He could barely move a muscle and certainly couldn’t snatch 40 winks but Richard Styan was the perfect artist’s model – at the age of 100.
Centenarian Richard was the latest life model for the Portrait Group at Huddersfield Art Society and enjoyed every minute.
Richard had to stay still for an hour-and-a-half with only a 15-minute tea break halfway through while members of the group captured his likeness in watercolour, oils, graphite, charcoal, acrylic or pastel.
Dad-of-three Richard, who has six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, described his unusual night out at The Quaker Meeting House in Paddock as a “very pleasant way to spend the evening.”
His daughter Annabel is a society member and it’s the second time Richard has been invited along.
“There were about 15 artists and they were all very friendly and welcoming,” said Richard. “For some reason they seemed very pleased to see me!
“It’s quite an effort to stay still all that time and they asked me how I did it. It’s just a question of discipline.
“I got a bit of a stiff neck but I got over that. I pretended to lift the top of my head without lifting my body and that eased the tension in my neck.”
Previous sitters for the group have included teenage twins, a mother and baby, a 1920s flapper, a piano player and an elfin!
Richard said: “Some go in uniform. Some just go any old how.”
Richard is a true Cockney, born within the sound of Bow bells, and he’s lived in Meltham since 1983. A widower, he lives on his own and still drives and cooks his own meals.
He’s also an active member of several groups in Meltham including Friend to Friend and the over-60s and he sings with the community choir.
He worked as a rep for a printing firm and was a talented musician and played in various bands. He had to give up the clarinet with an orchestra after a bad chest infection around the time of the pandemic.
Chatting to Huddersfield Hub after returning from a tai chi session, Richard declared himself: “Reasonably fit for my age.”
Richard was impressed with the finished artworks and said: “They managed to capture my likeness. I’m sure it helped because I kept perfectly still.”
Linda Downs, from the Portrait Group, said: “Having Richard sit for us again was absolutely brilliant. He sat for us when he was 99 and has agreed to return when he’s 101!”
Further details about the Portrait Group can be found on the society’s website www.huddersfieldartsociety.com.
