John Bellany, H.R.S.A., R.A. (b. 1942)

Richard Morphet was the Keeper of the Modern collection, Tate Gallery from 1986-1998. In 1986 Bellany was given the first solo show ever to be held at the National Portrait Gallery, London. The exhibition was centred around his portrait of Ian Botham, commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. The present work forms part of this series of portraits that he painted at the time.