An Irish artist with family connections to Fermoy, Cork city and Glanmire has had his work selected to feature in one of the world's most prestigious competitions.

Robert O'Brien who is living and working in London will have a portrait of his girlfriend Carolina in the BP Portrait Awards at The National Portrait Gallery in London, in an exhibition which will run from June 26 until September 21, before the exhibition goes on tour to be displayed at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (October 4 - November 16) and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (November 27 - April 12).

The competition runs every year to encourage artists to paint portraits and this year, 2,377 artists competed for the much sought after 55 places.

This is the second time Robert has been selected. The first time was in 2008 when he won third prize with his portrait of his late grandmother, Hannah O’Brien, who was from Fermoy. The prizes for this year's competition range from over £30,000 for first prize right down to £6,000 for the travel award.

Speaking about the portrait of his girlfriend, which will travel all over the UK in the exhibition, which first opens later this month in London, Robert said:

“My portrait of Carolina is one of many painted over the 12 years that we have known each other. In this painting it is not only Carolina that is recognisable but also something of myself, capturing my worried, sceptical and protective side.”

Robert is a figurative portrait artist who works in mainly oil paint and watercolours. In 2000, he began studying for a bachelor degree at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University. His final year was spent at Stenebyskolan, Sweden, where in 2003 he received his degree in Design. Since then, Robert has put all of his focus on art and painting.

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