Nick Mason sits for portrait artists

Back in August, we told you that the eighth series of ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ would be returning to the UK’s Sky Arts channel and streaming service NOW in August – and yes, there’s relevance to Pink Floyd fans! The series ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’, with hosts Stephen Mangan and Joan Bakewell, brings together a batch of amateur and professional artists as they battle it out to impress expert judges Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryan. On Wednesday, December 8th, it is the semi-final, where each heat winner will paint none other than Nick Mason, taking a break from the preparations for the Saucerful Of Secrets tour next year. The three best portraits will see their artists progress to the grand final. The long-running publication Radio Times previewed the episode: ‘A pink background with a gong centrepiece tips us off that the semi-final sitter is drummer and Pink Floyd co-founder Nick Mason. It makes a change for the musician to be foregrounded: “Finally after 50 years!” he says, with a wry smile.
As the competitors brandish gold foil, fabric and polaroid photos, their styles are described variously as “master of melancholic”, “pure imagination” and “bonkers”. It’s a bewitching watch, and the competition is so tight there’s not a sheet of paper between the artists. “It’s everybody’s to lose,” judge Kate Bryan says about the usual temptation to tinker… A momentary lapse of reason could make the difference. Portrait Artist of the Year will air on Sky Arts, Sky Arts HD, Sky Showcase, Sky Showcase HD, Freeview Channel 11, and streaming service NOW, from 8pm – 9pm on Wednesday, with repeat screenings on December 9th, 11th and 12th, at various times. The following tweet also gives a very quick glimpse of Nick and the gong! Just some out of context @StephenMangan (https://twitter.com/StephenMangan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) for your Monday. Are you ready for the semi-final of #PAOTY (https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAOTY?src=hash ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)?! Tune in this Wednesday at 8pm on @SkyTV (https://twitter.com/skytv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'s #SkyArts (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SkyArts?src=hash ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). pic.twitter.com/d3csCwoRj5 (https://t.co/d3csCwoRj5)— Storyvault Films (@StoryvaultFilms) December 6, 2021 (https://twitter.com/StoryvaultFilms/status/1467895645440725001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)