Queen's Birthday Party - NATO, Brussels

I have been very lucky to have been asked by NATO Headquarters in Brussels to do two paintings for their annual Queen's Birthday Party. So when ever I have had a night off from production work, or a spare moment here and there, I have been painting a portrait of the Queen. I have been working from the official canadian portrait of the Queen which was taken in 2002 as I feel it shows her in all her glory, however instead of the original background I felt it would look more patriotic if I had the Union Jack behind her.

It has been a tricky portrait to paint, I was not sure how to approach her wrinkles (would she like them in!?!), her lace dress was difficult to master as it was sparkly, and then there was all her jewellery - man diamonds are difficult to paint. I do need to do some touch ups when I go out to Brussels - her left eye looks a tad dodgy!

The next painting I am going to paint for  the party is large copy of the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games poster, however I am going to change it a bit by having the London skyline in the background, the famous rings up in the right corner and maybe change some of the flags around, so ... pictures to follow!