The model who sat for me in this painting is Frances Piper. She has modelled for me before and I just love her face. As she struck a pose on this particular ocassion she reminded me of religious paintings. Well, I just indulged myself and thought why not...I decided to paint Florence in the background as her image evoked Italy. Whilst the painting perhaps connotes the past it is an interesting notion to me, that the image must also be contemporary in the sense that the face I am painting is one that lives and breathes today.
Hettie came to my Hurlingham studio to sit for me a few times and during that period I got to know her quite well. She is a lovely warm and smiley person. In this portrait however, I wanted to capture other qualities that to me were just as characteristic of Hettie. Her softness and the very empathetic, sensitive, astute and caring person that she is. We had a lovely time together. It was a real joy to do her portrait
Detail of Hettie