Elaine P. Nelson - Bio.
Elaine Nelson, originally born in Birmingham, England, is a gifted portrait artist who brings along over twenty years of artistic excellence.
She works solely from high quality photographs in charcoal and soft pastels and has the unique ability of capturing the true likeness of her subjects.
Her works have been exhibited in galleries in London, Brighton as well as New York and Kingston, Jamaica where her portraits were held in high esteem.
The artist was presented with a unique opportunity to exhibit her work at the 60th People’s National Party (PNP) conference in Kingston, Jamaica in September 1998. She also presented a portrait to the Honourable Percival James Patterson, who was the Prime Minister at that time, at the close of the conference. “I couldn’t believe that I was given such a wonderful opportunity to exhibit my work at such a major political event in the land of my parents’ birth.”
Elaine also recalls another significant presentation that was made on the 11th July 1996. “I remember quite vividly the day that I prepared to make an impromptu presentation to Nelson Mandela during his monumental visit to the Brixton Recreation centre. My only disappointment was not having enough time to paint a portrait of him in time for his visit. In spite of this I was absolutely determined to present one of my pieces of work to him, so, as a “plan B”, I obtained one of my portraits that was being exhibited at the time at a nearby venue. I chose a strong portrait of an African woman that I had painted in black and white. The portrait depicted someone who had found peace from within despite being surrounded by darkness.
I remember waiting patiently and expectantly behind the barriers directly outside the Brixton Recreation Centre. I was so excited, not just with the whole atmosphere and the major significance of the event, but with the slight possibility that I would be given the chance to present my gift to this great man.
