When Vincent Fantauzzo asked to paint Asher Keddie's portrait, something surprising happened.

Asher Keddie is one of Australian TV's most recognisable faces, with her star acting roles in Offspring, Strife and most recently Fake. 

In fact, she won the Logie for Most Popular Actress five years in a row between 2011 and 2015, for her portrayal of Nina Proudman in Offspring, and this year, she's been nominated for a Gold Logie as Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.

In her personal life, Keddie has been married to artist Vincent Fantauzzo for a decade. But who is he, really? Here's everything we know about Vincent Fantauzzo. 

Watch: Newlyweds Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo at the 2014 Logies. Post continues below.

Who is Asher Keddie's partner?

Vincent Fantauzzo is one of Australia's most prominent artists and has won the Archibald People's Choice Award four times — more than any other artist. He is known for his paintings of influential Australian figures, including Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and of course, his wife Asher Keddie. 

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A post shared by Vincent Fantauzzo (@vincent_fantauzzo)

When his portrait of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard was unveiled in Parliament House, Gillard said she audible gasped.

"I think he's captured a look in my eyes, which is about leadership, and about strength but with some ambiguity in it," she told the ABC.

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Fantauzzo has also won two Doug Moran National Portrait Prizes and has had his work showcased across the globe, including the United States, India, Vietnam and Hong Kong. 

The Art Series Hotels also named their hotel at Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane after him, Fantauzzo hotel, which is now filled with his artworks. 

Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo's Relationship.

After seeing Asher Keddie on TV, Fantauzzo knew he wanted to paint Keddie's portrait. So in 2012 the pair met. In a preparation session for the portrait, Keddie described Fantauzzo would lock eyes with her by popping his head above the camera.

"He still does that eyes above the camera; he's very charming," she told Marie Claire.

"I did like his work, and I thought 'wow there's something really beautiful and cinematic about his portraits'. And so I went, and there was a very strong instant connection. We literally haven't parted ways since that day," Keddie told the ABC.

Two years later, the pair tied the knot in Fiji, with Fantauzzo's son Luca from a previous marriage by their side. In March 2015, the couple welcomed their child, Valentino. 

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A post shared by Asher Keddie (@asherkeddieofficial)

"But what we enjoy most — and I know we both feel like this — is sharing the parenting. I love that feeling of togetherness we have in parenting them and being part of their lives," Keddie told Marie Claire.

Although the couple keep their relationship quiet, they now have now been happily married 10 years.

Vincent Fantauzzo's Background.

Fantauzzo was born in 1977 and grew up in Glenroy and Broadmeadows, which are considered some of the rougher suburbs of North Melbourne. 

His Irish mother met his Italian father in an immigration camp, and together they had five children. 

After Fantauzzo's father left, his mother and siblings lived in a tiny two-bedroom commission house with his mother sleeping on a couch beside the front door.

Fantauzzo struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia in school, which eventually him to drop out. He then worked as a painter, printer and concreter to help support his family. It was only when Fantauzzo began his own dry cleaning business when he began getting recognition for his artistic talent. 

"I was so bored I was drawing all day long and people would come in and see my drawings and be much more interested in the drawings than the dry-cleaning," he told the ABC.

However, growing up in a rough neighbourhood, he didn't believe he had opportunities to become successful.

"I tried to be this tough guy that people wouldn't mess with. When you grow up in these areas, who do you look up to? Gangsters and drug dealers," he said.

"I did a lot of bad stuff that I regret so much. And I think about gangs and kids doing bad stuff and I think, all they need is a little bit of confidence."

After forging his name on someone else's high school results, he enrolled to study at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. During his studies he paid others to complete his essays, that is, until he was caught. This is when Fantauzzo was diagnosed with dyslexia.

"There was also relief that I'm not stupid, I actually have something wrong with me," he said.

"I definitely feel that dyslexia is a superpower, and I'm sorry for all you people that don't have it."

Fantauzzo graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, and completed a Masters in Fine Arts, and is now viewed as one of Australia's greatest artists.

Feature Image: Instagram @asherkeddieofficial