Martyn is a BP Portrait Award nominated artist, his work has been selected for the BP Portrait Award in 2017 & 2020. He graduated from Brunel University in 2004 and he lives and works in Buckinghamshire in the UK.

In 2021, Martyn’s painting of the actor Miles Jupp was selected for exhibition in the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition.
As an artist, Martyn is mostly focused in calm and reflective portraiture, but his practice has covered a wide range of subject matter. His work is gentle, figurative and naturalistic, with a strong focus on emotional insight and draughtsmanship. He has a distinctive intricate style that is precise, delicate, and rewards repeated viewing. Martyn is equally comfortable working in paint or pencil.
Martyn’s painting of the Much loved actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award in 2020 and exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
“What an honour it is to be presented at the National Portrait Gallery with such a fine picture. Martyn Burdon has captured elements of the way I am, in a way that I don’t think has ever been seen by the public before. I owe him a debt of gratitude.” - Sir Lenny Henry
Sir Lenny Henry, 2020. Acrylic on Gesso Panel.

What an honour it is to be presented at the National Portrait Gallery with such a fine picture. Martyn Burdon has captured elements of the way I am, in a way that I don’t think has ever been seen by the public before. I owe him a debt of gratitude.
- Sir Lenny Henry

In 2017 his painting of the actor and Musician Matt Berry was also shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award and shown at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The painting was also exhibited at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, the Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.
"I've ended up in the National Portrait Gallery! I sat for Martyn last year and I want to champion the talent of this artist." - Matt Berry
In 2019 Martyn’s work was shortlisted for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, his work was exhibited in London, Salisbury, and Leicester, and his work was used in throughout the marketing campaign for the exhibition.
Martyn’s work was also shortlisted for the Derwent Art Prize in 2018. The biennial award, highlighting the best in international contemporary drawing.
Matt Berry, 2017. Acrylic on Canvas.

Martyn was shortlisted of the Artist and Illustrator Magazine ‘Artist of the Year Award’ in 2018 and again in 2019. On both occasions the selected works were exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London.
Martyn’s work has featured on the pages of Artist and Illustrator Magazine and he is a member of the Contemporary British Portrait Painters group. His work has also been nominated for the National Open Art Award in 2016 and 2017, and for the Jackson's Art Printing Prize in 2018.
He regularly exhibits work in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and in London. He is currently working on a number of commissioned portraits.
Sue Perkins, 2018. Acrylic on Canvas.
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Martyn's work has been exhibited in a number of BP Portrait Award shows and shortlisted for numerous awards.
2021
"Miles Jupp", Exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition
2020
"Sir Lenny Henry", Shortlisted and exhibited for the National Portrait Gallery's BP Portrait Award
2019
Shortlisted, Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize
'Artist of the Year Award', Shortlisted, Artist and Illustrator Magazine
2018
Shortlisted, Derwent Art Prize
'Artist of the Year Award', Shortlisted, Artist and Illustrator Magazine
Nominated, Jackson's Art Printing Prize
2017
"Matt Berry", Shortlisted and exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery's BP Portrait Award, London; Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh; Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
Nominated, National Open Art Award
2016
Nominated, National Open Art Award
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