The Times, 8th October 2005

Put Yourself in the Picture for a Profit
PORTRAIT painting is a distinguished
tradition, stretching back into the mists of
art history, but despite the advent of the
camera, it is as relevant today as it has
ever been.

Paul Wynter, of the online gallery
Londonart.co.uk and portrait artist, says:
"When artists are studying their craft,
they learn in life classes how to paint and
draw. It's very interesting drawing people
and trying to capture their personality, so
it is not surprising that artists continue to
paint portraits."

Portrait painting often makes the news.
The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) hosts
the BP portrait award every year, with a
prize of £25,000. This year the winner,
announced in June, was Dean Marsh's
picture entitled Giulietta Coates. His
motive for the work was simple: "Giulietta
is my girlfriend. I painted her because I
love her."

Then there are portraits of famous people,
most notably those by Lucian Freud.
Everyone from Kate Moss to Andrew
Parker Bowles has sat for the great
master. The portrait of Moss, painted in
2002 when she was pregnant, sold at
auction through Christie's for £3.9 million
this year.

Another of the exceptional artist working
today is Maggi Hambling, who has works
in the Tate collection, the National Gallery
and NPG.

Portraiture has entered the realms of the
video installation too. The NPG has an
example of possibly the most famous,
called David. Shot by Sam Taylor-Wood,
the film of David Beckham sleeping won
international acclaim when it was
released. Taylor-Wood says: "Making a
portrait of a much-photographed man such
as David Beckham was a challenge. I
wanted to create a direct, closely
observed study. Filming while he was
asleep produces a different view from the
familiar public images."

The rest of us mere mortals can be the
subject of our own portraits too. The key
is to pick the right artist, because should
you alight on a Lucian Freud of the future,
your portrait will be financially significant
was well as a sentimental memento for
your heirs.

Of course, no one knows who these artists
will be, but Mr Wynter has a few
suggestions. "When Christian Furr was 28
he became the youngest artist to paint the
Queen for an official portrait. His prices
have risen four times in the past three
years." Furr's price for a modestly sized
portrait with one figure starts at about
£3,000. Artists charge per figure because
two sitters will be twice the work.

Your face could be your fortune: Harri II by Claire alexander

Mr Wynter also considers Claire
Alexander to be another outstanding
artist. Her prices have doubled in the
past two years and start at £950. Other
up-and-coming names include Zachary
Walsh, David Watmough and Kelly-Anne
Davitt, who was selected for exhibition
in the 2003 BP Portrait Award.

One artist who has been known since
the 1970s and continues to to excite
interest is Reg Eldridge. Many of the
artists mentioned can be contacted
through Londonart.co.uk.

Virginia Blackburn