LONDON.- New portraits of Sound of Music star Connie Fisher, BAFTA and Laurence Olivier Award nominated actor Michael Sheen and Today programme presenter John Humphrys will feature in People of Today: Faces of Wales at the National Portrait Gallery throughout the month of December.

The portrait of Connie Fisher is by Sam Mason, Michael Sheen by Zac Mead and John Humphrys by Dafydd Bland, all winners of the National Photographic Portrait Commission 2008. The annual National Photographic Portrait Commission is a competition to showcase the work of emerging photographers in Wales led by Amgueddfa Cymru- National Museum Wales, in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery. The commission was created in 2005 to support photographic talent in Wales representing a diverse range of styles and an innovative approach to portraiture. The panel selects sitters with a connection to Wales who have excelled in their particular field. This year's competition was open to those who have graduated from a Welsh college since 2002.

Faces of Wales will also include portraits by the winners of the National Photographic Portrait Commission 2007 - First Minister of Wales Rhodri Morgan by Huw Davies, football legend Ryan Giggs by Anastasia Taylor-Lind and weather presenter Sian Lloyd by Amelia Kilvington.

The new portraits will also be on display in the National Museum Cardiff from 25 November 2008 and will enter the permanent collections of both museums.