Portrait of the author at work with a glass of wine
Jane Wenham-Jones is an author and journalist. I met her when she was giving an after-dinnner speech and we got talking about the creative process. She spoke of ideas swirling about in the middle of the night; of writing in bed, of her need to feel her laptop was always close at hand. So this was my starting point for the composition, with the dark backcloth swooping dramatically behind her head reflecting those nocturnal thoughts.
But this is not a writer who stays in her garrett. Her personality is big, her hair bright - she has described herself as a 'media tart'. Being painted naked was a fresh challenge she couldn't resist. She is known for having written about extramarital affairs and wine, and so I chose a pose where there is something seductive about the way she looks over the computer and she has a glass at her right hand. Both the glass and the portrait are intentionally large to match her personality.Jane's website is http://www.janewenhamjones.com/perfectalibis.htm