Painter behind controversial portrait of the King appointed official artist for royal tour

Published: 18:00 EDT, 30 October 2026 | Updated: 18:31 EDT, 30 October 2026 He has painted Hollywood stars, global leaders and, of course, royalty.And now arguably the world's greatest figurative artist, Jonathan Yeo, has a new role – as royal tour artist.In 1985 King Charles revived Queen Victoria's tradition of bringing an artist along on her travels to record them for posterity as a means of championing up-and-coming young talent.A keen painter himself, he had already founded the Royal Drawing School and was keen to uplift and encourage traditional arts.Yeo is without doubt the most famous name that has ever joined Charles on his travels.His works would normally cost tens, if not hundreds of thousands of pounds. And yet he is not being paid.In fact tour artists have all their expenses paid by the King personally and are asked to donate one of their finished works to the Royal Collection, an historic treasure trove of art, antiques and jewels held in trust by the monarch for the nation.The others can be sold or put on display. Jonathan Yeo in Guyanese capital Georgetown as he joins King Charles III on his Caribbean trip Mr Yeo in Georgetown. The painter has a new role working closely with the King Renowned painter Jonathan Yeo has been appointed the royal tour artist for the King's visit to the Caribbean The artist unveiled the first portrait of Charles since he became monarch in 2024 to mixed reviewsIn 2024, Yeo, 55, unveiled the first portrait painted of Charles since he became monarch to mixed reviews.While the life-size oil on canvas was felt by Queen Camilla to have captured her husband perfectly – 'yes, you've got him', she said – others were taken back by the 'redness' of the picture.Yeo says he was approached around six months ago by Buckingham Palace to see if he would like to join the King in the Caribbean and didn't think twice about saying yes, despite the huge commissions he normally undertakes.He revealed that the King has given him an 'open brief' to paint what he wants and isn't constantly looking over his shoulder.Yeo is currently taking photographs and making sketches and will begin painting when he returns to the UK.The artist said of the King: 'He's amazingly energetic. I guess I'm still a bit unsure exactly what the end result's going to be with this. It's nice having a wide brief. And also, a bit of pressure as well.'It's a lovely thing to be asked. At the same time whenever you're stepping a bit out of your comfort zone, it's a funny thing. It's a bit of pressure because you don't quite know exactly what the end result's going to be. Or how you're going to get there.'He's [the King] pretty consistently ahead of the game on things, whether it's on the environment [or art].'He supported the Royal Drawing School to champion traditional techniques when it was out of fashion.'As to when he will produce his works from the trip, Yeo smiled and suggested that even the monarch might have to be patient.'I think anyone who's worked with artists knows that sometimes the deadlines are sort of aspirational,' he laughed.