Romanna and Saqib

I was asked to paint this wedding portrait as a tribute to the groom’s grandfather, who sadly wasn’t able to be there to see his grandson get married. As I painted him into the scene, his family shared the most heartwarming stories and memories of him — a beautiful reminder that, although he couldn’t be there in person, he was very much present in the hearts of everyone celebrating. It felt incredibly special to include him in the painting as the wedding guest of honour.

Romanna looked sensational in her intricately detailed dress, just like a movie star; as I painted her portrait, I couldn’t help thinking she had a smile like Marilyn Monroe.