Multi-award-winning artist Karen Turner from Eye shows her talent on BBC show Extraordinary Portraits

A multi-award-winning Eye artist has appeared on a hit BBC show showing off her bold and evocative style.

Karen Turner, who describes herself as a figurative artist whose oil paintings challenge societal bias against larger bodies, appeared on the fourth series of Extraordinary Portraits.

Hosted by Bill Bailey, the show puts individuals with extraordinary stories with celebrated portrait artists tasked with creating works that reflect and honour their subjects.

The London-born artist was approached by production company Chatterbox and paired with Millie Anna Prelogar, an Instagram influencer, aspiring actress, model, and advocate for people with Down syndrome.

Filmed between June and September last year, the episode went from the pair’s first meeting, the painter immersing herself in Millie’s life in Windsor to Mrs Turner welcoming her and Mr Bailey to her studio in Eye.

The experience culminated in a photography shoot at Eye Castle which gave Mrs Turner the images for the final portrait.

She said: “Working with Millie was a privilege. Her energy, warmth, and confidence are inspiring, and capturing that essence in a portrait was both a challenge and a joy.

“Also, having Bill Bailey as an assistant for the day brought an added layer of fun – he had us in stitches and was a fantastic help during the shoot.”

Mrs Turner joins a prestigious roster of artists featured on the BBC show, including Roxana Halls, Stuart Pearson Wright, and Adebanje Alade, the president of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

The Hampstead Fine Arts College trained artist has gained acclaim for addressing how cultural expectations constrain identity and ambition, and felt the invitation to join Extraordinary Portraits reflected her distinctive voice and growing influence in the contemporary art world.

“Art has the power to challenge how we see the world and ourselves,” she said. “This series brings those conversations to a mainstream audience in such a meaningful way, and I was thrilled to have been part of it.”

Alongside her work as an artist, Mrs Turner is the founder of Go Large, helping artists attract buyers, opportunities and recognition.

The piece from the show is currently part of an Extraordinary Portraits exhibition at a pop-up venue as part of Bradford City of Culture, called Loading Bay, until April 6.

To find out more about her work, go to karenturnerfineart.com.

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