Makenzy Beard
Description
Makenzy Beard
Makenzy Beard is a Welsh portrait artist whose exceptional talent has earned international recognition from a remarkably young age. She began painting during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 at the age of 14, turning to art as a creative outlet when her sporting activities were paused. Working in her mother’s garden shed with basic supplies, she quickly discovered a natural gift for portraiture.
Her breakthrough came with a striking portrait of a local farmer, which took over 20 hours to complete. The piece went viral on social media and was selected from over 30,000 submissions for the Royal Academy of Arts’ Young Artists’ Summer Show in London. In 2023, her work was featured on the front cover of the Royal Academy’s official calendar, and she was named a finalist for the prestigious St. David Awards in 2022.
Makenzy held her first solo exhibition in 2022 at a prominent gallery in Cardiff, where original works sold for up to £23,000. The exhibition included a print titled Towel Girl, which raised over £7,000 for the Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal. Her work remains on display and continues to attract public and critical acclaim.
She has been featured widely in the media, including The Times, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, ITV News, Sky News with Alastair Stewart, and The Times Radio. She has also taken part in live radio and television interviews discussing her work and inspirations.
Currently 17 years old, Makenzy continues to develop her artistic practice, having begun formal painting lessons to further refine her technique. She balances her creative pursuits with a demanding academic schedule, and is predicted to achieve top grades across all subjects.
In addition to her artistic achievements, Makenzy has a strong record of leadership and service. She has held multiple student leadership positions, including Deputy Head Girl, Head of School Council, and Ambassador roles for literacy, sport, and pupil voice. She has also been involved in education quality inspections and served on pupil interview panels.
A dedicated multi-sport athlete, Makenzy has represented Wales in hockey at U16 and U17 level, competing in international fixtures and the European 5s tournament. She plays in the national league and has represented her region and school at various age groups, with teams reaching Welsh finals. In netball, she has played at county level and in local leagues, while also captaining her county football team. She competes in athletics, rugby, badminton, and more, always ready to represent her school or region in any sport needed.
She is also a qualified surf lifesaver, competing nationally and volunteering as a beach patroller during summer months. Beyond sport and art, she plays clarinet in orchestra and wind band, has participated in drama and mock trials, is a Level 1 qualified netball umpire, and enjoys traveling and cooking.
Makenzy Beard’s journey from a self-taught teenager painting in a shed to an internationally recognized artist is a story of passion, discipline, and creative brilliance—an inspiration to young artists and a talent to watch.