Into the brightness

That’s why posing for a portrait was something of a trial for Judy Bell, founder of Shepherd’s Purse Cheeses.

“For me to sit still for three hours is a bit of an ordeal, halfway through all the muscles started saying ‘Can I move, please?’, but I didn’t find it too bad,” said Judy.

Artist Helen Perkins went to stay with Judy at her home in Yorkshire to paint the portrait.

“Helen was great, she made it very comfortable and relaxed,” said Judy.

“We live out in the sticks and Helen stayed here with us and we were able to relax and have a nice couple of days, really.

“I have become used to having photography sessions and I have been on TV a few times over the years because the company has had quite a high profile. In the early 90s we had a PR lady who worked for us and she used to say we should never turn down the opportunity to be interviewed and talk about the company. Doing things like that has given me the confidence that I can do this kind of thing.”

Helen, who lives in London, said she had a memorable couple of days - especially as her visit coincided with a spectacular heatwave.

“There’s a certain concentration you need to be able to create a good initial drawing, and I think this concentration definitely gets easier when you are well-practised,” she said.

“Fortunately, the day before I started drawing Judy, I had travelled from a painting commission in Kendal. This helped me to get straight into the task of capturing her portrait, in her family’s living room.

“It turned out to be one of my favourite of all the sittings. Judy’s family live right in the northern countryside, among the wheat fields - which is a whole different world to London and quite serene.

“The portrait shows Judy looking quite calm and facing the light - she was actually looking into her back garden.

“We experienced a heatwave while I was there, and one of my defining memories of 2017 is likely to be talking to Judy, while her dog Purdy repeatedly dropped a ball at my feet in the hope I would put down my tools and throw it out behind me and into their brightness.”

<center><b>Click on the pictures below to see the completed portraits:</b></center>