Press Kit
Canadian Painter Selected for Exhibition at National Portrait Gallery Award for Work Exploring Perception, ADHD & Migraine
Canadian painter Doris Rose has been selected for the prestigious HSF Kramer Portrait Award 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery, UK. Her self-portrait Stripes is among the works chosen for exhibition in London from June 25 to October 7, 2026, before touring the UK.
The selected work is a self-portrait oil painting on copper panel, inspired by how chronic migraine and ADHD alter sensory experience. The painting uses layered oil techniques to create a shifting, dizzying triple-exposure image.
Doris is available to speak on:
- Technical approaches to representing distortion in oil painting
- Translating invisible neurological symptoms into portraiture
- Building a studio practice in a rural Canadian context, using social media to reach an international audience
Expert perspective available: Dr. Christine Lay, migraine specialist at Women's College Hospital, Toronto, has agreed to be available for comment to provide medical and scientific context on migraine and sensory perception.
About the HSF Kramer Portrait Award
The HSF Kramer Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery is one of the world's most established and internationally recognised exhibitions dedicated to contemporary painting. Formerly known as the BP Portrait Award, the exhibition attracts thousands of submissions from artists across the globe each year, with only a small number selected for exhibition in London. It attracts approximately 120,000 visitors in London and has helped elevate the careers of some of the world's most celebrated portrait artists. The 2026 exhibition runs from June 25 to October 7, 2026, before touring the UK.
Note: Selection confirmed as an exhibiting artist. See media release May 18, 2026.
Short Bio
Doris Rose is a contemporary-realist portrait painter and digital artist based in Ontario, Canada. Born in the UK and raised in Canada since 2000, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University (2013), where she received the top entrance scholarship. Specialising in old master and photorealistic oil painting techniques, she is best known for her popular art education posts and her thought-provoking portraiture series Blur, which explores the perceptual distortions of living with chronic migraine and ADHD. With over 260,000 followers and 150 million total views across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Doris has built one of Canada's most engaged art communities online.
Long Bio
Doris Rose is a contemporary-realist portrait painter, digital artist, and art influencer based in Ontario, Canada. Born in the UK and raised in Canada since 2000, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University (2013), where she received the top entrance scholarship. Drawing on old master techniques and a deep passion for photorealistic portraiture, Doris has developed a distinctive studio practice that bridges traditional fine art and modern content creation.
Her current series, Blur, explores the perceptual and visual distortions of living with chronic migraine and ADHD, work that has earned her selection for the HSF Kramer Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery, UK. She creates thought-provoking portraiture in both traditional and digital media, with commissions spanning oil paintings, digital portraits, and drawings.
She is also best known for her highly popular social media presence, where she invites followers behind the scenes of her studio, sharing painting techniques, eco-friendly studio practices, material tutorials, and her own original artwork. Her tutorials have amassed over 150 million views and built a community of 260,000+ artists and art lovers worldwide. Her teaching style is encouraging, honest, and rooted in years of technical experience as a working artist.
Doris offers art mentorship through virtual sessions, email critiques, and in-person coaching in Toronto and Grey County, Ontario, and is available for workshops, guest teaching, and institutional bookings.
Fast Facts
Press Photos
Artwork images: © Doris Rose, cleared for editorial use. Credit requested.
Studio and artist portrait images: © Kelsey Vansickle, used with permission. Credit to the photographer requested.
No additional licensing required.
Social Reach
Topics and Interview Angles
- Representing invisible neurological conditions, migraine and ADHD, through portraiture
- Technical approaches to depicting distortion and perception in oil painting
- The revival of old master oil painting techniques in contemporary art
- Building a studio practice in rural Canada and reaching an international audience via social media
- The intersection of fine art and digital content creation
- Commissioning original artwork, what to expect and how it works
- Making fine art accessible to new audiences
- The business of being an independent artist in the digital age
Online Presence
Press Enquiries
For interview requests, editorial features, high-resolution press images, or any other media enquiries, please get in touch below. Doris is available for print, digital, podcast, and broadcast media.
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