Male Portraits

“What we can do today we never do tomorrow” is a truism. So people put off having their portraits painted till they have - too often - lost the bloom of youth. So when I wandered by chance into Sara's gallery and saw Nicky's wonderful pictures I thought - fuck it - and commissioned her to paint Arthur while he was in his prime. And his descendants will thank me in spades for doing it.

Francis Fulford

I had assumed that sitting for a portrait would involve feeling intimidated for hours on end in complete silence, under the intense scrutiny of an equally intense artist. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Part of Nicky’s great talent is to engage and relax. Within moments you’re old friends, meeting for a gossip, it’s just that one of you keeps dabbing at a canvas. I admit to feeling a little bereft when the whole thing was finished, our chatting time had come to an end. But the portrait had come to life.

Hugh Bonneville