Portraits which are part of an exhibition taking place at West Studios have been reunited with the people featured in them. The work of Don Yarrington, the former head of art and later acting principal of the Chesterfield College of Art, is on display until 16 July. His family curated the exhibition to reunite the paintings with the people who posed as models for their father after his death. A former evening class student is delighted to be reunited with a portrait of her painted by her teacher and talented artist. Another portrait will also be sent to France to be reunited with the volunteer model featured in it.
Surprised and delighted
Vicky Johnson was surprised to find out the portrait of her existed and that Don’s family wanted her to have it. She told us:
“I was astonished but also extremely pleased when I found out the portrait existed and I was going to be able to keep it. It has been a difficult time recently for lots of reasons and this was a really lovely surprise. I have rearranged some furniture in my house so it can go up on the wall. It was such a nice thing to have happened and it has definitely made my day, and my year actually.
“I attended an evening class and Don asked me to sit for him. He gave me the portrait he created in pastel during the class but he must have retained this image in his mind to create the painting. I was always amazed at how quickly he worked. I haven’t carried on with my art but this might inspire me to start painting again.”
Portrait heading to France
Another painting in the exhibition will also be sent to one model who now lives in France, when the exhibition closes. A former art history teacher at the college, Mr Rawcliffe, visited the exhibition and recognised his son in one of the portraits. He told us:
“Don was a very good draughtsman and a very good painter because of the way he was trained. He was always short of models for his classes so my son, Paul, offered to sit for him. I think the painting he created of him was part of a demonstration he was giving to his portrait class. When I told Paul I had seen the painting in the exhibition he was thrilled and quite intrigued by it. He lives in France so couldn’t come over to see it but I have promised to send it on to him when the exhibition is finished.”
Visit the exhibition before it ends
The family of the artist are particularly keen to invite anyone to visit the exhibition who think they may have been a subject of one of Don Yarrington’s paintings.
The exhibition is open between 10am – 4pm until Friday 16th July.