The Understanding British Portraits Podcast

In this episode Ruth Millington speaks to two individuals who reshaped the meaning of the word muse: Sue Tilley shares her experience as Lucian Freud’s model , and Morag Caister gives a personal insight into the gendered dynamics between artist and sitter with reference to her Sky Arts’ “Portrait Artist of the Year” competition-winning portrait of Lenny Henry , now in the National Portrait Gallery...

In this episode, Ruth Millington explores the history British portraits from the perspective of the artist’s muse, with particular focus on portraits created by the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood . Speaking to Art and Literature historian, researcher, writer and freelance curator, Hannah Squire , this episode delves into the relationships that models have held with the artists who immortalised th...

This episode focuses on how we commission portraits today, drawing on  Tanya Bentley 's experience, in her role as Contemporary Curator of the National Portrait Gallery. The commissioning programme at the National Portrait Gallery began in 1980, the year British artist Bryan Organ was commissioned to produce the iconic portrait of the Prince of Wales (later King...

Tanya Bentley , Contemporary Curator at the National Portrait Gallery, chairs a lively discussion between acclaimed artists Charmaine Watkiss and Curtis Holder , to explore the connections between contemporary portrait drawing and visual storytelling. Watkiss and Holder discuss their drawing practise in relation to the theme of storytelling, and explore general trends in contemporary portrait draw...