Abu Dhabi artist creates one-of-a-kind portrait of Sheikh Zayed

Adrian Lloyd with his portrait of Sheikh Zayed. Courtesy Adrian Lloyd

Abu Dhabi resident Adrian Lloyd, a British artist who paints portraits using the pigment found in natural earth, has created a special portrait to celebrate this year’s 44th UAE National Day – a likeness of the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The painting uses earth from Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed’s birthplace, and took over 100 hours to produce.

Lloyd, who lives in Al Reef, says the process involves drying the earth, sieving it to remove stones and grit, then grinding it using a mortar and pestle. This can take several hours. Water is then added, which releases the colour, and, finally, a clear acrylic is added to provide a base for strength and durability once it dries. It has a tough and textured finish once dry.

Lloyd has previously exhibited at heritage centres in the UK, and past subjects include the author DH Lawrence and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Lloyd hopes that the unusual medium may help make his work – already relatively expensive and time-consuming to produce – stand out in a notoriously difficult marketplace.

“Portraiture, sadly, isn’t the most exciting, saleable or desirable artwork,” he says. “Even though it is much appreciated and admired, it doesn’t grab you like an expressive modern abstract,” He says. “Even today, the Mona Lisa versus a Banksy will fail to impress – Da Vinci is arguably the greatest portrait painter of all time.”

• The painting is for sale. To contact Lloyd, visit www.ancestralearthportraits.com