Criticised artist unveils new Queen portrait

Dan Llywelyn Hall’s expressionist-style painting generated strong views among many in 2013 - and the Welsh artist said it was “impossible to say” what people would make of his latest work.

His initial 5ft by 4ft canvas showed the Queen sitting in an ornate chair with her hands in her lap and was commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to mark the 60th anniversary of the Coronation.

This latest painting, which shows the Queen sitting in the same position wearing the same outfit but from a different angle, will be at the centre of an exhibition showcasing around 20 portraits of Great Britons in London.

Asked about what he thinks the reaction will be to his new oil on canvas portrait, Hall told the Press Association: “It is well beyond my control.”

He said people’s responses to paintings were “deeply personal”, but added that this latest work “makes a different statement”.

Hall said he worked on his two royal portraits at the same time following one sitting, so his second work was not in response to the criticism of his first.

The criticism of his 2013 portrait “strengthened” him, and comparing his latest work to the previous portrait, Hall said: “In many cases it is a very different picture. It’s much more of a gentler one.”

The artist spent a day at Windsor Castle and the Queen sat for him for around three hours.