萝莉视频

On Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, USA, the heads of four US Presidents are carved out of the rock, an attraction which draws millions of visitors each year.

The College recently went two better, when six Presidents gathered at the College – the culmination of a ‘Portraits of past presidents’ project, and an unprecedented occasion, as never before have so many RCPsych Presidents and ex-Presidents been in the same room.

The six presidents!

The Portraits of past presidents project involved a total of 11 past presidents and one former CEO. It sought to try to better understand the RCPsych presidents’ portraits, and to share insights into the paintings, the creative process, and the dynamic between artist and sitter.

We were fortunate to be able to bring together five of those past presidents – along with some of the commissioned artists – at an event which also celebrated the introduction of ‘enhanced portrait labels’ that go alongside the portraits in the College’s London headquarters.

The College is committed to supporting and promoting the important relationship between the arts and mental health, and this project is one example of that.

In attendance at the event were:

• Dr Adrian James – president 2020-2023
• Professor Sir Simon Wessely – president 2014-2017
• Professor Dinesh Bhugra – president 2008-2011
• Baroness Sheila Hollins – president 2005-2008
• Dr Mike Shooter – president 2002-2005
• Vanessa Cameron – College Secretary/CEO 1984-2016
• Alastair Adams – painter of Adrian James' and Simon Wessely’s portraits
• James Lloyd – painter of Vanessa Cameron’s portrait
• Susannah Fiennes – painter of Fiona Caldicott’s portrait
• Emily Patrick – painter of John Cox’s portrait
• Christian Furr – painter of Robert Kendell’s portrait

Current RCPsych President Dr Lade Smith CBE commented on the occasion:

“It was fantastic to be able to catch up with so many of my predecessors who have all helped achieve incredible things for the College. The portraits painted by these talented artists have really captured their personalities. The next President’s portrait will be painted by the brilliant actor, but also accomplished fine artist, Fenella Woolgar.”

Claire Hilton, the College’s Honorary Archivist (and formerly Historian in Residence), and organiser of this project added:

“For the small group of us who interviewed the past presidents and the artists, the project was an inspirational journey into portraiture and psychiatry. We hope that the labels accompanying each portrait, and the interview excerpts online, will help others to be inspired by the people who created, and appear in, the portraits.”

More photos from the event

Please enjoy a selection of photos from the event below (click to enlarge). You can find out much more about the portraits on the project page and also find out more about other art projects at the College.

Professor Dinesh Bhugra CBE, Baroness Sheila Hollins and Dr Adrian James.

Professor Sir Simon Wessely and Dr Mike Shooter.

Former presidents and artists. Pictured left-to-right: Alastair Adams, Emily Patrick, Adrian James, Susannah Fiennes, Mike Shooter, Simon Wessely, Dinesh Bhugra, Vanessa Cameron, Sheila Hollins, James Lloyd, and Christian Furr.