Clare Shenstone (b. 1948)

During Shenstone's graduation show at the Royal College of Art in 1979, she was informed that a distinguished visitor had been admiring her work and wanted her to contact him. This was Bacon, who initially purchased one of her works and soon asked Shenstone to paint his portrait. The pair embarked on an artistic adventure that lasted for years and resulted in almost a hundred portraits of Bacon.