Maltese photographer Joe Smith will be the first Maltese artist to have his work exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London after an image he submitted for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize was shortlisted for exhibition.

The gallery describes the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize as “a unique opportunity to see 60 new portraits by some of the most exciting contemporary photographers from around the world”.

This year’s edition attracted over 4,000 entries from 1,793 photographers, with 60 images, including Smith’s, making it to the final exhibition shortlist.

Smith’s image features Vittoriosa resident Conċetta Caruana with her cat, and is part of his works in progress for the second volume of Survivors – The Ageing Population of Birgu.

Following the successful photographic exhibition and launch of the first volume in 2009, Smith was invited by Vittoriosa local council to embark on a second volume, as there were other protagonists who had intriguing stories to relate.

For the second volume, Smith is working with Maltese cinematographer Jean Pierre Gatt, who is shooting footage of the ‘making of’ as well as snippets of interviews with people who will be featuring.

The photographic stage is almost complete and the book, together with a DVD containing the footage, are expected to be launched late next year.

The exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London opens on November 13 and will run until February 22.