LONDON, ENGLAND.- Since 1891 the Society has been devoted exclusively to the art and development of portrait painting which, in recent years, has shown a remarkable resilience. The enormous variety in its annual shows both from its members and from the open section make it the perfect destination for those wishing to commission a portrait. Over the last year the Society’s income from commissions has doubled.

A good portrait has a unique intimacy and should capture the character of the sitter. It can sometimes be a reflection of current trends and often has importance as a work of historical record. Its current popularity in an age of photography, film and video is of considerable significance.

Prizes awarded by the Society are the Ondaatjie Prize for Portraiture, the Prince of Wales Award for Portrait Drawing, the Changing Faces Prize and de Laszlo Foundation Award. They are presented at a reception the evening.

Works on show in this exhibition will include a portrait of the Oscar winning screenwriter Ronald Harewood by Michael Noakes who will also be exhibiting a study of his portrait of Pope Benedict XVI and an unusual portrait of the noted economist Professor Lord Giddens. Prominent art critic William Packer is depicted by Daphne Todd, novelist P.D. James (Baroness James of Holland Park), Aylwin Harris, and Brenda Gourlay (Open University) by June Mendoza. June Mendoza'a guest artist is Rolf Harris. Explorer Sir Wally Herbert is painted by Andy James, while celebrity couple Anthea Turner and Grant Bovey are painted by Richard Foster.

Over 200 portraits by some 100 artists will be hung in this exhibition. It is one of the year’s top art events which is attended by numerous celebrities. Its popularity is proof of the current interest in portraiture and also in the commissioning of portraits whether by an institution or an individual.