National Portrait Gallery Displays Photograph of Darts Champion Luke Littler
The portrait captures the young darts sensation in an intimate, domestic setting.
1Portrait Exhibition Debut
The National Portrait Gallery in London is set to display a photograph of 19-year-old darts champion Luke Littler starting this Thursday. The image will be exhibited for free outside the Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize exhibition. This inclusion highlights the growing cultural impact of the young athlete within the British sporting landscape.
2Intimate Domestic Setting
Captured by photographer Hollie Fernando, the portrait depicts Littler in a relaxed, domestic environment rather than a competitive arena. Seated on a sofa in casual sportswear with his French bulldog, the image contrasts sharply with his intense professional persona. This work resulted from Fernando winning the 2025 Winston Taylor Photographic Commission award.
3Record-Breaking Darts Career
Nicknamed The Nuke, Littler achieved historic success by becoming the youngest PDC World Darts Champion in 2025. He successfully defended this title in 2026, cementing his status as a dominant force. Currently, he holds 14 PDC major singles titles and 30 total PDC titles, ranking third on the all-time list of players.
4Broader Media Presence
Beyond his professional darts achievements, Littler has expanded his public profile through various media appearances. He stars in the Netflix series Beat Luke Littler and has featured twice on the gameshow Bullseye. In a notable recent episode, he was defeated by Fallon Sherrock, who secured a significant prize of 501,000 pounds.
5Early Career Accolades
Littler’s rapid rise to fame was recognized in 2024 when he was named the BBC Young Sports Personality Of The Year. During that same year, he finished as the runner-up in the main competition, trailing behind Olympian Keely Hodgkinson. These achievements underscore his rapid ascent within the competitive sports world at seventeen.
6Gallery Context and Peers
The National Portrait Gallery frequently features prominent figures from various entertainment sectors. By joining the gallery's collection, Littler is placed alongside notable musicians such as Charli XCX, Harry Styles, and Sir Elton John. This inclusion reflects the gallery's ongoing effort to document contemporary cultural icons across diverse fields of public life.
7Artistic Commission Background
The portrait is a direct outcome of the Winston Taylor Photographic Commission, which was awarded to Hollie Fernando in 2025. Commissions like this are designed to capture unique, behind-the-scenes perspectives of celebrated individuals. The gallery uses these specific projects to offer visitors a refreshing, humanized look at figures often seen only in competition.
8Significance of the Display
Displaying Littler’s portrait serves as a bridge between high-stakes professional sports and contemporary art. By placing a darts champion in a prestigious London venue, the gallery acknowledges his significant influence on British youth culture. This exhibition provides a rare, quiet glimpse into the life of a record-breaking athlete outside his professional environment.