When Darren Baker left Bradford Art College in 1998 at the age of 22, he had developed an amazing ability to draw and paint in great realistic detail.

That year his talent won him first prize in the Bradford Open Art Exhibition. Within ten years his work was selling for thousands of pounds all over the world, and in one interview with the T&A, he admitted that he was close to being a millionaire.

The paper was the first to break the news that Huddersfield-born Darren, who used to have a studio in Saltaire, had been commissioned to paint the next official portrait of the Queen.

He thought the work would have been started by now, but the first sitting has since been scheduled for May with another in October.

He first came to notice with the paintings he did for the Professional Footballers’ Association. His portraits of footballers and great football moments, such as England’s 5-1 thrashing of Germany, as well as paintings of horses and other sporting personalities, got him noticed in the wider world beyond the art-for-art’s-sake market.

Thus, in 2004 he was nominated for the Not The Turner Prize rather than the Turner Prize!

He has departed from the old image of the hungry artist painting in a garret.

He lives in a four-bedroom house outside Huddersfield where he has his own studio and specialises in what might be called corporate commissions. These included a £90,000 commission from the royal family of Bahrain for paintings of horses.

To date he has had at least 11 solo exhibition in galleries from Leeds to London. His works have also featured in 47 other group exhibitions from London, New York to Chicago.

TEN QUESTIONS

1. Describe your best moment of the year.

“Getting the call from Her Majesty. I’ll be creating the next official portrait which is due to be presented to her for her 85th birthday. I thought the sittings were going to be this year, but unforeseen problems put them back to next year.”

2. And your worst.

“On reflection, it was the anti-climax of being delayed on the Queen’s portrait. I was all geared up to go either to Buckingham Palace or to Windsor Castle to start the work; but it turned out not to be the case.”

3. Who helped you most in 2008 and how?

“My family, my parents John and Carol Baker. They have always been consistently there for me, they attend exhibitions. They’ve been fantastic parents. They’re the reason why the passion and the fire for the work are still there in me.”

4. Did the year have any surprises for you?

“I suppose the opportunity to become managed so that I could be free to concentrate on my work. Glenn and Anita Day have got an office in Sheffield. They have planned out the next year for me, which should make me wealthier, healthier and happy.”

5. What was your funniest moment?

“I cannot think of one particular moment although there have been lots of laughs. It has been a tough time, I know, for people in my own world – galleries, that are feeling the pinch. But the downturn does not seem to have had any effect on myself – fingers crossed.”

6. Do have you any regrets?

“No, none at all. I don’t really have regrets. I am just thankful for every opportunity that comes my way.”

7. Has 2008 taught you anything?

“To stay upbeat and be grateful for every opportunity and make the most of everything that comes your way. Life’s for living and maximising opportunities. It’s just been a fantastic year overall for me. I feel blessed.”

8. What would you like to see happen in 2009?

“Personally I hope everything continues well with my relationship. I have an exhibition at the Legacy Gallery in Arizona, the biggest gallery in America. They want 30 new oil paintings, starting at $25,000. They want ten for the launch in February, so I’m going to be busy. I’ve got interviews, exhibitions and commissions in this country, and publishing opportunities that will all fit in with this exhibition in America.”

9. Any New year resolutions?

“To improve my domestic skills – either that or get a cleaner in.”

10. Who is your person of the year?

“Abigail Lewis, a teacher. I met her at the Edinburgh Festival in August. We met at a performance and just clicked. The only snag is she lives in London. We’re going to Spain for a week to have a bit more time together. The idea is for her to come and live with me next summer when she has finished the term at school.”