Painting prize finalist takes Corr from silver screen to sitter

When artist Thomas Delohery saw Australian actor Ryan Corr in the AACTA Award-winning film The Water Diviner, he knew he had a new sitter.

The Irish-Australian portraitist is a finalist in this year’s The Percivals for his painting On the way up. Actor Ryan Corr. The artwork was painted across the span of three weeks and is now in the running for the $40,000 acquisitive Percival Portrait Painting Prize.

Mr Delohery said an inspiring performance from Corr sparked an 18-month journey to have the thespian sit for the portrait.

“I live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and I was so impressed by Ryan's performance, whose character also had PTSD in Russell Crowe's The Water Diviner, that Ryan was on my radar of someone I would like to meet in person and paint his portrait for quite some time,” he said.

“Ryan was in an Australian movie with Anthony LaPaglia a few years ago called Below. Anthony LaPaglia kindly sat for me a few years back, so I contacted Ryan through Instagram and said, ‘Anthony sat for me and seemed to enjoy the experience, what about you?’ Ryan was great as a sitter.

“I have met and drawn for portraits other actors like Jared Harris, Lachy Hulme and Steve Wall, but each time it's different. It helps if you like their work, which I do, otherwise I wouldn't ask them to sit. I ask them questions about various roles and then I observe their passion coming out. It really inspires the portraits.

“Both Ryan and Lachy have offered to sit for me again, so I think that says it all.”

This isn’t the first time Mr Delohery has been exhibited in Townsville.

The artist, who moved to Australia in 2010 on a Distinguished Talent visa, was also a finalist in The Percivals 2022 for his portrait of actor Jared Harris of Chernobyl and Madmen fame.

“I decided to enter The Percivals as it has a great reputation as an art prize. My first experience of getting into The Percivals in 2022 was amazing. When someone is good enough to sit for you, it is always nice for them to see that you do well with their portrait,” he said.

“I tried again in 2024 with no luck, but on a positive note by wife Sandra Minchin was named a finalist that year in the Photography section and was beyond delighted when one of the judges, Tony Albert, took a selfie with her work and kindly sent it on to her.”

Now Mr Delohery and his wife are preparing to travel to Townsville from Ballarat to attend the launch of The Percivals at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery on Saturday night.

“We are both so excited to be able to go to the award night, but also to go to Townsville for the very first time. We have heard wonderful things,” he said.

Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said Mr Delohery’s work was just one example of the remarkably high standard of portraits submitted for The Percivals year after year.

“The Percivals is a vibrant and exciting celebration of portraiture right here in the arts capital of Northern Australia. Thomas is a renowned artist both here in Australia and in Ireland, so it’s fantastic to see him being selected as a finalist in The Percivals this year,” Cr Greaney said.

“I’d like to extend my congratulations to every finalist in all three categories. This is a huge achievement – you should all be very proud.”

The Percivals 2026 includes 122 artworks across the Percival Portrait Painting Prize, the Percival Photographic Portrait Prize and the Percival Animal Portrait Prize.

The prize winners will be announced at the launch event on Saturday night at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.

The exhibition is free to enter and runs until Sunday 30 August.