Roger Smith Art

Portrait of the artist and author Renate van Nijen

Oil on canvas

30 by 40 cm

Renate is a Facebook friend of my wife. She recently posted that she seldom posted pictures of herself. Well, here she is! She was a joy to paint.

Portrait of Nayomie

Oil on canvas board

30 by 40 cm

A gift for Nayomie

My wife and I were shopping in Marks and Spencers in Cheltenham when we spotted this lady's striking smile across the shop floor. Many months later we were able to present her with her portrait. She was a little bit surprised to say the least!

Portrait of Jim Wilson

Oil on canvas

60 by 80 cm

A gift for Jim's wife, Tilly

Jim is a lovely bloke, sadly suffering from advanced dementia. I painted him against a verdant green background as for many years he was the gardener at Wyastone Lees.

Young Lady dancing, Havana, Cuba

Oil on canvas

40 by 80 cm

Every Sunday morning in Havana the park which runs the length of Paseo del Prado (the main thoroughfare through Havana) fills with children and their proud parents. There are dance troupes, bands, orchestras all showing off the children's skills. This young lady stuck in my mind because of her poise and confidence.

Michael Reynolds

Oil on canvas board

40 by 50 cm

A gift for his 94th birthday

Micheal is the co-founder of Nimbus Records. I thought it would be nice to show him against the backdrop of his home, Wyastone Lees.

Waiting to Dance, Trinidad, Cuba

Oil on canvas

40 by 80 cm

Spotted one afternoon in a bar in Trinidad, Cuba. She was obviously waiting for someone.

Portrait of Mother and Daughter.

Oil on canvas board

50 by 40 cm

Commission Sale

My Californian sister-in-law sent me a dreadful selfie of her and her daughter sitting in the grey interior of a car. No shadow, no contrast. As mum was sitting in the back seat her head was about half the size of her daughter's. I had to use two separate photos, one with mum very much enlarged, to get the heads in proportion. Teeth are a nightmare to get right, and there are a lot of teeth in this painting. However, they are delighted with it thank goodness!

Portrait of Nadia

Oil on canvas board

40 by 50 cm

My lovely wife, painted and framed for her 70th birthday.

Girl with Braids: a portrait of Greta Thunberg

Oils on canvas board

50 by 40 cm

I loved painting this. Her wistful expression and pale complexion were a real challenge. I wanted a portrait of a young woman, not one of a political activist.

Oh Unhappy Man

Oils on canvas board

12 by 18 inches

I thought it would be a good idea to have a portrait of someone well known in my portfolio. Hence this one of Boris. It was based on a photograph taken by an AP photographer with a telephoto lens. He clearly had no idea he was being photographed. The photo had a horizontal bar going right across Boris's forehead, so that and his fringe are my own. Most people comment that his hair is too tidy.

Portrait of Tristan Whittaker

Oil on canvas board

12 by 18 inches

Commission work

This was my first commissioned portrait. Tristan was the same age as my son, but he sadly died quite young from an overdose. His parents had very few photographs of him, and the painting is taken from one of the better ones. It was a very emotional experience bringing him back to life in the painting (because they do come back to life, believe me!)

Portrait of Ashley Smith

Oil on canvas board

12 by 18 inches

This one was a labour of love as it's of my son and it had to be 100% correct. He is an excellent judge and any imperfections were very quickly called out.

Portrait of young Kenny Staples

Oil on canvas board

12 by 18 inches

Kenny is the owner of 'Creates' restaurant in Church Street, Monmouth and a good family friend. I thought his impish face worthy of a painting (he doesn't like it!).

Portrait of Nieves Salas Gomez

Oil on canvas board

12 by 18 inches

Nieves Salas Gomez was an orphan from Burgos in Spain, who was taken as a child to a convent in Holland. There she met my wife's grandmother, and they became firm friends. When Grandmother moved to Belgium, Nieves went with her, and she lived in the family home in Bruges until her death. She was my wife's godmother and we were fortunate enough to spend time together here in Symonds Yat before her passing. The paining is taken from a small monochrome photograph of her that my wife has. The colours are my own.

Portrait of my father, David Smith

Acrylics on canvas

Sold

This was the first portrait I actually painted, rather than drew in pastels. It's of my father, taken from a photograph of him on holiday in Kinsale, Ireland. I painted it as a gift for my mother shoertly after he died. After her death it passed to my sister.