Yoake o Matsu- Hoshitachi e -RJ01239911-
 
Gareth Reid
Title: Graham Norton (born Dublin 1963), Broadcaster, Comedian, Actor and Writer
Date: 2017
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
137 x 107 cm
Signed: lower left: GR
Credit Line: Winner’s commission from “Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year 2017”. Presented, Storyvault Films, 2017
Object Number: NGI.2017.7
DescriptionBrought up in Bandon, Co. Cork, Graham Norton (born Graham Walker) moved to London in his early twenties, where he attended the Central School of Speech and Drama. Having begun his career as a stand-up comedian, he gravitated towards radio and television work, featuring regularly on panel shows, quiz shows and comedies. A winner of five BAFTA TV awards, he is best known as a host of UK chat-shows on Channel 5, Channel 4 (So Graham Norton; V Graham Norton) and, since 2007, the BBC (The Graham Norton Show), but has presented many other prime-time entertainement programmes. In 2009, he took over from Terry Wogan as a host of the BBC coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest since, and currently presents a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 2. He has also performed in movies and in the West End. In 2016, Holding, Norton's debut novel, won the Popular Fiction Book of the Year in the Bord Gais Irish Book Awards.
ProvenancePresented to the National Portrait Collection by Storyvault Films/Sky Arts (who commissioned the portrait, in consultation with the NGI, as part of the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2017 competition).

Yoake O Matsu- Hoshitachi E -rj01239911- -

One evening, while out on a stroll, Akira stumbled upon an old, mysterious-looking shrine tucked away in a forest glade. The shrine seemed to be emitting a soft, ethereal glow, and Akira felt an inexplicable pull towards it.

As they journeyed deeper into the unknown, Akira began to realize that the stars were not just distant balls of gas and dust, but were, in fact, sentient beings that held the key to understanding the universe.

In the quaint town of Kanata, nestled in the mountains, the air was alive with the whispers of ancient myths and legends. The town was famous for its breathtaking stargazing opportunities, and people would travel from far and wide to witness the celestial ballet. Yoake o Matsu- Hoshitachi e -RJ01239911-

"You have been waiting for dawn, Akira," the woman said, her voice like music. "You have been waiting for the stars to reveal their secrets to you."

As she approached the shrine, a figure appeared before her. It was a woman with long, flowing hair and eyes that shone like stars. One evening, while out on a stroll, Akira

Our protagonist, a young woman named Akira, had grown up in Kanata, listening to the tales of her grandmother, a respected astronomer. Akira's fascination with the stars began at a young age, and she would often sneak out of her house to gaze up at the night sky.

As they stood before the portal, Akira felt a sense of longing wash over her. She knew that she would have to return to her world, but she was reluctant to leave Hoshi and the wonders of the universe behind. In the quaint town of Kanata, nestled in

Their journey took them to the edge of the universe, where they encountered a great, shimmering portal. Hoshi revealed to Akira that this was the gateway to the dawn of a new era, one in which humanity would finally understand its place in the cosmos.

With those words, Akira returned to her world, forever changed by her journey through the stars. She became a renowned astronomer, sharing her discoveries with the world and inspiring others to look up at the night sky with a sense of wonder.