B
ill Mundy was born in Berkshire
and painted his first portrait before
his fifth birthday. After a five-year
apprenticeship as a lithographic artist he
spent his military service in the Far East as a
cartographer during the Malayan Emergency. He
lived in Asia for 20 years where his career
progressed from Creative Director to the position
of Area Director for Asia with a large International
US Advertising Agency. Whilst in Asia he became
the ‘Court Painter’ to the Johor Royal family in
Malaysia. He returned to England in 1978 to
become a full-time artist and portrait painter. His
first painting accepted for exhibition at the Royal
Academy’s Summer Exhibition in 1977 was of the
Sultan of Johor. In both 1980 and 1982 his
paintings were voted ‘Exhibit of the Year’ at the
Royal Academy, and he has regularly exhibited
there ever since. He has also exhibited with the
Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal
Society of British Artists. Elected a full Member of
the Royal Society of Miniature Painters in 1979,
later that year he became a member of the
Miniature Art Society of Florida and the Hilliard
Society of Miniaturists. He was elected to the
prestigious Miniature Artists of America
in 1992.
In 1999 he was commissioned to paint
an equestrian miniature for Her Majesty
The Queen, and is the only living miniaturist to be
represented at the Victoria and Albert Museum in
London.
He has published three books on Miniature Portrait
Painting, and his autobiography, entitled “A Brush
With Life”.
Bill Mundy lives and paints in his riverside home
in Henley. His watercolour technique has been
described as ‘Pointilism in Miniature’.
Apart from his many portraits of Royalty,
(recently, at a dinner in Windsor, he presented the
Duke of Edinburgh with his portrait set against a
background of the three new stained glass windows
in the chapel of Windsor Castle) he has painted
many portraits of local characters, including Sir
David Money-Coutts, Sir Felix and Lady Brunner
(their portrait hangs in Greys Court), Sir Martyn
Arbib, Peter Sutherland MBE, Paul Daniels,
Debbie McGee, Vince Hill, Tony Hobbs, and many
more. Three paintings by Bill Mundy are owned by
the River and Rowing Museum.
