It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for portrait artist Phil Richards.

The renowned Toronto painter has been commissioned by the Government of Canada to create a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. But this historic assignment also poses enormous challenges for Richards, who’s accustomed to spending long hours with his subjects, in person.

This time, he must take a dramatically different approach. 

Directed by Academy Award® nominee Hubert Davis, The Portrait follows Richards to Rideau Hall for a brief photo session with Her Majesty. Then, Richards sets about creating an amazing world of studies, maquettes, even doll-like sculptures, all to help him capture The Queen’s likeness and spirit.

After months of solitary study and preparation, Richards travels to Buckingham Palace for an all-important meeting with Her Majesty, to see if she approves of his vision and approach. She does, to his great relief, and work can now finally begin on the official portrait.

Under the watchful direction of Hubert Davis, we observe Richards as all the months of painstaking study and preparation come to fruition, and Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee portrait takes shape before our very eyes.