Vincent's portrait of Tyra Banks

Offaly artists work catches tyra banks eye

Offaly artist Vincent Devine (28) is flying high, after his unique work caught the attention of America’s Next Top Model presenter Tyra Banks. 

The former model recently commissioned a portrait by the Tullamore-based artist who’s originally from Clara, and his work is also being used on the latest series of the hit show that’s currently being aired in America. 

Speaking to the Offaly Independent this week, Vincent explained that, talent aside, his success right now is thanks to the power of social media.

“The social media platform is proving to be bridging the gap between celebrities and the general public’s access to these celebrities,” Vincent said, explaining that he doesn’t have gallery representation and instead regularly shares his work on sites such as Instagram.

“Social media has gotten me one of my biggest jobs. I couldn’t believe America’s Next Top Model got in touch with me, and it was all thanks to social media.”

Vincent began creating his highly stylised portraiture in early 2012. Less than three years later, his work is being used instead of photographs for the first time as models are voted off the latest series of America’s Next Top Model. Though the series is not available for viewing in Ireland right now, it’s expected to reach our shores shortly on Living TV.

“Tyra Banks is synonymous with sharing portraits of herself on her social media,” Vincent said, explaining how he first made contact with the American model and as a result got to work on the top show last February. 

“I have always been stunned by how beautiful she was and used to try and draw her when I was younger to no avail. Recently I did one of her and tagged her online. Weeks and weeks went by without so much as a peep.

'I then received an email from a producer on the show saying Tyra had seen my portrait and loved it so much she wanted me to work for the show and illustrate the models. I was in shock. I thought it was a joke, and now months later I still can’t believe my work has been featured on primetime television in the States.”

The future is also looking exciting, with Vincent’s paintings also catching the attention of other celebrities including Lady Gaga, Iggy Azalea, Shakira and Blondie icon Debbie Harry.

“It’s a very exciting time and I don’t know what’s around the corner,” Vincent admitted.

A visual communications graduate from AIT, Vincent said he really only began to push his work into the public arena when visitors to his mother’s house started asking where they could buy his pieces. 

“I had work drying on the radiators and people would visit my mother’s house and ask where she was buying all these paintings,” he laughed. It was after that he took the jump of exhibiting at the Art Source fair in the RDS, exposing his work to serious buyers and gradually raising his profile.

Locally his work, which he admits people “either love or hate”, is on view in the Tullamore Court Hotel. 

He will also be exhibiting at Art Source in the RDS once more this year, between November 14 and November 16.

In addition, he’s working with the Jack and Jill Foundation on their new 'Pigs on Parade’ initiative, which will see 100 fibreglass pigs painted and auctioned to raise funds for the charity.

More information on Vincent and his work is available at http://www.vincentdevine.com.