Queen Coronation anniversary portrait the 'ultimate commission' Icon, Dan Llywelyn Hall's commissioned portrait to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation For Hall, painting the Queen was a lifetime ambition, but that didn't make it any easier to portray the most recognisable person in the country: "It's a very rare opportunity for any artist to take on, but it can also make or break an artist's career." He says: "It's certainly the most challenging portrait I've ever done. The Queen is common to everyone - everyone has a preconceived idea of what she's like. Hall and the Queen spent a morning together for the portrait, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, during which they chatted, a photographer took images for Hall's reference and the artist made a few sketches to work from. "I was very eager to talk to her and find out who she really is," Hall explains. The Queen is very self-conscious and aware of the camera in all the public images of her, and I didn't want to be overwhelmed by who she was, but instead make it feel as natural as possible. The Queen had chosen her own outfit for the portrait, something which Hall appreciated as he wanted to escape the "ornate trappings of who she is" and the pair discussed current affairs and Hall's portraits of war veterans during their time together. "She was very open," Hall says, "I was expecting this very professional person, but she was very personable and affable." He adds: "The Queen's a great philosopher and really thinks hard about things. I wanted to elevate her as a subject, but at the same time penetrate through this very strong-willed individual who is dealing with a very lonely job. Painting the portrait was an "organic" task, Hall says: "I was stunned. It didn't feel forced, which I wasn't expecting. Now that it's done, he says he's pleased with the painting, which will hang permanently at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.