King Charles' portrait artist Jonathan Yeo has described the "fascinating circus" of a royal visit, as he joins the monarch on his nine-day tour of the Caribbean.
The tradition of taking an artist on tour dates back to Queen Victoria and was revived by the now King in the 1980s.
Jonathan said of Charles, who invited him to capture the tour: "He's amazingly energetic. And to do that speech after the long flight, it was particularly impressive. It was obviously hot. We were sweating a bit. So, you know… he's very impressive."
"It's a fascinating circus to join really."
© Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesThe Palace approached Jonathan about six months ago, two years after his first official portrait of the King following his accession to the throne was unveiled.
"There's a bit of work here, which is really interesting, but also then when you go back, it's like, I can't really be carrying my easel and paints around very easily or transport, wet pictures back," he said of the process.
"There's probably some technical way of doing it but It wouldn't have been easy. So I think the idea is to do some sketches, take pictures, get some ideas about what sort of a little narrative theme might be.
"I have also bought an iPad but I do find the physical medium a bit more satisfying.
"I've bought some water-based paint and that sort of thing. So far, we haven't had much time to do anything because [we have been] sort of chasing around, having quite a busy schedule."
© Getty ImagesJonathan said he was particularly inspired by the colourful Junkanoo parade the King took part in on the second day of his trip, in Nassau, The Bahamas.
"That was obviously wonderful and colourful, and it was a nice intersection of the gig he was doing, and a bit of lively, unexpected local culture. With most of the other parts what I have done is a little series of works.
"So it might be that there's one key picture, but then a load of sketches. I don't really know yet. It's a fairly open brief."
Tour artists are tasked with capturing the mood at a moment in time during overseas tours and can paint or sketch anything that catches their eye.
Jonathan, who has previously worked as an official artist for the 2001 general election, added: "It's nice having a wide brief, but also a bit of pressure and time because it's a little puzzle to figure out.
"The convention is you do it within a few months of getting back, 6 months or so after getting back. But anyone who's worked with artists knows that something like deadlines are sort of aspirational."
He is working on sketches and taking photos but will continue to develop the work back in his studio.
Tour artists are funded privately by the King who keeps on of the images created in return and then has the option to buy others. Additional images are offered on the open market. Jonathan, who has Guyanese ancestry through his father's grandmother said he would likely take inspiration from nature. "I think that's very likely, because it's obviously such a massive interest for him," he said.
© AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesSpeaking to the travelling media, the artist, who has worn a series of colourful linen suits on the trip, said his children described them as "clown suits".
"I've had to buy shirts and ties," he added.
At the end of the trip, he will spend time discussing his work with the King and what he plans to do.
Jonathan also praised the King’s support for the traditional arts. "He's entertaining and knowledgable about a whole range of areas, and very funny as well," he said.
"And he's pretty consistently ahead of the game on things, whether it's on the environment or wanting to champion traditional techniques when it's out of fashion. He's got an interesting sense of where things are going.. And he ploughs his own furrow, I think, regardless of what the fads are at the time."
