I studied fine art at Edinburgh College of Art, which was one of the few art schools in the UK to encourage direct painting from live models. I spent most of my time there in the life painting room and this has been hugely beneficial to me in approaching portraiture.

The process of painting a portrait is one of constant assessment - judging tonalites, form and so on - but also requires that one remains as conscious as possible of the person sitting. This dichotomy is what makes painting a portrait so engaging.

In my experience the subject is very much a part of the process. Sitters often express surprise at how rewarding the experience has been. This isn't to say that sitting for a portrait isn't sometimes boring - I have sat and I know that it can be - but that the sense of collaboration between painter and sitter in making the picture is often fulfilling for both.

In addition to painting portraits, I am also a figurative painter. My figurative work can be viewed at www.nickoffer.com.