The debate is on in the Stanley household over where to hang a portrait commissioned as part of a unique project to celebrate a company’s 150th anniversary.

Philip Stanley of Ponsonby Old Hall is eagerly waiting to get his hands on his finished portrait, so he can decide where to place it in the family home.

The portrait is part of the ‘Face Forward’ project captured the stories of 10 business leaders and clients of independent financial and business advisory company Armstrong Watson on canvas.

The business teamed up with award-winning professional artist Helen Perkins and local publisher CN Group’s in-cumbria website and magazine to deliver the project.

Mr Stanley saw the completed portrait for the first time on Thursday evening, when it was unveiled at a special celebration held at Rosehill Theatre, near Whitehaven.

“I really enjoyed the whole experience of being painted, and the finished portrait is very good,” Mr Stanley told in-cumbria.

“Painting a portrait is a really different and special way to tell people’s stories and I feel really fortunate to have been involved.

“We’ve had a talk about where it would go last night but we won’t make a final decision until we get hold of it.”

Mr Stanley will receive the portrait after exhibitions in Leeds, Skipton, Penrith, Northallerton, Dumfries and Hexham during the next month.

Armstrong Watson clients have already had the opportunity to see them in Carlisle – where the project was initially unveiled to mark National Family Business Day on September 21 – along with Kendal and Whitehaven.

Mr Stanley said his family had been clients of Armstrong Watson since the early 1960s and that the relationship had grown across a few generations.

“They have helped us a lot in advising on tax and inheritance tax in particular,” he added.

Click here to learn more about the Face Forward project.