Winning artist's drawing is up for auction

A CHALK drawing of Graham Norton drawn by the winner of the Sky Arts Feature Portrait of the Year is for sale in Skibbereen.

The portrait – by winning artist Garth Reid – is currently on display at Morgan O'Driscoll's premises at Ilen Street in the town.

The image – a chalk on canvas drawing of the BBC presenter – is part of Morgan's Irish Art Online Auction and is expected to fetch around €2,000, but it could fetch more because bidding is open until Tuesday, August 8th.

It is on the auction brochure quoting a price range of €1,500-€2,500. The image is one of a number of studies that the artist did when preparing his portrait of the BBC entertainer.

Gareth Reid discovered he was the presenter's third cousin when the show was being filmed. He won the Sky Portrait of the Year competition for his painting of the presenter, which was painted at Bantry House, which also featured extensively in the TV series.

The winning entry is on display at the National Gallery in Dublin but the chalk drawing is on display in West Cork.