Portrait painter and Bermudian resident, Henry Ward has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious London's National Portrait Gallery, BP Portrait Award 2010.

Mr. Ward, who moved to Bermuda when his late father Martyn Ward became a Puisne judge in the Supreme Court in 1987 and whose mother is Bermudian, is now based in London.

His connections with Bermuda, however, go further than his family and include working with the Bermuda National Gallery with their early Biennials and his numerous solo shows on the island.

He is also represented in private and public collections both on the island and around the world, but Mr. Ward says the inclusion in London's National Portrait Gallery competition is the answer to 20 years of hard work.

He said: "I'm very, very excited. It's the most prestigious portrait competition in the world; the Turner prize of the portrait world.

"Each year over 2000 entries are received worldwide from which approximately 55 works are selected. To be included in this competition puts featured artists in the top 50 portraitists in the world.

"The nephrectomy painting (Mr. Ward's entry) is the largest painting ever to be accepted into the competition in the 31 year history of the prize.

"A feat in itself in a competition famed for its photorealist slant. It's something I have had my sights set on. It's almost a statement of value. There's a huge amount of publicity and it's very prestigious."

Mr. Ward's 11 ft by six ft depiction of a 'Finger Assisted Nephrectomy' — a breakthrough operation that removes a kidney for donation within 45 minutes with minimal invasion — will be on display at the National Portrait Gallery from June 24 until September 19.

The subject of the painting came about as a collaboration between Mr. Ward and famous surgeon Professor Nadey Hakim when they met during their Red Cross Fundraising activities in 2008.

While Mr. Ward wanted to compose a group portrait in line with the Rembrandt's 'The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp', Dr. Hakim was working with the House of Lords on developing Organ Donation legislation.

Dr. Hakim then put out the request to the past World presidents of the International College of Surgeons in Chicago who decided they would be included — hence 11 doctors and one patient in the rendering.

In November 2008, Mr. Ward watched one of the kidney-removal procedures and then in December the prestigious surgeons all met in Vienna for the first 'sitting' in the Hilton Stadpark.

Now because of the combined efforts of the artist and the doctor Mr. Ward's composition; "The Finger Assisted Nephrectomy of Professor Nadey Hakim and the International College of Surgeons World Presidents", Mr. Ward will also be featured in the House of Lords on June 1.

Mr. Ward added: "When he (Professor Hakim) showed her (Patronage Baroness Finlay of Llandaf) the image she suggested unveiling it in the House of Lords and make an official press release and function out of this.'

"One of those things of the House of Lords is that it's not just for the important people and the painting and the medical fraternity but also to generate the awareness in organ donation.

"What we are trying to do is not just establish the historical, but also make a statement about organ donations and the need for live, legal organ donors.

"Group portrait painting is the perfect means of presenting important historical personages and has been established through the history of culture by artists such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals.

"To get those accolades it's great. I can start making important statements about our time. That's what a good portrait artist should be doing. Not just domestic portraits, but important social, philosophical statements.

"As an artist you are often alone so when the National Portrait Gallery says they want to include your work, you know you're on the right track."