Monsters and Critics website
Apr 4, 2012, 12:01 GMT
A moving portrait of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will be created with the use of 200 sheep
Will Halford, a sheep farmer and performance artist, is to herd his flock across the Malvern Hills to pay homage to the 85-year-old monarch’s Diamond Jubilee – marking 60 years on the throne – during the Worcestershire Arts Trail from June 1 to June 4.
The initial image of the queen will portray the way she looked when she first ascended to the throne, and the sheep will then be herded across the hills to form a final portrait of the royal depicting the way she looks now, with the process lasting the entire four days of the Jubilee celebrations.
Sarah Jones, organiser of the Worcestershire Arts Trail, said: ‘Anything that gets people talking about art is a good thing. Worcestershire is a farming county so it seems fitting that one of our tributes to the monarch should reflect our heritage. It’s great to put a different spin on things.’
Meanwhile, a new waxwork of Queen Elizabeth is being created by artists at the famous Madame Tussauds gallery in London based on her official Diamond Jubilee portrait, which was taken by photographer John Swannell in the Centre Room in Buckingham Palace in December 2011.
Mr. Swannell – who also photographed Prince Philip – said at the time: ‘This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of photographing her majesty, and I always find these events very exciting.
‘The queen and Prince Philip, I thought, were patient and very relaxed on the day, which I hope is reflected in the photographs.’
The waxwork – which will be the 23rd made of the monarch – based on the portrait will cost around £150,000 to produce and will be on show to visitors to the museum from May, ahead of official celebrations in June.
Original article posted on the Monsters and Critics web site here
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/royalwatch/news/article_1696265.php/Queen-Elizabeth-portrait-created-with-sheep
