My first portrait going solo. I loved the angles and light reflected off this stunning African lady. I knew by painting her, I had set myself a tough challenge to try and capture the detail and amazing presence of such an eye-catching woman.

Being a naturally impatient person, I also wanted to test my patience by recreating her colourful headscarf and push myself to paint her without my tutor's help.

My subject is part of a photograph collection of traditional African women taken by the very talented photographer Joana Choumali.

Size: 50cm x 60cm