Animal portrait and wildlife artist John Clarke, a former gamekeeper, appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live as part of the station’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Mr Clarke, who was head keeper on the Whitewell estate for 20 years, appeared as part of a programme called ‘The Day I Met the Queen’, which sees everyone from young children to the prime minister reflect on what meeting the Queen means to them.
John was commissioned by the Duchy of Lancaster to paint a special picture for the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations in 2006.
He said: “Until that commission, I had only ever painted as a hobby. It honestly changed my life. It put me on the map as an artist and gave me the confidence to take up painting as a full-time career. I presented the picture to HRH the Queen personally, which was an unforgettable moment in my life.”
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