Portraits fit for the Queen go up for auction: Unseen pictures of Royals and political leaders by artist who painted Her Majesty while she watched racing on TV
- Bernard Hailstone was a celebrated portrait artists but also fixed the Queen's TV aerial for the racing
- The painting of her majesty is one of 400 pieces of art by Hailstone that is going under the hammer
- The 1977 picture of Her Majesty is expected to fetch around £5,000, with the entire set valued at £35,000
- Mr Hailstone also painted the Queen Mother, Prince Charles, Winston Churchill and Jimmy Carter
- He and Churchill used to discuss aliens, with the former PM saying 'they should be treated with the contempt they deserve'
- The works were uncovered by the artist's family in his old studio in Tonbridge, Kent, after 30 years
A time capsule of previously unseen portraits and sketches of the Royal family, political heavyweights and film stars has been unearthed.
Bernard Hailstone was a celebrated portrait painter - but his reputation didn't stop the Queen from getting him to re-position a TV aerial so she could watch the horse-racing during a sitting at Buckingham Palace.
Her picture forms part of a remarkable collection of 400 works by Hailstone which have been unearthed in his old studio by his family, 30 years after his death.
The 1977 portrait of Queen Elizabeth was extremely well prepared and was subject to several increasingly detailed preparatory sketches
Another, more detailed preparatory sketch of Queen Elizabeth II from 1977 is shown on the left, with the finished piece displayed on the right
Bernard Hailstone while carrying out the portrait of Her Majesty - who once asked her to fix her TV aerial so she could watch the horse racing. The picture is expected to fetch around £5.000
As evidenced by this photograph of the Queen sitting for the portrait, Mr Hailstone's likeness bears a remarkable resemblance to the monarch
The collection includes framed portraits, unframed portraits and preparatory sketches that have sat untouched for three decades in Hadlow Tower in Tonbridge, Kent, where he lived.
The portrait of the Queen was created in 1977 and is expected to fetch £5,000, while the entire set has been valued at £35,000.
His son Donovan Hailstone, 81, said: 'My father was painting the Queen at Buckingham Palace and she asked him 'would you mind if I watch the race, I have a horse running'. He got the TV working for her and moved the aerial.'
Amongst the famous figures who sat for Hailstone were the Queen Mother, Prince Charles, Sir Winston Churchill and former US president Jimmy Carter.
The then US president was sketched by Hailstone during a flight from London to New York, while Hailstone and Churchill discussed aliens during their sitting at Chartwell in Kent.
One of Bernard's studies of the Queen Mother. The sketch of her face in comparison with the stunning final portrait
Bernard painting the Queen Mother in the 1970's. The pastel sketch of the Queen Mother's face is tipped to sell for £300
The preparatory oil on board sketch of the Prince of Wales from 1978 is valued at £500
Charles' picture forms part of a remarkable collection of 400 works by Hailstone which have been unearthed by his family 30 years after his deat
Churchill's 1955 oil on canvas sketch is estimated to fetch £800.
The preparatory oil on board sketch of the Prince of Wales from 1978 is valued at £500, while a pastel sketch of the Queen Mother's face is tipped to sell for £300.
Hailstone painted Second World War portraits of transport and civil defence workers in Britain and members of the Armed Forces while overseas.
Such was his love of painting that he also painted a wide range of uncommissioned portraits of ordinary members of the public which are included in the auction.
Donovan Hailstone said: 'When he painted Winston Churchill they apparently discussed life in outer space.
'Churchill apparently told him that he thought aliens should be treated with the contempt they deserve!
Sir Winston Churchill's 1955 oil on canvas sketch is estimated to fetch £800. Hailstone painted Second World War portraits of transport and civil defence workers in Britain and members of the Armed Forces while overseas
Mr Hailstone's son, Donovan, said: 'When he painted Winston Churchill they apparently discussed life in outer space
The finished portrait of of Queen Elizabeth outside Hadlow Tower is pictured left. And even his easel, pictured right, is up for sale
'My father was just very relaxed with people and enjoyed a good gossip. He lived a remarkable life rich in character.
'He was always painting. When he wasn't doing commissions he would paint ordinary members of the public in Kent.
'He would grab someone like a builder and say 'I would like to paint you'.
'That's why there are so many pictures in the studio - it's because they were not commissions.
'My father kept the pictures in his studio in Chelsea and in Kent. He was always on the move and he didn't have a van so he would drive between the two with a painting tied to the roof of the car!'
Mr Hailstone believes the time is right to pass the paintings on to someone who can give them the prominence they deserve.
He said: 'I think the most important thing is you want them to go to people who appreciate a nice picture.
'It's much nicer to know a picture is going to someone who appreciates it than have it stored in the corner of a studio or outhouse.
'That's why we eventually said the time was right to sell them.'
Neil Shuttleworth, director at Special Auction Services in Newbury, Berks, said they anticipate a 'great deal of interest' in the 'wonderful' collection of portraits.
Commander Edward Whitehead RN - who fronted the Schweppes advertising campaigns of the 60' and 70's
He said: 'The auction will include a fascinating array of portraits that range from royalty and nobility to actors and everyday people, thus highlighting the extent of Hailstone's commissions and we anticipate a great deal of interest in them.
'The family have spent the last 30 years since Bernard's death deciding what to do with the collection.
'They were left with quite a large amount of portraits and a lot of people in the portraits they still don't know who they are.
'Just after the war Bernard was fortunate to buy Hadlow Tower near Tonbridge and he kept 400 portraits there.
'For the Queen he went to one of the palaces and did live sketches and took photos.
'The most significant thing about this wonderful collection is that it is new to the market. For the family, it's a very personal collection of paintings.
'They are really great portraits. Bernard certainly was very good at capturing peoples' faces and expressions.'
The works by Hailstone will go under the hammer on February 14.
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