Diamonds

Live drawing at a totally unique location!

Yesterday I drove up to Banbury to draw guests at Aynhoe Park for Pragnell Jewellers. Booked by Susannah at Couture Events to draw at a lavish party for their loyal customers. Pragnell’s is a family owned business with stores in Leicestershire and Mayfair as well as their flagship store in Stratford-Upon-Avon. They sell the most exquisite jewellery, made in house by master craftsmen and sold alongside luxury watches such as Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe.

The orangery at https://aynhoepark.co.uk/ where I worked sketching guests, was adorned with taxidermy leopards, a toucan and a giraffe, seemingly being lifted by gigantic porcelain balloons.

It really was the most ostenatious location that I’ve ever had the pleasure to work in! Out of the window next to me was a stunning view over the parkland which was full of deer. My guests kept spotting huge stags whilst I drew their portraits. It was a crazy busy 5 hours with barely time to change my paint water, but a thoroughly enjoyable day!

Jacqueline flies to Paris for DeBeers' promotional event at their prestigious showroom on Rue De La Paix

In April Jacqueline flew to Paris to meet her Paris agent Marie Bastille (www.mariebastille.com). An early start at De Beers and a very long day sketching, first of all press and then customers at the launch of their wedding collection. Jacqueline sat amongst beautiful diamond engagement, wedding and eternity rings, it was the perfect atelier for the day- it was an unusual job as DeBeers wanted pencil sketches with a little soft pink watercolour to show off the diamonds.

Diamonds are definitely a girl's best friend!

Ragley Hall- ancestral seat of the Hertford family, hosts Pragnell's Christmas party. Jacqueline Bissett paints fashion portraits of the guests in the elegant music room

Back in late November, I had the honour of working at Ragley Hall near Stratford Upon Avon.       A wonderful, Grade 1 listed mansion set in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside, near where I grew up. PragnelI is a fabulous family-run jewellers with shops in Stratford-Upon-Avon and London. They sell the most beautiful watches and jewellery, both contemporary and Antique. The company, now run by Charlie Pragnell prides itself on extensive knowledge of gemstones and certainly seemed to 'go that extra mile' to find the perfect piece for their loyal customers. I painted some of the guest's portraits in the music room, next to the main room where champagne flowed and live artists and beautiful dancers entertained.