Storyvault Films Appoints Head of Production

Storyvault Films has appointed Claire Pugh-Williams to the newly created role of head of production to lead its flagship Sky Arts series.

Pugh-Williams will oversee Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year and work alongside the creative teams to further develop both series and formats as they enter their second decade of production.

Thousands of amateur and professional artists apply to both competitions each year, with the winners awarded a commission to produce a new artwork for a national gallery or institution. Artwork produced in the series has joined the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery and the national galleries of Wales, Scotland and Ireland, among others.

Both formats and series are represented internationally by Banijay.

Pugh-Williams joins Storyvault from Nest Productions, where she led productions for various clients across factual, factual entertainment, studio, animation and digital. Her portfolio includes Limitless with Chris Hemsworth (National Geographic/Disney+), 7 Toughest Days on Earth (National Geographic/Disney+), Will Australia Ever Have a Black Prime Minister? (Foxtel/SBS/ABC), Outback Truckers (Discovery UK and Europe), Outback Opal Hunters (Discovery UK and Europe), Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia (ITV) and Top Gear (BBC Two).

Pugh-Williams will take up her new role on September 25 and will report to David Buckley, director of production.

Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year “have had a huge impact in the art world and have become a landmark feature of the Sky Arts schedule,” Buckley said. “This important new role enables us to refresh and renew our production of both series, underpinning their continued success. Claire fits the bill perfectly. Her track record of delivering high-end content for all industry platforms is complemented by her superb people skills and the respect she has won from across the industry. We are thrilled she is joining us.”

“It’s fantastic to be joining such a highly respected indie at this exciting time for both Storyvault and these landmark series,” Pugh-Williams commented. “As a huge fan of Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year, it’s a great privilege to be asked to lead the production of what I believe are two of the most important culture series on television. There is enormous potential for ongoing success and growth, and I am excited about being part of their future development.”