For 20 years, Louise Pragnell has made a speciality of painting the portraits of members of royal families and military top brass. In this episode, she talks about drawing her mother as a child, her years of studying art before turning to portraiture, what she defines as modern sensibility in her paintings, how she strives to capture the essence of her sitters, the decisions over the details and poses in her portraits, how she started painting the royals and military, her recent commission to paint the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg and what she paints for fun.

Louise Pragnell talking with Bob Chaundy

Former Conservative leader, William Hague

Jeremy Clarkson

Household Cavalry

HRH Princess Royal

Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg

The Murdering Misguided Queen Cassandra

Koko

All images are © Louise Pragnell

You can see more of Louise’s work on her website

Music: Ibiza by MBB | https://soundcloud.com/mbbofficial