The timeless art of portraiture

Portraiture is one of the most enduring forms of art. A practice that transcends time, it connects us with the lives of others – past and present – on a human level. Throughout history, some of the world’s most iconic artworks have been portraits. From Leonardo da Vinci’s enigmatic ‘Mona Lisa’ to the raw, unflinching self-portraits of Jenny Saville, portrait painting does more than capture a subject, it offers a window into the history, emotion, and culture of humanity.

Dating back to Ancient Egypt, portraiture was the only way to capture a person’s likeness for millennia. Until the advent of photography in the early 19th century, an individual would commission an artist to paint them. Sitters were often posed with clothing and symbolic objects that would offer an insight into their wealth, personality, education and interests.

From the dramatic religious scenes of the Baroque era to the shapes and colours of Modernism, portraiture has been adapted by artists for centuries. In more recent years, the form has focused on expressing the energy of the subject, given that realistic likeness is now so accessible. Here we delve into how contemporary artists are embracing the time-honoured art of portraiture.

 

Featured Art: ‘X-Ray III’ by Joseph Jones and ‘You Can Never Tell’ by Jon Jones.

 

Boy George

An artist who embodies the spirit of theatrical modern portraiture is Boy George. In his debut collection Fame, the music icon turned his gaze towards the faces that shaped him – a kaleidoscopic homage to pop culture’s most magnetic personas. From the electrifying silhouette of Prince in ‘Purple Rain’ to David Bowie in his iconic ‘Yamamoto’ styling, the artist conjures his unique perception of his subjects through a technicolour lens. These aren’t passing tributes - these are bold reimaginings, filtered through a life lived in the limelight. By portraying his heroes, Boy George holds a mirror to his own experiences, obsessions and inspirations.

This is especially true for his striking self-portrait, ‘Colour By Numbers’. The public have seen countless images of the Culture Club star - the makeup, the hats, the fashion - but here he distils all of the spectacle into something at once deeply personal and playfully surreal. Giving his image an authentic perspective, the artist reclaims his persona as a stylised portrait, reflecting on his past, present and public self.

Working with a huge array of mediums, he crafts his original portraits from textiles, beads, sequins and found objects. In his hands the ordinary becomes ornate, a tactile rebellion against realism, showing the world as he sees it rather than as it truly appears.

“I was an invention, so it’s easy to draw that person because it’s so set in stone” - Boy George

Featured Art: ‘Purple Rain’ and ‘Yamamoto’ by Boy George.

 

Jon Jones

Music icons like Boy George have been the subject of portraits for decades, with countless artists capturing their energy and essence in their artwork. Painting Black Sabbath ahead of their ‘Back to the Beginning’ concert, Birmingham-based artist Jon Jones became absorbed by the band and their history, fascinated by the story behind the faces he was painting. Expressing the raw energy and rebellious spirit of the band using his signature monochrome mark making and dramatic contrast, Jones captures a moment of heavy metal history on canvas.

Jones regularly explores his local history in his art, studying famous faces from the infamous Peaky Blinders to stars of the silver screen. Experimenting with artistic style in his In My Life collection, he paired a decidedly Jones-style portrait alongside an impressionistic interpretation of the same person to show how they can be presented so differently in varying styles – bringing a sense of humour to the earnest.

“As a portrait painter, I strive to capture an expression, mood or feeling” - Jon Jones

Featured Art: ‘Marilyn Monroe (Diptych)’ and ‘Changes’ by Jon Jones.

 

Nigel Humphries

Proving that portraiture can be playful, Nigel Humphries disregards convention and applies traditional painting techniques to teddy bears and soft toys. By employing timeless styles with such unexpected subjects, Humphries introduces us to a light-hearted side of portraiture.

Although his subjects are inanimate objects, Humphries captures a huge sense of personality and character in the eyes and subtle angles of his bears. In his Summer 2025 collection, he dresses the bears in the outfits of subculture movements, capturing the energy and sense of nostalgia associated with them. Inspired by Renaissance art and the Old Masters, including Rembrandt – an artist famous for his self-portraits – Humphries paints his bears using a delicate play of light and elements of chiaroscuro to create a pleasant contrast between his classical style and whimsical subject.

“I try to imagine all of the bears living in their own universe and I just happen to be painting their portraits.” - Nigel Humphries

Featured Art: ‘Indie’ by Nigel Humphries.

 

Shazia

Drawing inspiration from faces she has encountered in real life and dreams, Shazia creates a strong ethereal feeling in her captivating portraits. Preferring not to sketch or define her subject before painting them, she takes a more fluid approach to painting, allowing her characters to tell her who they are. Bathed in luminosity, each figure emerges from the canvas, their presence suggesting a deeper story lies beneath.

Although her style is a more modern interpretation of portraiture, Shazia employs ancient techniques in her painting. She works with egg tempera – a medium which dates back to Ancient Egypt (like portraiture itself) and is made using powdered pigments and egg yolk – adding a glowing luminosity to her work.

“Behind the stare is a tale of mystery, a memory deep wrapped up in history.” - Shazia

Featured Art: ‘Mabel & Maude’ and ‘Ida’ by Shazia.

 

Joseph Jones

Joseph Jones’ unique approach to portraiture transforms his paintings from a simple representation of a person into an expressive and thought-provoking experience. Studying the Old Masters, including John Singer Sargent and Joshua Reynolds, allowed him to capture the nuances of light, realism, and photorealistic detail in his 2025 collection, X-Ray.

Jones explores ideas of transition between the physical and ethereal, inviting the viewer to see multiple realities in his expertly crafted anaglyphs. His technique creates compelling images that can be appreciated at first glance, but with further observation, they come to life, encouraging us to look beyond the surface of the traditional portrait.

“I want my portraits to show life, convey feelings and emotions.” - Joseph Jones

Featured Art: ‘X-Ray II’ by Joseph Jones.

 

From rock and pop icons to ethereal and mesmerising faces, our expert Art Consultants are always on-hand to help you find the perfect portrait for your space. Find your nearest gallery or speak to an Art Consultant to learn more.

Featured Art: ‘Madame X’ by Boy George.