I started work on this portrait of my fiancée Judith around a year ago, towards the end of summer 2012. Initial sessions from life were followed by sporadic work from photographs, until it was finally completed a couple of weeks ago.

It was painted in Winsor & Newton alkyds (quick drying oils) on 20″ x 16″ (50 x 40 cm approx.) canvas in my usual Impressionist-influenced technique.

I’ve created portraits for as long as I can remember – virtually since picking up my first pencil. In 2002 I decided to launch a specialised ‘portraits from photographs’ service via my website www.birtall.co.uk, offering drawings and paintings of family, friends or pets from photographs.

A few years later, the success of that service prompted the launching of a dedicated website for my portrait paintings and drawings service – www.portrait-art.co.uk. In the last week or two I have re-designed and re-launched that website. To mark that re-launch I have been offering discounted portraits (30% off until 6 September 2013).