Footballer Sean Clare’s changing face in Portrait of Britain

My portrait of Charlton Athletic footballer Sean Clare, shot hours before a life changing operation is selected for Portrait of Britain 2022.

After featuring both last year and the year before, I was delighted to be selected again for Portrait of Britain from the Hoxton Mini Press, for my portrait of footballer Sean Clare.

Sean & His Birthmark

Sean is a defender for League One side Charlton Athletic and was born with a prominent, melanin-heavy birthmark on his right cheekbone.

His sister Cassie, who has a matching birthmark defined by an absence of melanin, persuaded him to sit for portrait to capture the last few moments before, in his words, ‘advised, but not wanted, surgery to remove my birthmark as a health precaution.’

Last moments indeed, as, after quickly capturing a portrait with his sister too, he was heading home to prepare for the operation the next day.

Sean says: “A part of me is gone. but the lessons learnt will last a lifetime.”

The Print Edition & All Images

Check out all the images at Portrait of Britain

You can buy the beautiful print edition from the Hoxton Mini Press, and all good bookshops.