Sheana & Rolf Harris
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Rolf Harris
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Rolf has always
loved art; Even before he went to Primary School, whenever anyone
asked him "What are you going to be when you grow up?"
his immediate response was "An artist!".
At the age of twenty-two, Rolf moved to London on what was supposed
to be a year's study leave, financing himself through four exhibitions
of his work held in Australia. He immediately enrolled at the
City & Guilds Art School in London, intending to follow
in his grandfather's footsteps and become a portrait painter.
After a chance meeting with the Australian impressionist painter
'Bill' Hayward Veal, however, he began attending an art course
run by Veal and soon became his protégé.
In the mid 1950's, for two years running, some of Rolf's paintings
were featured in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy.
While painting continued to be a private passion of his, it
was for his television and stage performances that Rolf became
a household name. In recent years Rolf has devoted more time
to painting and has had a number of one-man shows, including
the Rolf on Art exhibition at the National Gallery.
Rolf's BBC television series Rolf on Art achieved the highest
television ratings ever for a UK arts programme. Rolf hosted
television's biggest ever Arts event with a live BBC special
titled Rolf on Art: The Big Event, in which he joined the public
in recreating a large-scale version of Constable's 'Haywain'
in Trafalgar Square. The massive event was such a huge success
that the BBC staged two further Rolf on Art: The Big Event specials
in Edinburgh and London.
Rolf has been awarded the OBE, is a member of the Order of Australia
and has won many awards for his work in the entertainment industry.
Recently he was made an honorary member of the Royal Society
of British Artist.
This year saw Rolf Harris unveil his portrait of Her Majesty
The Queen, commissioned by the BBC to celebrate her eightieth
birthday; this portrait was the subject of a BBC ONE programme
The Queen, by Rolf which was screened on New Year's Day 2006.
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