Louis Theroux, Rylan Clark and Sheridan Smith sit for a new series of Portrait Artist of the Year

A new group of famous faces are preparing to sit still and be painted as Portrait Artist of the Year returns to Sky Arts and NOW this October for its 13^th series.

Among this year’s sitters are Louis Theroux, Rylan Clark, Sheridan Smith, Vanessa Williams, Joanna Scanlan, Dexter Fletcher, Grace Dent, Michelle de Swarte, Munya Chawawa and Deborah Meaden, alongside figures from music, theatre, literature, food and sport.

The competition also introduces a new judging panel, with portrait artist Jonathan Yeo, Frieze EMEA director Eva Langret and art historian Katy Hessel joining returning host Stephen Mangan.

As ever, artists from across the UK will compete to capture their sitters against the clock, with the series building towards the chance to win a major National Portrait Gallery commission.

The semi-final will see Bridgerton stars Daniel Francis and Ruth Gemmell take their places in front of the easels, while Heston Blumenthal will sit for the final.

This year’s eventual winner will go on to paint Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery, giving the competition a high-profile commission at the end of its run.

With a mix of well-known personalities and a refreshed judging line-up, the new series keeps the familiar format but gives viewers plenty of new faces to watch emerge on canvas.

The editorial unit

Portrait Artist of the Year is released on Sky Arts and NOW from 7^th October 2026.