Alexander Newley

Alexander Newley is a contemporary artist and portrait painter known for his portrait paintings of major figures in the Arts, including Gore Vidal, Billy Wilder, Christopher Reeve, Oliver Stone and Steven Berkoff. His portraits of Vidal and Reeve form part of the permanent collection of The National Portrait Gallery at The Smithsonian in Washington DC.

His portraits of Sir Nigel Hawthorne in character as Mad King George III were commissioned by the English National Theatre to promote their production of Alan Bennett's play "The Madness of George III". His portrait of writer Dominick Dunne scribbling in his notebook during his coverage for Vanity Fair of the OJ Simpson trial in Los Angeles was chosen for the cover of Dunne's best-selling memoir about the trial, "Another City, Not My Own". In 2006, Newley’s full-length portrait of Hawthorne was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum for their permanent collection celebrating Theatre in the 20th century.

His multilayered "Head of Lincoln" is the central feature at The Lincoln Heritage Museum in Springfield, Illinois—the home of Lincoln studies. Newley also painted a portrait of Lord Jeffrey Archer, mischievously hiding his face behind his hands.

In 2016 Newley completed a series of portraits of Sir Kenneth Branagh, Dame Judi Dench, Adrian Lester, Sir Derek Jacobi and Lily James. Newley worked on the portraits for a year, and was granted unprecedented access backstage at The Garrick Theatre in order to capture the energy and dynamism of the actors in character.  These were featured in a major solo exhibition 'Portraits in Character' and charity gala auction at St Martin in the Fields in which Jeffrey Archer was the auctioneer.

He has captured on canvas some of the most iconic figures of stage and screen including Sir David Suchet, whose portrait was revealed at The Garrick Club in October 2016, and now hangs in the most esteemed spot in the Garrick bar.

Newley’s father was celebrated actor and Oscar-winning songwriter Anthony Newley, and his Mother is actress Dame Joan Collins. From an early age he loved the drama of the stage and transformative power of actors.

Newley works mainly in pastels and oils.