For forty years King Charles has invited a ‘tour artist’ to accompany him, drawing or painting ‘whatever inspires them’ as a unique record of his global travels.
But rather than look to Italian greats such as Leonardo da Vinci or Titian for inspiration this week, the monarch decided to commission something with a more modern bent.
In fact, State Visit Italy has become the first royal tour to be captured not on canvas, but digitally – via an iPad mini.
The medium is all the rage, particularly since the legendary David Hockney – whom the king (a ‘big fan’) privately visited at his London home just last month – embraced the genre.
Lincolnshire-born artist Fraser Scarfe, 38, head of education at the Royal Drawing School, has spent the past week working on a range of stunning images for the monarch, one of which will end up in the official Royal Collection.
His rise to prominence is all the more extraordinary in that he worked in a fish and chip shop for several years as he tried to break into the art world.
Mr Scarfe said of the King: ‘His Majesty is very interested in technology, as well as traditional forms of art, and is a keen painter himself.
State Visit Italy has become the first royal tour to be captured not on canvas, but digitally – via an iPad mini. Pictured: Royal tour artist Fraser Scarfe illustrates in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky
British and Italian military bands ahead of the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Colosseum in Rome, on the second day of their four day state visit to Italy
The medium is all the rage, particularly since the legendary David Hockney – whom the king (a ‘big fan’) privately visited at his London home just last month – embraced the genre. Pictured: Colosseum by Royal tour artist Fraser Scarfe
Royal tour artist Fraser Scarfe observes and illustrates King Charles III in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky
He said he had completed around 15 digital works during the four-day tour, sitting down with the King on the flight back on Thursday to go through some.
‘It’s a huge privilege, said Mr Scarfe, who also helped paint the coronation.
‘Everything that Their Majesties do is documented so well by the press and the media, but having an artist can approach a different way of capturing things.
‘I know how important it is to His Majesty to support artists and be engaged with them.
‘For him this is an important way of marking these occasions and historic events. As a painter himself he is always interested to see different interpretations of things like the tour.
‘The king encourages me to work in whatever way I see fit and capture whatever strikes me artistically. There are no constraints. ‘
Charles has been paying out of his own pocket for a ‘tour artist’ to accompany him on trips since 1985.
Since then 42 artists have undertaken the role, collectively visiting 95 countries during 69 tours, with many going on to scale great heights in the art world.
Born in Horncastle, Mr Scarfe spent his teens and early twenties working in Mantles fish and chip shop while applying ‘unsuccessfully’ to the big London art schools.
Lincolnshire-born artist Fraser Scarfe, 38, head of education at the Royal Drawing School, has spent the past week working on a range of stunning images for the monarch, one of which will end up in the official Royal Collection
King Charles III visits the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, on the last day of the four day state visit to Italy
Mr Scarfe’s rise to prominence is all the more extraordinary in that he worked in a fish and chip shop for several years as he tried to break into the art world. Pictured: Inside Basilica San Vitale by Royal tour artist Fraser Scarfe
He said he had completed around 15 digital works during the four-day tour, sitting down with the King on the flight back on Thursday to go through some. Pictured: Forum by Royal tour artist Fraser Scarfe
Charles has been paying out of his own pocket for a ‘tour artist’ to accompany him on trips since 1985
He was at his ‘wit’s end’ when he was offered a full scholarship to the Royal Drawing School, set up by the King 25 years ago, he said.
‘I didn’t have much access to arts and culture when I was growing up. I didn’t have a particularly creative community around me,’ he added.
‘[getting the scholarship] was a really incredible chance to develop my career.’
He said of his new role as ‘tour artist’: ‘
‘It’s a real pinch me moment, you never imagine in your wildest dreams that you will end up doing something like this. It was such an honour. ‘