Among King Charles’s many interests, including gardening, fishing, and polo, his passion for art has recently taken center stage once again. The 76-year-old monarch, an accomplished watercolour painter, has reignited his artistic pursuits after a hiatus since ascending the throne in September 2022.
Despite a demanding schedule and ongoing cancer treatment since February, Charles found time earlier this summer to pick up his paintbrushes.
Reflecting on his year, The Times reported: “Not everything is possible with the King’s treatment. His two favourite annual holidays — visiting Romania and going skiing — were both out of the question. But there have been some unexpected benefits to the enforced downtime that his illness necessitates.
“This summer, he took up painting again for the first time since his accession. While Camilla was on holiday with her family abroad, the King spent a week at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, sitting before his easel to capture the scenery with his paintbrushes laid out before him.”
Charles has long spoken of the calming effect of painting, describing it as an activity that “transports me into another dimension.” His interest in art began during his school years at Gordonstoun under the guidance of his art master, Robert Waddell, and deepened during the 1970s and 1980s as he interacted with renowned artists.
The King honed his skills through discussions with the late Edward Seago and received lessons from accomplished painters like Derek Hill, John Ward, and Bryan Organ. Over the years, his work has been widely celebrated, with notable exhibitions including:
- A display of 50 watercolours at Hampton Court Palace in 1998 to mark his 50th birthday.
- An exhibition of 30 pieces at the National Gallery of Australia in 2018 for his 70th birthday.
- The first full exhibition of 79 watercolours at the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea in 2022.
- A display at Sandringham House last year.
Charles’s artistic passion is shared by other royals, including the Princess of Wales, Princess Eugenie, Lady Sarah Chatto, and the 2nd Earl of Snowdon.
Kate, who studied History of Art at the University of St Andrews, is also an avid photographer. Princess Eugenie, meanwhile, works as a director at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth. Lady Sarah Chatto has exhibited her artwork since the early 1990s, while her brother, David Armstrong-Jones, is a skilled furniture maker.
