‘World’s greatest portrait painter’ exhibits in Henlow

Artist Peter Deighan in his Luton studio

Peter Deighan will be displaying his eclectic body of work at Champneys Health Spa in Henlow.

Now a great grandfather, the one-time Vauxhall welder said: “I thought it was time to start generating interest again.”

The man described as the world’s greatest portrait painter is equally well known for his popular sports canvases. His sensitive and exquisite paintings of wildlife, still life and ballet are also extremely popular.

He said: “I’ve always loved horses and horse racing. I don’t think people and animals are that different, they’re all living creatures. The still life I do is more of a technical exercise.”

His work hangs in the Vatican and is exhibited at some of the most prestigious collections in the world, including the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Equestrian Society in the Mall Gallery, London. Peter, who lives in Luton, has painted three prime ministers, and his portrait of golfer Payne Stewart sold for £1.4 million.

The exhibition will feature more than 60 works and runs from tomorrow, Saturday October 11 until Sunday,  November 9.