PORTRAITS
in charcoal and oil
Caroline de Peyrecave is a portrait artist known for her classical training and emotionally driven work, focused on bringing greater visibility to lives often overlooked in traditional portraiture.
She trained at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence and works with clients internationally. Her work has been exhibited in London galleries, alongside a number of solo exhibitions, and she was selected as a featured artist on Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year (2023). Her work has also been featured on BBC Radio 4 in conversation with Louisa Buck.
Her wider projects reflect a strong commitment to storytelling through portraiture. Her series ‘WARpaint’ raised over £80,000 for charities supporting wounded veterans, with the collection now held at Stanford Hall, the UK’s national rehabilitation centre. More recently, her‘Empowering Her’ work has also raised £10,000 in support of UN Women UK
Caroline’s work is held in national collections including the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the National Army Museum, and regimental collections such as the Coldstream Guards and the Household Cavalry. Her sitters include Johnson Beharry VC and Angela Rippon, alongside a growing body of cultural figures shaping contemporary Britain.
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"A portrait exhibition celebrating female leadership has opened in Parliament's Upper Waiting Hall."
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"Commons portrait display 'a celebration of women'."
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“She’s a lovely, warm, kind personality… it became a safe space.” – Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
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Empowering Her, an exhibition of oil paintings by Caroline de Peyrecave, opens today at The Gallery at Green & Stone.
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“When Sally Phillips was asked by portrait painter Caroline de Peyrecave to sit, she didn’t hesitate.”
Empowering Her
The Empowering Her collection confronts the deep-rooted inequality of women’s representation in portraiture and within public memory. Through powerful portraits, the project celebrates remarkable women who are creating a lasting legacy for those challenging norms, advocating for change, and shaping Britain today. Caroline de Peyrecave’s work is motivated by the belief, beautifully articulated by Marian Wright Edelman, that "You can't be what you can't see." This project not only celebrates these women’s remarkable achievements but also strives to empower others by making them visible in the most literal sense.
Explore the collection
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
A writer, mother and human rights advocate, Nazanin’s six years of unjust imprisonment demanded extraordinary resilience.
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Sally Phillips
Comedian, actor and writer, Sally Phillips has built a career by telling the truth through humour.
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General Dame Sharon Nesmith
The first female four-star general and the highest-ranking military officer in the British Army, General Nesmith's career has reshaped what's possible for women in the Army.
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Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah
Co-founder of UK Black Pride and a global LGBTQ+ advocate, Lady Phyll has spent her life creating space for others to exist fully and safely.
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Emma Barnett
Award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Emma has built a career centred on listening deeply.
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Zoe Stratford
Captain of England’s Red Roses and World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, Zoe has become one of the defining leaders in women’s rugby.
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Daryl Fielding
Marketing leader and creative force behind Dove’s Real Beauty campaign, Daryl Fielding helped transform how women and girls see themselves.
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Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Space scientist, educator and broadcaster, Dr Maggie has spent her career opening up science to wider audiences who’ve never seen themselves reflected in STEM.
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"There is nothing dark, gloomy, pale, male and stale. They are really vibrant, interesting, and I have to say, kind of really speak to me as a woman, to me as a parliamentarian."
—Caroline Nokes MP
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"Inspiring project and evening. It was a privilege to witness the power and truth of your portraiture, alongside that of your inspiring sitters."
— Nancy Wade, National Army Museum
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"Not only is this exhibit flipping who gets seen and who gets centred, but Caroline is defying the prescriptive ideas of what makes a good portrait."
— Suzy Levy
Caroline’s portraiture is distinguished by its harmonious blend of classical techniques and contemporary sensibility. Drawing from the timeless methods of the old masters, her work demonstrates exceptional technical skill, especially in capturing her subjects' likeness with remarkable precision. This classical foundation serves as a springboard for her deeper artistic explorations.
What truly sets Caroline’s portraits apart is the profound connection she forms with her sitters. This relationship imbues her work with depth and authenticity, allowing each portrait to resonate personally. Her sensitivity to line and form enhances this connection, adding a contemporary flair to her classical approach and ensuring each piece feels both timeless and immediate.
Beyond her commissioned portraits, Caroline’s personal work reflects her dedication to social issues. She uses her art to amplify the voices of those who are suffering or advocating for change. Through these works, she not only celebrates the beauty and dignity of her subjects but also draws attention to broader societal challenges. By merging technical prowess with a powerful narrative, Caroline’s art captures moments that are both poignant and enduring, offering a glimpse into the resilient human spirit.
Contact Caroline
Get in touch to find out more about commissioning a portrait from Caroline.