Creation and destruction make strange bedfellows in the portrait artist’s studio. The robust dissolution of the image—drawn back from the brink to reveal the sitter’s intrinsic truth, is a powerful metaphor for the trials of life long lived. Achieving the balance between imaging the subject, and a worthy composition, is a process that requires trust in one’s methodology and a steadfast commitment to avoid the temptation of overt realism. Fairbairn’s practice is an exacting exploration of beauty in all its senses. His subjects are predominantly mature—their lives long lived with the richness of experience that can only be acquired over decades. Humanity, joy and sorrow are etched into bodies and faces—a likeness that cannot be homogenised through technology. Taking the time to understand who is before him, the artist has individually shaped their narrative. Fairbairn’s technical facility opens a window to his sitter’s memories and the emotions that have shaped their lives. This exhibition is an emphatic moment for it reminds us that nothing is more human than the conjoint feeling of love and loss. Ralph Hobbs May 2023