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Nigerian-born
artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy was chosen from a shortlist of five
other artists. She is the first black artist to have been commissioned
to paint The Queen.
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The
artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painting the portrait of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II
Photograph: Douglas Atfield. |
After
five sittings at Buckingham Palace, the portrait was completed in
Ms Chukwuogo-Roy's studio in Suffolk in January 2002
Ms
Chukwuogo-Roy, who lives near Wickham Market, spoke of her experience
meeting The Queen:
How
did you get the chance to paint this portrait of the Queen?
Ms
Chukwuogo-Roy: It came as a complete surprise. When I
was painting the portrait of the last Commonwealth Secretary General,
out of the blue he said, 'Would you like to put in your portfolio
for a commission to paint a portrait of the Queen?'
I thought, I can't be hearing right and he had to repeat it. I put
in my application and was chosen out of five other people to do
it.
How
did you feel when you heard you had been selected?
Ms
Chukwuogo-Roy: It was such an honour.
The Secretary General told me himself and for some reason I had
my son there and when he told me I was wild with excitement, I was
so happy. My son describes it best, he says I rugby tackled everyone
in the room!
It
is a real responsibility painting Her Majesty did you feel a little
bit nervous?
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The
artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painting the portrait of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II
Photograph: Douglas Atfield. |
Ms
Chukwuogo-Roy: I was quite nervous but decided to put
it out of my mind.
I saw her five times at Buckingham Palace, lots of long walks down
the corridors.
She
is very good at putting you at your ease. When I went it dawned
on me that the Queen would walk in the door and I thought, what
do I do? I don't even know how to curtsey so I started to practise.
I put
one knee down, then I thought that's not right so I tried the other
one. Then I thought there must be a camera in this room, so someone
must be watching me so I stopped. But the minute she walked in she
was so fantastic she said, 'Oh hello, we've met before. I unveiled
your portrait of the Secretary General,' and so on.
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The
Queen 
