Richard N (sitting on green chair backwards, 2 faces)

This expressive, gestural portrait speaks to the close relationship between artist and sitter that developed over many years. Fashion designer Richard Nicoll (1977–2016) first met Howard Tangye in the 1990s while a student at London's Central Saint Martins. Tangye was head of womenswear design and taught key figures in British fashion such as John Galliano and Stella McCartney. He also gave lessons in life drawing and often invited his students, including Nicoll, to model for the class. Nicoll was born in London but spent much of his childhood in Perth. At 17 he enrolled at Central Saint Martins, where his graduate collection was purchased by Dolce & Gabbana. He worked for Lanvin and Louis Vuitton in Paris before launching his own label in London in 2005. Nicoll made his London Fashion Week debut in 2006 and presented his collections there every year until 2015, counting Kylie Minogue, Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller among the devotees of his designs. In this portrait, Tangye uses the pentimenti technique, with Nicholl's two faces sitting one above the other, making visible his creative process through shifting poses. Vigorous yet economically described, figure and form are overlayed in brilliant high key notes of pure colour.

Gift of the artist 2023
© Howard Tangye