Coffs artist Seabastion Toast wins first stage of TV’s Portrait Artist of the Year

COFFS Harbour artist Seabastion Toast has won the first stage of the new Portrait Artist of the Year (PAOTY) series.

Aired on the ABC on 9 November (series 1, episode 2), Ms Toast appeared as one of three artists chosen to paint the portrait of guest sitter Courtney Act live in front of an audience in just four hours.

As a long-time fan of the UK version of the show, Toast did not hesitate when she was invited to apply for the new Australian series.

“It was thrilling and surreal,” she told News Of The Area.

“PAOTY has been such a big part of my creative imagination that the invitation felt like a sign.”

There was only one catch: Toast is not an alla prima (in one sitting) painter.

Her usual method relies on slow layers, scraping back, and days of revision.

“The idea of finishing a portrait in a single four-hour sitting terrified me,” she said.

With a background in running she adopted that mindset and went into training.

Supported by her recent win of the $40,000 Percival Portrait Prize, she “went all in”.

With 11 weeks until the show, Toast set about doing one painting per day, taking just four hours.

“It was only the week before the show when I thought I was actually getting somewhere adapting my process to this faster format,” she said.

It was not until filming day that Toast met her sitter, media personality Courtney Act.

“I love painting extraordinary features, but I was nervous: how do you add depth to someone young, glamorous, and wearing heavy makeup?”

Their conversation became the anchor.

“I was struck by her sharp wit and intelligence and deeper more philosophical side… this gave me the entry way I needed to get into the painting.

“I asked her to imagine a moment when she felt most brave and aimed for a pose with ‘stars in her eyes’; theatrical, but with a thinker beneath.”

Still, the pressure hit hard.

“My hand was shaking uncontrollably at first,” Toast said.

“I could barely get a line down.”

After putting on her headphones, picking a song and starting to dance, she said everything “suddenly clicked”.

“It felt like I had magic brushes; the paint mixed itself; Courtney’s makeup gave me all the structure I needed; the audience faded into this hum of support behind me.”

Toast said it was one of the most profound moments of flow she has ever had.

“It pushed me out of every comfort zone.

“It was extraordinary, exhilarating and I know I’ll be chasing that feeling for the rest of my life.”

Portrait Artist of the Year screens on ABC TV on Sundays at 8pm, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

Seabastion Toast is exhibiting all the preparation portraits (and other works) in a showcase called “Seeing other People” from 19 March to 19 April 2026 at YAM gallery in Coffs.

By Andrea FERRARI