The Queen unveils painting of herself commissioned by Northern Ireland peace charity
Colin Davidson who has painted the likes of Angela Merkel and Brad Pitt is the man behind the artwork
A NEW portrait of the queen has been unveiled and was commissioned by a peace-building charity which works to foster ties between Northern Ireland communities and people on both sides of the Irish border.
Celebrated contemporary artist Colin Davidson, who has painted leading figures such as actors Liam Neeson and Brad Pitt, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, has created the painting.
The Belfast-born artist is known for his large, detailed portraits usually showing the head and shoulders of the sitter, captured in a reflective or contemplative mood.
The Queen is joint-patron of Co-operation Ireland, together with Irish president Michael D Higgins, which commissioned Mr Davidson to paint the monarch.
Since 1979, the charity has been encouraging interaction, dialogue and practical collaboration, both within Northern Ireland and between the country and the Republic of Ireland.
It has a vision of a peaceful and stable island where people of all backgrounds live and work together for a better future.
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The Queen made a historic state visit to Ireland in 2011 when her presence on Irish soil, the first by a British monarch since Ireland gained independence from Britain, heralded a new chapter in Anglo-Irish relations.
The head of state's conciliatory words and gestures during the tour won over many critics of the monarchy and the Irish people appeared to visibly warm to their royal guest.
Then the following year, another watershed moment came when the Queen and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness shook hands at a cultural event in Belfast's Lyric Theatre.
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