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Creating an athlete portrait experience that reached more than 4.2 million viewers.
I was commissioned to create an original portrait of defending champion Miyu Yamashita, which I presented to her during tournament week. The handover was captured on video and shared by the AIG Women's Open, with the reel now reaching over 4.2 million views.
The Commission
Ahead of the AIG Women's Open, IMG and The R&A commissioned me to create an original graphite portrait of defending champion Miyu Yamashita.
The ambition extended beyond creating a commemorative artwork. The collaboration formed part of a wider creative initiative to explore alternative ways of promoting women's golf, using art as a vehicle to engage audiences who may not traditionally follow the sport.
By combining portraiture with a live athlete presentation, the project celebrated an individual sporting achievement while creating a compelling piece of content designed to reach audiences beyond golf's existing fanbase.
The resulting handover reel, shared by the AIG Women's Open, has now been viewed more than 4.2 million times.
Having previously played competitive golf before pursuing art, the commission felt particularly personal. It brought together two parts of my life that I had never expected to reconnect: sport and portraiture.
From Reference to Handover
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I began by studying Miyu’s championship story, visual references and the wider context surrounding her win.
The composition was developed to feel recognisable and celebratory while remaining consistent with my detailed graphite style.
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The artwork was drawn by hand over a concentrated production period using layers of graphite to build contrast, texture and depth.
Throughout the process, the artwork remained confidential so that the final presentation would still feel like a genuine surprise.
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Once complete, the portrait was carefully finished, framed and packaged for transport to the championship.
Alongside creating the artwork, I documented cropped details, studio footage and the final stages of preparation without revealing the finished portrait.
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The artwork was presented to Miyu during the AIG Women’s Open.
The handover created a natural emotional moment between athlete, artwork and event. It was filmed and later shared through the AIG Women’s Open Instagram account.
The Result
Its success demonstrated how original artwork can offer sporting events something beyond a conventional presentation gift.
The portrait became:
A lasting object for the athlete
A celebration of sporting achievement
A compelling piece of social content
A human moment audiences could immediately understand
A creative extension of the event’s wider storytelling
16K
4.2 million
Where sport and art met again
I spent much of my earlier life playing golf and, for a long time, believed that it would become my career.
Although I eventually followed a different route through architecture and into art, this commission showed me that leaving one path does not always mean losing it completely.
Returning to golf through portraiture felt like an unexpected full-circle moment. It has encouraged me to explore how art can celebrate athletes, sporting stories and defining career milestones across many different disciplines.
Why it worked
The collaboration succeeded because it combined two audiences that don't always overlap.
Golf fans were introduced to the artistic process behind the portrait, while people interested in art discovered the championship through a different lens.
Rather than interrupting people's feeds with traditional advertising, the campaign centred on a genuine human interaction: an athlete receiving a one-of-a-kind artwork created in recognition of their achievement.
That authenticity encouraged viewers to stop, watch and share.
Services
Creative experiences for sport, events and brands
Each project can be adapted to include the artwork, its creation, the live presentation and supporting social content.
Potential collaborations include:
Tournament winners and defending champions
Athlete retirements
Record-breaking achievements
Player signings
Hall of Fame inductions
Anniversaries and milestones
Awards and presentation ceremonies
Charity auctions
Sponsor activations
Social media campaigns
Bespoke athlete gifting
Collaboration Format
The Story
Together, we identify the athlete, achievement or event moment worth celebrating.
The Artwork
I create an original graphite portrait tailored to the campaign, recipient and setting.
The Experience
The finished artwork is presented at the event, privately or as part of a filmed activation.
The Content
The creative process and athlete reaction can be captured as short-form content for the event, brand or organisation.
Create a moment your audience remembers
From championship victories to career-defining milestones, original artwork can give sporting stories a physical and emotional life beyond the event itself.
I am currently open to collaborations with sporting events, governing bodies, agencies, sponsors and athlete management teams.
For commissions and partnership enquiries, contact info@slowarkives.com