A Kent artist reduced an actor to tears when she captured a different side of her personality.

Deborah Pearse, from Farningham, went up against nine others as she painted Absolutely Fabulous actor Jane Horrocks in a four-hour window as part of Sky Arts' Portrait Artist of the Year.

According to Jane, Deborah's piece of art captured an inner sadness in her – which may be the reason the artist didn't win.

Deborah said: "She is a really transformative actress, singer and performer, yet in real life appeared quite delicate and thoughtful as she sat for us.

"She actually said at the outset that she would like us to see something different in her to the actress we all know, which I responded to.

"However, when it came for her to choose her favourite portrait, mine actually reduced her to tears as she saw the sadness that I had seen reflected in her face.

"Naturally, someone doesn't really want to be reminded of that feeling – so I'm not surprised she declined mine on that basis anyway."

Even though the artist didn't win the episode, she has received many plaudits for her stellar performance.

She added: "I've had some really great comments from people regarding my participation in the programme.

"I've even heard from people who knew me many years ago, who I'd lost touch with, and who took the time out to say hello and send me their best, which has been wonderful and so appreciated.

"Obviously, people have such different responses to artworks and given how disappointed I was with the portrait I painted on the day, it's actually been really encouraging to receive such good feedback.

"I hadn't resolved the portrait in the way I wanted it to. However, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience."

Disappointed with her overall performance, Deborah spent the week after the competition had finished creating a new portrait of the actress.

She said: "I got in touch when I'd completed it, to see if Jane would like it as a gift.

"She accepted, said she loved it and sent me a lovely thank you card.

"So in the end we were both happy that I'd made the extra effort to try to capture what I could also see in her, which is a combination of her mischievous and thoughtful nature."

Deborah, who has painted since she was a child, has also ventured into the world of acting and performing arts throughout her career.

"I was always drawing and painting as a kid, and considered good at art, so it was assumed I'd be an artist – not that anyone told me what it entailed," she continued.

"Although I was a shy kid, I also discovered a love of performing and how I could transform myself through characters and impersonations and enjoyed the camaraderie of working collaboratively.

"So, I've always had the pull of both creative pursuits which means I've alternated between the two over the years and not done as well at either if I'd stuck to one, even though I've had some successes in both."

Deborah believes the arts have played a crucial role throughout the coronavirus pandemic, by giving people a creative outlet while being stuck indoors.

"It has helped so many people rediscover ways of expressing themselves and find outlets that may otherwise have been subsumed by normal everyday activities.

"It has brought families together in shared activities and helped connect people within new group events, thereby helping their mental health and wellbeing.

"Whatever way someone chooses to express, it offers benefits both individually and collectively."

She now hopes to grow a larger following on social media to help promote her work while launching a podcast to bring people together from all walks of life to discuss art and creativity.

To find out more about Deborah's artwork, visit her website or Instagram page.

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