TV Tonight: Rylan joins Portrait Artist of the Year

Rylan Clark is swapping the television studio for the portrait chair tonight as Portrait Artist of the Year returns with another fascinating artistic challenge.

The popular Sky Arts competition continues at 8pm tonight, with host Stephen Mangan welcoming nine talented artists who will attempt to capture three well-known personalities on canvas.

Alongside Rylan, the portrait sitters include celebrated musician Alison Balsom and acclaimed theatre director Jamie Lloyd, as the contestants put their artistic skills to the test in the hope of impressing this year’s judging panel.

Jonathan Yeo, Eva Langret and Katy Hessel will be examining the finished portraits, but which artists will demonstrate the talent and creativity needed to progress in the competition?

What happens in Portrait Artist of the Year tonight?

Tonight’s episode sees nine artists given the task of painting one of three famous faces: broadcaster Rylan Clark, musician Alison Balsom or theatre director Jamie Lloyd.

With a limited amount of time to study their subjects and bring their portraits to life, the contestants must demonstrate not only technical ability but also an understanding of personality, expression and character.

Stephen Mangan returns to guide viewers through the competition, while the new judging panel will assess the artists’ efforts.

For the contestants, capturing a recognisable likeness is only part of the challenge. They must also produce something distinctive that reflects their individual artistic style.

With three very different personalities sitting for their portraits, there should be plenty of variety in the finished artwork.

Who is sitting for Portrait Artist of the Year this series?

The thirteenth series features an impressive collection of celebrity portrait sitters from the worlds of entertainment, music, television, sport, politics and the arts.

This year’s line-up includes:

Television and broadcasting: Rylan Clark, Louis Theroux, Yalda Hakim and Grace Dent.

Actors and entertainment: Vanessa Williams, Joanna Scanlan, Dexter Fletcher, Sheridan Smith, Arti Shah and Lennie James.

Music and comedy: Alison Balsom, Danielle de Niese, Grace Campbell, Munya Chawawa, Michelle de Swarte, Kojey Radical and Danny Beard.

Arts, business and other notable personalities: Jamie Lloyd, Deborah Meaden, Jeremy King, Anthony Scaramucci, Nikita Gill, Jung Chang and Matt Weston.

The series will also feature Bridgerton stars Daniel Francis and Ruth Gemmell, who will sit for portraits during the semi-final.

Meanwhile, culinary pioneer Heston Blumenthal will take his place in the portrait chair for the highly anticipated final.

It is another eclectic collection of personalities, giving the artists plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their versatility.

Who are the Portrait Artist of the Year 2026 judges?

This year’s series introduces an entirely new judging panel, bringing together three respected figures from the worlds of portraiture, contemporary art and art history.

They will be responsible for assessing the contestants’ work and deciding which artists have the potential to become this year’s Portrait Artist of the Year.

Jonathan Yeo

Jonathan Yeo is widely regarded as one of the leading portrait painters of his generation.

His work includes striking portraits of some of the world’s most recognisable figures, including King Charles III and David Attenborough.

Known for his psychologically engaging approach to portraiture, Jonathan brings considerable experience and expertise to the competition.

Eva Langret

Eva Langret is Director of EMEA at Frieze and an influential figure in the contemporary art world.

Viewers may also recognise her from Landscape Artist of the Year, where she joined the judging panel last year.

Her knowledge of contemporary art and the wider creative industry will bring a fresh perspective to the competition.

Katy Hessel

Completing the new panel is art historian, curator and broadcaster Katy Hessel.

She is the founder of The Great Women Artists, a widely celebrated platform dedicated to highlighting the work of female artists throughout history.

Katy has become an influential voice in conversations about art, particularly through her work championing artists who have historically been overlooked or underrepresented.

Together, the three judges bring a wealth of knowledge and different perspectives to the thirteenth series.

What is new about Portrait Artist of the Year series 13?

The latest series marks a new chapter for the long-running Sky Arts competition, with its new judging panel bringing a different dynamic to the programme.

The format remains focused on discovering talented artists from across the UK, celebrating their creativity and challenging them to produce portraits of well-known personalities.

The winner will receive one of the most prestigious opportunities associated with the competition: the chance to paint legendary British actor and musician Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery.

It is a remarkable prize and an opportunity to have their work associated with one of the country’s most important artistic institutions.

Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted at Sky UK said: “Portrait Artist of the Year continues to surprise and inspire us with the extraordinary range of talent on show, and we’re delighted to introduce our new panel of expert judges to put the artists through their paces. With another brilliant mix of sitters on the way, we can’t wait to put artists and their creativity centre stage as we celebrate the very best of the UK’s vibrant arts community.”

When is Portrait Artist of the Year on Sky Arts?

Portrait Artist of the Year continues tonight at 8pm on Sky Arts.

Stephen Mangan returns as presenter, with Jonathan Yeo, Eva Langret and Katy Hessel judging the artists’ portraits.

With Rylan Clark, Alison Balsom and Jamie Lloyd among tonight’s celebrity sitters, viewers can look forward to another entertaining celebration of artistic talent.

And with the chance to paint Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery awaiting the eventual winner, the competition is sure to become increasingly exciting as the series progresses.

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