The Golden Scroll of Honour

Due to privacy concerns many projects could not be included on this countdown but Francis is a very public individual.  He is the subject of several television documentaries which can be found on the web.  A few years ago I received a commission from Francis having been recommended by Lord Henry Norreys.  Henry had told him that I was one of the best so the pressure was on.  I spent some time with Francis at his home which was thoroughly enjoyable and found him to be one of life's wonderful characters.

Counting down my finest works No. 91 is the presentation scroll for Archbishop Desmond Tutu Here is Desmond Tutu along with the artwork I painted for him.  Another great honour that boggles this South London boy's mind.

Counting down my finest works No. 42 is the painting of the arms of General Colin Powell My good friend the late Peter Drummond-Murray asked me to take on this commission which I greatly enjoyed.

Presented at an American Scottish event.   Below is a photo of Prince Edward receiving my painting.   

Unfortunately like so much of my work, I cannot show the document I painted for Princess Michael whilst I was Herald Painter to the British Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.  However, I can show the library painting I painted for her home which is based on the arms I painted on the document. She is a very gracious, elegant and strong lady. I wanted to reflect these traits in her shield of arms. Princess Michael later helped me with a project that was very close to my heart for which I remain extremely grateful.   

Counting down my finest works No. 95 is the presentation scroll I painted for Francesco Ayala  which was presented to him at Buckingham Palace by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.  It is fascinating to me to see where my art ends up.  Growing up and pursuing this career I never imagined that it would find it's way into Buckingham Palace and be presented by the Duke of Edinburgh. 

I have painted works for many famous people but of all of them I think the Dalai Lama must hold a special place and I am sure those other famous people will agree.  He has that special quality of humility, spirituality and positivity which inspires many people.  I wanted the scroll seen below to reflect that. The event was widely publicised but on the countdown I just wanted to focus on the art work itself.

This piece of work probably had to be one of the most nerve wracking of my career.  I was blessed to do some work for Queen Elizabeth.  I thought that the first piece they would ask me to do would be low key.  In fact I was asked to produce the Letters Patent granting Prince William his three titles including the one William and Catherine would later become so well known for, the Dukedom of Cambridge.  I knew the Queen would be signing it in her customary spot in the upper right hand corner and that she has an incredible eye for detail which can only add to one's anxiety.  This document had to be flawless and contain all the knowledge and skill I had achieved in decades working as a professional artist.  The Queen has a great sense of humour and so I had some fun in one of the decorative borders by showing the dragon of Wales hovering and rescuing the lion of England a tongue in cheek reference to William's career.  She thanked me by inviting my wife and I to a garden party.

I met Sir Paul in the 1990's.  He had a very relaxed nature. On my visits to his homes we sat and watched cricket and talked about knights and chivalry.  Sir Paul loved cricket but so too did he love art and books.  His collection of medieval illuminated books was as good as anything housed in the major museums.  He also loved Pre-Raphaelite paintings and had a wonderful first edition of the Kelmscott Chaucer produced by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.  

The famous rock legend Ian Anderson photographed here at Madison Square Gardens looking every bit the Scottish bard! He told me I was hired due to the fact that whilst looking through Carl Alexander von Volborth's book, 'The Art of Heraldry' he liked not only my name but that I was, 'still alive'. By that he meant I was one of the youngest artists featured in book. He also liked my asymmetric style. I have included this because to me it was such a fun commission and it is not everyday you get to hang out with a rock star legend.  

This is a difficult thing to do because I have painted hundreds upon hundreds of coats of arms, calligraphic and illuminated manuscripts, scrolls and royal letters patent thus far.   How do you choose ?  After careful consideration I have chosen these works as truly representative of this branch of my art. When confronted with the art I have on record I cannot believe there have been enough hours in the day to have produced it. Plus of course there is the art I did for patrons who asked me not to share for privacy reasons, some of which was quite spectacular.  So to begin with let us start with the coat of arms of the late Prince Rupert Loewenstein. A very interesting patron who was for many years was the financial advisor to the Rolling Stones. He was a member of Order of Malta and that is how he approached me through a mutual friend, also a Knight of Malta, the late Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick. At that time I was Herald Painter to the British Association of the Order