Robert Wells, Actor and Maker of Damson Gin

This is the result of a long-term personal project to incorporate the influence of Dutch still life painting (as exemplified by artists such as Willem Claesz Heda) into a portrait. The idea came from observing Mr Wells making damson gin in decorative bottles and decanters with piles of wild damsons scattered over the table. The final portrait extrapolates this observation to a visual fantasy, with the subject sampling the final product amidst a fully-reconstructed Dutch breakfast scene. The reference to this painting tradition is to be continued in an ongoing series of portraits. 2006.