Vincent Fantauzzo’s life story could easily be mistaken for the plot of a movie.

Growing up in Broadmeadows, as the middle child  of 5, Vincent learnt quickly that if people weren’t scared of your house, it was going to get robbed.

Vincent struggled deeply with school, due to undiagnosed dyslexia, and was expelled at 14.

Vincent forged his way into a Bachelor of Fine Art at RMIT, where, after another near expulsion, he was officially diagnosed with severe dyslexia.

Vincent’s break though came in 2008, when his portrait of Heath Ledger won the Archibald Prize’s People’s Choice Award. Heath and Vincent had been close for a few years before the epic portrait was completed, however in tragic circumstances the actor passed before the portrait was publicly shown, making the piece a symbol of national mourning.

Vincent met his now wife Asher Keddie whilst painting her portrait, in what was described as basically love at first sight. Vincent and Asher raise two children together, Luca and Val.

Vincent remains the only artist to have won the People Choice Award at the Archibald Prize four times and was also selected by Julia Gillard to paint her official portrait.

Vincent has recently opened his own gallery in South Yarra, as well as published his memoir Unveiled which is available at all good bookstores.