On the 6th of Feb I received a message from Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year asking me if I would be interested in applying for this year’s competition. My application was successful and I competed in heat 4 on the 4th of April at Battersea Arts Centre, London. The day went so well for me, my painting was chosen by my sitter Kyla Harris and I made the top 3 to go into the semi final but unfortunately didn't get through. I received some lovely comments from the judges during the day but my favourite was from judge and artist Tai Shan Schierenberg when he said "Ian's got this magical touch were he puts down very little but it says so much" - my episode was shown on Sky Arts tv on 1st October - the power of Art!