Portrait Painters Show

The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition opens at the Mall Galleries in London on 24 April and continues until 11 May. Whether you just want to browse art or you're looking for an artist to paint a loved one's portrait, this is the show to visit. Take Michael Taylor's clever double portrait of Paul Beckett as an example of the quality to expect. The sitter dominates a busy canvas full of interesting detail and textures. At first glance he appears to be looking in a mirror at himself, but that isn't a mirror image! Not only is this a powerful portrait, but also as a composition it makes you look at it again and again. This brilliant painting is worth a visit by itself.