Unexpectedly, creating caricature portraits to commemorate a person's life or milestone has become one of my mainstays.  I've created literally hundreds - some of which are scattered around the globe - and it's the part of my act where my own rural community has found me the most palatable!

The proposed recipient is obviously the primary focus in the composition but I also try and gather in other dominant strands of their life.These artworks have been used to woo romantic interests, thank host families, mark important occasions and farewell politicians departing office. Some have made it on to book covers and even on to the cover of the subject's funeral program - which gives me a kick, it being the image the family decided summed up that whole, multifaceted life. In fact I've been told some are regarded as heirlooms because of the weight of family information captured there.

Caricature portraits come in two basic flavours:

• There's fast and loose ( and more economical) done initially as an ink cartoon on tinted art paper then enhanced with acrylic washes.

•  And there's 'The Major Work', fully painted on stretched canvas.

If you feel like giving someone the treatment, or being immortalised yourself, make contact. 



Satisfied customer, 1976

View 2020 Portrait Exhibition at Cheviot Museum on Paintings' page sidebar.