Richard Stone

Richard Stone has painted portraits of the Royal Family for more than four decades. At the age of 22, he became Britain’s youngest royal portrait artist since Sir Thomas Lawrence painted Queen Charlotte in 1790 at the age of 21. Although he has had little formal art training, Richard Stone’s success is a direct result of a natural talent and a strong determination to succeed in the career he has pursued since childhood.Born in 1951 the son of a Colchester postman, Richard began cultivating his talent following an accident at the age of four that left him with a fractured skull and permanent deafness in his right ear. The young artist began sketching in a notebook and later painted to communicate with his family and teachers, demonstrating a keen sense of perspective and mixing colours.From the age of eight, he was actively encouraged by his next-door neighbour, Frederick Heron. An amateur Essex painter, Heron taught Richard the basics of art. Then when he was fourteen, Richard went to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, where he saw a portrait by Sir Gerald Kelly. With the directness that has subsequently characterised his career, he wrote to Sir Gerald, saying how much he had admired the portrait and asking if he could possibly help and advise him. The result was prompt. Sir Gerald could offer him all the reasons against being a portrait painter, but if he would like to call and see him, and bring his work, he was welcome. Richard took along what work he had done, listened to Sir Gerald’s reasons, and would not be dissuaded. It was the start of a friendship that was to last until Sir Gerald’s death in 1972.Sir Gerald had been an ideal tutor. With his help and advice, Richard set about becoming a portrait painter. The achievements are formidable. Following Sir Gerald’s advice, he started knocking on doors in an attempt to find work, and he was successful. One of his earliest subjects was Sir Arthur Bliss, the Master of the Queen’s Musick. As well as Sir Adrian Boult, another contact Richard made was at Clarence House, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother’s London residence. When he was put through to the Comptroller of the Household, Lord Adam Gordon, Richard made his mark with a memorable phrase, “Don’t ring off, I could be the latter-day Rembrandt”. This singular lack of modesty paid off and Lord Adam listened to his reasons for wanting to paint the Queen Mother. After accepting a commission to produce a likeness of Lady Adam Gordon, Richard was invited to paint the Queen Mother’s portrait. The finished work was greeted with tremendous critical acclaim, but many were sceptical that the young artist could sustain a successful career.Defying the critics, Richard saw this as the first step that would lead to the achievement of his childhood ambition. Unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in 1992, his portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II is his most famous work. Commissioned by the burghers of Colchester, the eight-foot by five-foot canvas hangs today in the town’s Moot Hall, and represents three years of work and some seven sittings. The portrait has been hailed as one of the finest painted during Her Majesty’s reign and was subsequently chosen by Her Majesty as the Royal Mail airmail stamp. To commemorate HM becoming Britain’s Longest Reigning Monarch, Richard was commissioned by The Realms to paint Her Majesty’s portrait again in 2015. Upon completion, it was acquired by The Royal Collection and now hangs in St James’s Palace, London.Richard continues to paint senior members of the Royal Family, alongside other prestigious commissions. His sitters have included Nelson Mandela, Luciano Pavarotti, Baroness Thatcher, Dame Joan Sutherland and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Richard is married and has a son and two daughters. He lives in Colchester where he maintains a studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.