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Portrait artist captures mayor's 'pride and honour'

Dhanraz Ramdharry Man with dark hair and beard wearing a paint-spattered apron holding a paintbrush on a canvas of a man - the portrait subject, a man with dark hair and a bear sits on a chair wearing a dark blue suit.Dhanraz Ramdharry
The mayor sat three times for Bournemouth artist Dhanraz Ramdharry for the oil on canvas

A full-length painted portrait of Bournemouth's 110th mayor has been unveiled.

The large oil on canvas shows George Farquar with his rescue greyhound, Billy, by his side in the mayor's parlour.

Mr Farquar praised local artist Dhanraz Ramdharry who created the piece and said he had captured the "essence of my pride and honour... as I serve the people of Bournemouth".

It is not yet known where the portrait, measuring about 1.8m (6ft) by 1.2m (4ft) will hang.

The Mayor of Bournemouth Two men in dark blue suits one on the left with a greyhound dog on a lead stand either side of a large portrait.The Mayor of Bournemouth
The large oil on canvas shows George Farquar with his rescue greyhound at his side

Mr Ramdharry described the mayor, who sat for him three times, as a "very giving modest man, who is very caring of the people around him and of the animals in his care".

After many months working on the canvas, that took more than 80 hours to finish, he said it was "great to complete such a large undertaking".

The artwork, which was gifted by Mr Ramdharry to the mayor, was unveiled at Bournemouth's Civic Offices on Monday.

Mr Ramdharry added he hoped the portrait would be hung in the town hall and also go on public show at an art gallery in Bournemouth.

The artwork was gifted to the mayor

Mr Farquhar became the 110th person to hold the office of Mayor of Bournemouth on 24 May.

The Labour councillor was elected onto the then new Bournemouth Christchurch Poole (BCP) Council in 2019 representing the Boscombe East and Pokesdown ward.

He held the position of vice-chairman of the council during his first year.

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