The Future is Female and She’s Black

Acrylic on canvas board
61cm x 51cm

I am a social realist portrait painter interested in reflecting modern society and its diversity. My aim is to produce work that encourages people to question what contemporary portraiture can be and to facilitate discussion around broader themes and not just a study of a single individual. My work has been selected for exhibitions throughout the UK and is held in both private and public collections. I have been shortlisted twice for ‘Artist of the Year’ by the country’s leading art magazine. In 2018, I had a solo show at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery and, in 2020, I was selected for the John Moores Painting Prize, Britain’s foremost contemporary painting competition. I am an elected member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) and the Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP).

This portrait of the inspirational businesswoman Claire Worthington, was painted for Black History Month 2021. Worthington is well known in Stockport, Greater Manchester for her voluntary work in the community. A passionate believer in breaking down anachronistic stereotypes of women, she is part of The Goodness Collective, a group that helps unemployed women overcome the challenges that they face.

During the first portrait sitting, I was struck by her strength and determination; by her passion to help and protect others, particularly for those in need, and by her refreshing belief in truth and honesty. Her T-shirt, ‘The Future Is Female And She’s Black’, beautifully sums up her passion for societal change. As the painting progressed, I became increasingly interested in the position of her hands; of her holding her ring finger, and of its compositional importance within the painting’s narrative. The Romans believed that there is a vein, called the Vena Amoris, which runs directly from the ring finger to the heart. I believe the way Worthington is holding her ring finger represents her heartfelt belief in who she is, the power of past, present and future, and of her steadfastness as a strong, independent woman, wife, mother and grandmother.