19/06/2026
‘If my portraits are going to exist in public spaces, I want those spaces to reflect a range of stories that might otherwise go unrecognised’
Selected as one of this year's shortlisted portraits in the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award, Chloe Cox depicts Marva and Lionel Warmington, a couple from Birmingham who have fostered more than 200 teenagers over the past 30 years.
A graduate in English Literature with Creative Writing, Manchester-based Chloe Cox painted purely for her own pleasure until she posted one of her portraits on social media. Seven years on, the self-taught artist has exhibited across the UK and received several awards.
In 2024, Cox was approached to take part in the BBC documentary series Extraordinary Portraits, where artists are invited to depict ordinary people with powerful stories. It’s here she was introduced to the sitters of this portrait.
The winner of the Portrait Award will be announced next Tuesday, 23 June.
🎨 What’s Mine is Yours, 2024 by Chloe Cox © Chloe Cox
