Just two years after finishing her studies, a UWE Bristol graduate has won the coveted Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2025 title.
Chloe Barnes has made history by becoming the first printmaker ever to take the crown.
Chloe, who studied BA Illustration and MA Multi Disciplinary Printmaking (now known as MA Fine Art Printmaking), at UWE Bristol, impressed judges with her use of monoprinting, a dramatic one shot printmaking technique never before seen on the show.
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Her portraits of Clara Amfo and Mary Berry secured her place in the final, where she ultimately won with a striking monoprint of acting heavyweight Brian Cox, best known for his role in the hit HBO series Succession.
Chloe sealed her victory by creating a striking portrait of the actor Brian Cox – photo: Chris Lobina/Sky
Working with oil based ink on an aluminium plate, Chloe took a bold risk in the final.
Monoprinting allows no revisions, one press, one result, a gamble that paid off with a portrait praised for capturing both likeness and emotion.
2025 marked the twelfth installation of the prestigious competition, which whittled down 72 artists to three finalists.
Alongside a £10,000 prize, Chloe has been commissioned to paint bestselling author, academic and broadcaster professor Hannah Fry for the Royal Society, making her the first woman to create a portrait of a living female scientist for the institution.
Reflecting on her success, she said: “I fell in love with monoprinting during my undergraduate degree.
“My lecturers, the print technicians and the facilities allowed me to experiment and explore the medium, pushing its boundaries and discovering its relevance to the context behind my work.”
Just two years after finishing her studies, a UWE Bristol graduate Chloe Barnes has won the coveted Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2025 title – photo: Chris Lobina/Sky
For Chloe, being commissioned to paint professor Fry, who is currently serving as professor of the public understanding of mathematics at the University of Cambridge, marks a pivotal moment in her career.
She said: “I was delighted to be crowned the winner of this year’s series, becoming the first printmaker to ever win the competition.
“The prize was a commission by the Royal Society to create a portrait of mathematician and broadcaster professor Hannah Fry.
“I am the first woman to paint a portrait of a living female scientist at the Society, and it has been such an honour to champion and empower women in both STEM and the arts.”
On top of the prize money, Chloe was commissioned to paint a portrait of the bestselling author, academic and broadcaster Hannah Fry for the Royal Society – photo: Chloe Barnes
Chloe’s portrait of Hannah Fry will be on public display at the Royal Society from December 15 to 19.
Main photo: Chris Lobina/Sky
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