Self-Portrait

By Celia Paul | Publisher: Random House

About the book

'Painfully honest on what it means to be a woman who puts art first, no matter what' Olivia Laing

I'm not a portrait painter. If I'm anything, I have always been an autobiographer.


In Self-Portrait, Celia Paul reveals a life truly lived through art. She moves effortlessly through time, in words and images, from her arrival at the Slade School of Fine Art at sixteen, through a profound and intense affair with the older and better-known artist Lucian Freud, to the practices of her present-day studio. This intimate memoir is, at its heart, about a young woman navigating the path to artistic freedom, with all the sacrifices and complications that entails.

'Powerful' Zadie Smith
'Engrossing' Vogue
'Captivating... Mesmerising' New York Times

**Shortlisted for the Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize **

Editions of Self-Portrait

Hardcover
ISBN 9781787331846
Paperback
ISBN 9781529111552
EBook
ISBN 9781473569812
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9781529199833

Read an Excerpt

'Painfully honest on what it means to be a woman who puts art first, no matter what' Olivia Laing

I'm not a portrait painter. If I'm anything, I have always been an autobiographer.


In Self-Portrait, Celia Paul reveals a life truly lived through art. She moves effortlessly through time, in words and images, from her arrival at the Slade School of Fine Art at sixteen, through a profound and intense affair with the older and better-known artist Lucian Freud, to the practices of her present-day studio. This intimate memoir is, at its heart, about a young woman navigating the path to artistic freedom, with all the sacrifices and complications that entails.

'Powerful' Zadie Smith
'Engrossing' Vogue
'Captivating... Mesmerising' New York Times

**Shortlisted for the Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize **

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Self-Portrait about?

'Painfully honest on what it means to be a woman who puts art first, no matter what' Olivia Laing

I'm not a portrait painter. If I'm anything, I have always been an autobiographer.


In Self-Portrait, Celia Paul reveals a life truly lived through art. She moves effortlessly through time, in words and images, from her arrival at the Slade School of Fine Art at sixteen, through a profound and intense affair with the older and better-known artist Lucian Freud, to the practices of her present-day studio. This intimate memoir is, at its heart, about a young woman navigating the path to artistic freedom, with all the sacrifices and complications that entails.

'Powerful' Zadie Smith
'Engrossing' Vogue
'Captivating... Mesmerising' New York Times

**Shortlisted for the Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize **

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Self-Portrait?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Memoirs

Where can I read a sample of Self-Portrait?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781787331846

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Self-Portrait?

Celia Paul

Who is the Publisher of the book Self-Portrait?

Random House

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Self-Portrait is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781787331846) and paperback(ISBN 9781529111552) and ebook(ISBN 9781473569812) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781529199833)

Where can I buy Self-Portrait online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Self-Portrait from below

Where can I buy Self-Portrait?