BP Portrait Prize 2007

Tamara (oil on canvas, 1000 x 734mm), by the first of four shortlisted artists Johan Andersson, currently studying fine art at Central St Martin’s Art and Design College, London. His work was exhibited as part of the Direction 2007 Group show at London’s Lethaby Gallery. This portrait is of his 21-year-old friend Tamara, the shyness of whose demeanour adds a silent tension to the work. "This insecurity of posing nude is evident in the awkwardness of the pose," Andersson says. Photograph: Johan Andersson/artist

Zuzana in Paris Studio (acrylic on wooden board, 1300 x 1100mm), by the second shortlisted artist Hynek Martinec. Martinec was born in Broumov, Czech Republic, but currently works as a freelance painter in Prague, London and Paris. This large portrait depicts the artist's girlfriend Zuzana Jungmanova, captured in startling close-up. Photograph: Hynek Martinec/artist

Michael Simpson (oil on canvas, 1370 x 1120 mm), by Paul Emsley, the third name on the shortlist. Elmsley has exhibited widely and won several prizes. His portrait is a large close-up of 67-year-old artist Michael Simpson. “I find his face and head visually interesting and with a strong presence,” Emsley says. “I feel it is essentially European, particularly carrying something of the history of Eastern Europe.” Photograph: Paul Emsley/artist

Stephen (oil on canvas panel, 270 x 200mm), by the fourth artist on the shortlist David Lawton. Lawton is a night support worker for the charity Turning Point. His last entry for the BP Portrait Award, in 2000, featured exactly the same model as this image - the artist's friend Stephen Player, a San Francisco illustrator. While the last portrait of him was a nude study, this one is a dramatic mugshot-style image. Photograph: David Lawton/artist

Lynn Ahrens’ Time to Talk (oil on canvas, 720 x 590mm). Ahrens was born in Glasgow and lives in Edinburgh. Her work has been exhibited in numerous group exhibitions in Scotland and England. Photograph: Lynn Ahrens/artist

Ana Maria Micu’s Self-portrait (oil on canvas, 500 x 500 mm). Ana Maria Micu was born in Romania, and is based in Bucharest. She completed her MA in Painting at the University of Art and Design of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Her work has been exhibited in a solo show at the Aniad Art Gallery, Bucharest, in 2006, and in numerous group exhibitions. This is the second year that her work has been exhibited in the BP Portrait Award exhibition. Photograph: Ana Maria Micu/artist

Rupert Alexander’s portrait of Christopher Darroux-Xavier (oil on canvas, 600 x 440mm). Rupert Alexander is based in Middlesex and trained at the Florence Academy of Art. His work has been exhibited in a solo exhibition at Quadrant House, London in 2005 and in several group shows. The portrait of Christopher Darroux-Xavier was painted exclusively from life. Photograph: Rupert Alexander/artist

Jeremy Andrews’ portrait of Franko B (oil on canvas, 400 x 340mm). Jeremy Andrews was born in Colchester and lives in Cambridgeshire. He trained in Fine Art at Southhampton Institute of Higher Education. His work has been exhibited in several groups shows, and this is the second time his work has been exhibited in the BP Portrait Award exhibition. Photograph: Jeremy Andrews/artist