Renishaw Hall’s owner Alexandra Sitwell is subject of portrait competition

The Portraits of Distinction competition forms part of the Art in the Gardens festival in Sheffield which is now in its 12th year.

Three hundred artists and craft workers will exhibit more than 4,000 pieces of their work on September 5 and 6 in the city’s Botanical Gardens.

The subject for this year’s Portraits of Distinctions contest is Alexandra Sitwell, owner of Renishaw Hall and the daughter of the late Sir Reresby and Lady Sitwell.

The Sitwells have always been avid collectors and patrons of the arts.

Photographer Trevor Neal has taken more than 100 shots of Alexandra in the surroundings of Renishaw Hall.

Competition entrants should pick up one of the photographs from Sheffield Town Hall, and then produce their portrait in time for the Art in the Gardens event.

Mr Neal said: “Alexandra was a real treat to work with and gave generously of her time in the magnificent interiors and gardens at Renishaw Hall.

“The location provided an inspirational backdrop to our photo shoot and I’m sure it will be a very enjoyable and challenging task for the participating artists.”

Previous well-known subjects for the competition include Pulp drummer Nick Banks, television presenter Bradley Walsh, music icon Dave Berry, artist Joe Scarborough, BBC weather presenters Paul Hudson and Lisa Gallagher, the Earl and Countess of Scarborough and Olympic high diver Monique Gladding.

For more details, see www.artinthegardens.com