Stephen Shankland is a Scottish figurative painter. As well as producing figurative compositions he also successfully paints portraits to commission. Through both the narrative scenes and the portraits can be found clues to unravel subtle stories. Rich with symbolic reference, the animate and inanimate form these stories in the way a director crafts a film or theatrical performance, it is make-believe realism. In 2004 he won first prize in the BP Portrait Award at The National Portrait Gallery, London with a portrait of his wife and son titled 'The Miracle'. More recently, in September 2005, one of his portraits of actor/director Peter Mullan was shortlisted for another prestigious prize, The Garrick/Milne Award.