A former Blackburn College student, who studied the first ever year of the Lancaster University-approved BA (Hons) Fine Art degree, is one of three artists to have been shortlisted for the National Portrait Gallery’s BP Portrait Award 2020.

Michael Youds, from Blackburn, had his piece ‘Labour of Love’ put forward for the award.

Having been selected from 1,981 entries from 69 countries, Michael is now in the running for the £35,000 First Prize at the virtual exhibition on Tuesday 5^th May 2020.

Michael (38) said: “I am really happy to be nominated for the top prize at the BP Portrait Award 2020. It is a competition that I have wanted to be shortlisted in for a number of years and to be in alongside artists that I hugely admire is a very nice feeling.

“It is definitely the highlight of my art career so far and it has given me a huge confidence boost about my own work. I left Blackburn College in 2004, so it's not been an overnight success by any means. In December, I was honoured to win the Scottish Portrait Awards but this, being a national competition, would feel like a huge step up.”

Michael works as a gallery attendant at the National Galleries of Scotland, but he is also an award-winning artist in his own right and devotes most of his free time to painting portraits and still life at his studio in the city.

His work has previously been selected for exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. In 2019, he won first prize in the Scottish Portrait Awards for a painting of him and his twin brother, David, who is also an artist.

Blackburn College is an Associate College of Lancaster University. 85% of higher education provision offered at the College is validated by Lancaster.

Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Lancaster University Gerry Davies said: “Lancaster University has, for many years, supported regional colleges to deliver the very best quality teaching and students’ support, and is proud to award Lancaster degrees to their hardworking students.

“Over the years Lancaster has worked with Blackburn and Blackpool colleges to build up an array of excellent programmes taught through their University Centres.

“The Fine Art degree at Blackburn is innovative and sharply focused to prepare students for careers in the creative industries or, as in Michael’s case, successful careers as artists.

“It is a testament to the skills and dedication of colleagues at Blackburn that many students go on to enrich the region by founding start-ups, teach the next generation or work as artists, designers and consultants.”