Stunning Portraits of Guildford People by Nathalie Beauvillain Scott

Published on: 14 Dec, 2024
Updated on: 13 Dec, 2024

By Hugh Coakley

We have all seen portraits, often they are historical figures from many years ago, but seeing portraits of people I actually know, professionally exhibited in a gallery, was a unique experience.

In Faces of Guildford, the subjects chosen by the artist, Nathalie Beauvillain Scott are of those we can see regularly going about their business around our town. And that is the point, this exhibition is personal; these portraits are all of people we might know or recognise, who have an impact on us and on our town.

Portraits of broadcaster Peter Gordon, Guildford’s former MP Anne Milton and the late Alderman Gordon Bridger.

The artist’s technique, one of hyperrealism, made the exhibition all the more remarkable for me.

The subjects have been chosen and drawn by Nathalie. They range from Guildford market traders to international actors, from regional to national politicians and local figures of repute and interest.

The Guildford portraits started when she painted a local celebrity for an international competition, the BP National Portrait award, about six years ago. “I did a few more and thought wouldn’t it be great to do a series of people who were doing good things in Guildford. I could feature some who everybody knew and those who were more discrete, people who knew how to give without wanting anything back.”

What drew me in most was not just recognising the sitters in the 13 oil paintings and 15 pencil drawings, it was the exacting, astonishing detail in each of the portraits.

Artist Nathalie Beauvillain Scott at her one woman portrait exhibition in Guildford (November and December 2024).

Somehow they have more life, more reality than the photos many of the portraits are based on. The pictures sparkle with presence and vitality, as much from the artist as the sitter.

“I love hyperealism” said Nathalie Beauvillain Scott, born and raised in France and now a long-term Guildford resident, having lived, worked and raised a family here.

“I love the eyes, all of my portraits, people say it is the eyes that come out.”

Portraits of entrepreneur Michel Harper and Professor Sir Christopher Snowden by Nathalie Beauvillain Scott.

What’s the difference between your portraits and a photo? “Artist puts their feelings and emotions in the paintings and it makes a difference. I know a lot of the people for a number of years and it shows in the portraits. It adds a bit of intimacy.

“I would prefer to meet the person for a portrait but I can paint from photos. A medium sized painting takes about a month and four or five days for a pencil portrait. Most of the time goes into the composition of the paintings.

Artist Nathalie Beauvillain Scott with a self portrait at her one woman portrait exhibition in Guildford (November and December 2024).

Nathalie talked excitedly about her work and she comes across as extremely knowledgeable. “Although I went to art school, I am more or less self taught in portraiture. This exhibition is so important to me because it’s a summation of the last 20 years of doing portraits.

“It is now my passion. I get something out of portraits that you don’t get out of other paintings like landscapes. There’s a connection and it’s much more emotional.”

A pencil portrait of Dragon editor Martin Giles, by Nathalie Beauvillain Scott.

And the time she has taken to set up the exhibition has meant she has done no painting and she was getting “fidgety”. She said: “Painting is a huge part of me. I just have to paint. I don’t know what my next project will be, probably portraits, but it will be painting.

“I love Guildford. Its my home, close to London and a beautiful town but it’s the people really that makes the town, friends, family. I’m just surrounded by beautiful people.”

You can view Nathalie’s incredible work in St Mary’s Church, Quarry Street, January 4th-12th and Growlers & Cans, Chertsey Street, January 15th-22nd.