In June I was commissioned to paint Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the Illustrated London News. The ILN was the world’s first illustrated periodical. In 1897 they published 'A Record number for A Record Reign' This was a lavishly produced book celebrating the reign of Queen Victoria, Britain's longest serving Monarch. On the 9th of September 2015 Queen Elizabeth will overtake her great great grandmother to become Britain's longest serving monarch. To mark this occasion the ILN will release a limited edition commemorative book set. This will include a reproduction of the original 1897 record reign publication, alongside a companion volume celebrating the reign of Queen Elizabeth. A softback magazine featuring a popular overview of the Queens reign is also to be released. My portrait will appear in both publications.

For every copy of the book and magazine sold the ILN will make a donation to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship trust. QEST funded my first year of study in Italy and help many others to pursue there dreams each year. As my studies in Florence draw to a close I am very proud to have played a part (however small) in this project which will enable others to benefit from QEST funding, as I have.

More information about this publication and the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship trust can be found on the websites listed below.