Jonathan Yeo shares his thoughts on creating portraits of Cara Delevingne and Taron Egerton

Jonathan Yeo, a renowned portrait painter in the UK, believes that the art of portraiture is just as relevant today as it has ever been, despite the prevalence of selfies. Yeo is known for his portraits of celebrities, politicians, and activists, including David Attenborough, Idris Elba, Nicole Kidman, Malala Yousafzai, and Helena Bonham Carter. He argues that a painted portrait can capture more aspects of a subject's personality than a photograph because it reflects different moments in time and allows the artist to develop a relationship with the sitter. Yeo, who is self-taught, has had a successful career with exhibitions in museums worldwide and a show dedicated to his work at the National Portrait Gallery. He is now sharing his expertise through a series of lessons on the BBC Maestro platform. While painting high-profile figures can be both advantageous and challenging, Yeo enjoys the unique experiences and interactions they bring. He shares anecdotes about painting Cara Delevingne, Taron Egerton, Jonathan Ive of Apple, Grayson Perry, and former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Yeo's passion for capturing the essence of his subjects shines through in his portraits, which continue to resonate with viewers.