For some time I have wanted to do another portrait of my husband Cyril. This is partly because he has changed quite a lot. There is a new beard, for instance. But, also, because I wanted to use an environment in the picture to say something important about him. I had a lot of ideas then just stumbled across the ideal place, on holiday in Wales. This is the ruined church of St Mary’s at Tintern. The combination of a very traditional church and nature invading it seemed perfect. Here he is looking out on the Wye Valley.

The picture above was done as a studio study. But I also did a couple of small sketches sitting in the church.