinctive and fascinating to speak to – he makes his own paints, he tans his own leather, he is one of those characters who after meeting him, you just keep thinking about him.

"I always like to try to make portraits of people that show more of their character rather than my style as a photographer.

"What you see is a portrait of Alastair – who he is, surrounded by his work, a very proud man, very distinguished, very hard-working, and incredibly passionate about what he does."

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Glasgow Times:

Another winner from the city is Ruaridh Fraser, who won the new MPB Scottish Portrait Award in Photography (colour).

Alongside a £2,00 cash prize, Ruaridh won with his portrait ‘Vanilla in the Kitchen’.

The image captures an intimate moment between brothers during the juvenile budding stages of drag, set against a timeless domestic backdrop.

Glasgow Times:

Ruaridh said: "It means so much to be recognised by the Scottish Portrait Awards in this way. My brother had just started getting into drag.

"We decided that my parents’ retro kitchen would be a great setting for a photo shoot as it would become a timeless backdrop, just as my brother, in his drag, was timeless and not pinpointed to a particular moment in time.

"The film came out very dark because it was set to the wrong settings but this added to the image, bringing in all these other colours.

"It was a lot of luck and chance but it worked out really well."

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Presenting the awards in photography, Simon Murphy, chair of the photography panel, said: “One of the most exciting things for me about this competition is the opportunity it gives those new to the medium to have their work displayed alongside some of Scotland’s best and most experienced practitioners.

"What matters is the power of the portrait, and everyone has the capability to produce a memorable and meaningful image whether it’s a meticulously crafted portrait or a simple captured moment that exudes joy and energy.

"Expanding the exhibition to include categories for colour and phone photography makes the competition even more relevant and accessible.”

The Scottish Portrait Awards 2023 exhibition is free and will travel to the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery at the Glasgow Art Club from January 19 until February 29.