Queen’s final artist-in-residence says his ‘greatest sadness’ is she never saw his paintings

The Queen’s last ever artist-in-residence has said his “greatest sadness” is the fact she never saw his paintings.

Freddy Paske was appointed by the Queen to paint her Platinum Jubilee.

She personally approved the honorary role after looking through samples of his artwork.

What caught her imagination remains a mystery, and Mr Paske said her equerry simply told him: “She enjoyed the work.”

Perhaps it was their shared love of horses and the military. Mr Paske learned to ride as a child and served with the Light Dragoons.

“I’m known for my colour and movement so I hope that she enjoyed that colour, and the contemporary take on a very traditional topic,” Mr Paske said.

He worked on the collection in the months leading up to the jubilee weekend, sketching the Household Cavalry, the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, as well as the Royal Mews.

Mr Paske said it was a daunting task: “I couldn’t tell you how much pressure I was under. I knew she was incredibly knowledgeable about her horses and I knew I had to get that right.”

Thousands lined the streets of central London to watch the military parade.

Mr Paske said he wanted his works to capture the moment and recreate the day on canvas: “I wanted people to get an impression and a feel of that amazing time, whether you were in the crowd or taking part in the parade.”

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After the death of the Queen, Mr Paske was asked to paint two more pictures, one of the funeral procession and another of the lying in state.

“I wanted to capture this huge building, and not necessarily focus just on the coffin and those standing around it but the aura, this feeling of reverence as everyone was going past,” Mr Paske said.

The Queen died before Mr Paske finished the jubilee collection.

It remains his greatest regret she never saw the art she had commissioned: “It’s one of the saddest things that has stayed with me, she set the wheels in motion for this amazing project and lit the fire and she never got to see the end result.”

His paintings went on display and quickly sold out, bought by collectors around the world.

It has been the biggest role of Mr Paske’s career, and one he will never forget: “I just hope I’ve done her justice. Only she’ll know.”