Colin Davidson (b.1968)

Portrait of Barry Douglas

Colin Davidson is a contemporary artist, living and working near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Since graduating in 1991 from the University of Ulster with a first-class honours degree, he has structured his practice in themes, and since 2010 his focus has been on painting grand scale portraits, which have won widespread recognition and many international awards. As well as numerous commissions, Davidson’s portrait sitters have included a number of celebrities including Brad Pitt, Ed Sheeran, Liam Neeson, Brian Friel, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Dame Mary Peters, Gary Lightbody, Marketa Irglova, Glen Hansard, Mark Knopfler and Seamus Heaney. His work is held in many public and corporate collections worldwide, including Queen’s University Belfast, the Ulster Museum (Belfast), Standard Life (London), the National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin), the Standard Chartered Bank of Asia, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery (Washington DC) and the National Portrait Gallery, (London).

This portrait is of Barry Douglas OBE, William Barry Douglas OBE (born 23rd April 1960) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a classical pianist and conductor. Douglas was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours List for services to music. He also received a Fellowship of the Royal College of Music and an Hon. Doctorate of Music from Queens University Belfast. He received an honorary Doctorate of Music from the National University of Ireland in September 2007. He is artistic director of Camerata Ireland and the Clandeboye Festival.