Blessed are the cheesemakers

‘I was amazed, if a little nervous being asked to sit for a portrait, because, usually I cannot sit still for minutes let alone an hour-and-a-half in one of four sessions,” says Judy.

“Helen was so good making me relax, we rebuilt a great rapport over the two days. The farm is in an isolated spot so I suggested Helen stayed overnight, rather than taking her off to a hotel five miles away. We could then relax in the evening and chat about our very different lives.

“The articles in the magazine were very comprehensive with lots of photographs, and the detail of the work in progress of the portrait.

“It was a fantastic experience and I am looking forward to seeing the finished portrait.”

Helen says: “This is where my painting starts to change - and I can see my compositions slowly growing to incorporate much more of the rooms that the sitters are in.

“For Judy’s portrait, I stretched a canvas, sketched everything out on it, painted the first layers and then realised I really wanted to include her partner in the background - so I started everything again on a new canvas! It was that extra effort that makes the painting, I think.

“This painting formed a major touchstone memory of summer 2017 for me - I remember the sun was blazing outside throughout the two-day sitting and Judy’s gorgeous Vizsla dog was constantly running in from the garden, through the patio doors, to drop a tennis ball at my feet.”

<center><b>Click on the pictures below to see the completed portraits:</b></center>