Coronation Celebration -‘The King & The Crown’. Grey-Harris & Co. & Deenagh Miller. May 2023. Early January 2023, Sophie, who arranges exhibitions & publicity for Stephen Grey-Harris & Co., emailed asking if I would do a display piece, but something serious, for the Coronation in May. I immediately agreed but it rather took my breath away. I felt honoured but extremely nervous, - a serious artwork for the Coronation, what a challenge. For almost four decades the team at Grey-Harris & Co. have requested my work for Christmas cards, Invitations for private views, for catalogues, for antique & modern & jewellery exhibitions, for the Annual Garden Party, & artworks to decorate the cabinets. I’m aware they're popular with visitors & customers. My impression is that they like the personal touch, - of the slightly quirky wit, verve, fun, the bright colour & just a hint of caricature - maybe the overall humour appeals & balances the serious nature of the business - of the highest quality jewellery, of diamonds, precious gems, gold, silver, pearls, watches, & much more, anywhere outside of London in the U.K. & is certainly the most famous shop in Clifton Village, - Clifton wouldn't be the same without it. And I’m always flattered to be invited to such glamorous events. A Coronation is a deeply serious & joyous occasion. Tradition with modernity is the hallmark of Grey-Harris & Co. so I wasn't surprised that Stephen, its creator, was doing a major presentation & knew that he & the team would do it justice. I just hoped to pull off a work to match, By the end of the week I had an initial sketch for their approval. Stephen is the business & Tom & Sophie, together with Maggie, David, & Sandy are the team who make it work. If they liked it, Stephen most likely would. Discreet, & courteous, Stephen is the understated 18th century persona of a successful 20th century business. Artwork in a display cabinet in this context must attract the eye of the general public, to look at what’s on show, - on this occasion a collection of rare Coronation artefacts & go inside if they want to see more. My work had to be bright, light & totally respectful of the occasion. I decided on watercolour & gouache on an acid free mounting board, to give the picture a luminous, slightly ethereal quality in either electric or daylight. The most difficult thing, of course, was the face of the King. If that wasn’t right the rest wouldn’t be. King Charle’s expressive constantly moving face which lends itself to caricature had to be avoided. I scrolled the internet for a photograph. & eventually found one of him in a blue suit & with an unusually neutral expression. It didn't feel appropriate to make him younger, flatter, or depict him in an entirely serious state of mind, nor make a photographic likeness. Somehow, I had to capture the solemn nature of the occasion, with its ceremony & grandeur yet retain his humanity. And it was most important that King Charles was looking at us, the people. The Royal Family’s popularity comes from many things, glamour & not least the occasional scandal, ensuring they’re talked about, it makes them human, In February, the composition was sketched in & the all-important face was half way there. The staff were ok with it so I could leave it alone for a while & return ready to complete it. To bring the King’s face to life, with colour & expression, but not too much, was the trick if I could pull it off. One wet afternoon early March I just got on with it & stopped before it was overworked. There was also space to localise it with a sketch of Bristol’s famous Suspension Bridge, just minutes away from Grey-Harris & Co. The last touch was suggested by a friend, to define the space between the King & the Crown by slightly emphasising the grey of his hair. While showing it to Sophie & Tom, Stephen unexpectedly appeared. I was so pleased to see his understated nod of approval. Painting the swirling colourful border with criss-crossing lines interwoven with acorns, birds, faces, droplets of silver, & the Royal Heraldry of the Lion & the Unicorn was great fun, & I couldn’t resist a pair of Corgis, dogs held in great affection by Queen Elizabeth II, former Queen of the United Kingdom. Deenagh Miller, May 2023.