The official portrait of a former Speaker of the House of Keys, retired MHK David Cannan, has been unveiled by the artist, Svetlana Cameron. The unveiling ceremony took place in the Legislative Buildings’ Barrool Suite and was hosted by Mr Cannan who was joined by members of his family, together with the Speaker of the House of Keys Hon Steve Rodan MHK, Members of the House of Keys, senior officers and guests of the artist. Russian-born professional portrait artist and Isle of Man resident Mrs Cameron was commissioned by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald following her successful exhibition in May at the Sayle Gallery in Douglas and after her work was selected to be part of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition in London earlier this year. The work, which took some two and a half months to complete and will take its place in the gallery of Speakers’ portraits in the House of Keys, depicts Mr Cannan in the Speaker’s robe and wig and, at the sitter’s request, features books, specifically, volumes of the Statutes of the Isle of Man and Manx Law Reports. The portrait also shows a section of Speed’s Map, the map of the Isle of Man published by cartographer John Speed in 1605. Welcoming guests Mr Speaker said the occasion was ‘a very rare event’ with the portrait of Mr Cannan becoming only the 11th to be hung in the House of Keys Chamber since the practice began in the late 1800s and he paid tribute to Mrs Cameron’s artistic skills. After the unveiling Mr Cannan, who served as Speaker between 2000-2001, praised Mrs Cameron’s ‘outstanding talent’ and said he was ‘extremely impressed’ with the portrait that was, he added: ‘All I had hoped for…and more.’ Mrs Cameron said: ‘It was a great honour to have been invited to paint an official portrait for the Manx parliament and Mr Cannan was a delight to work with. The project required much research and time spent in the House of Keys chamber and I was delighted to have had this unique opportunity to learn about Tynwald, its procedures and history. It has proved a deeply satisfying commission to have created a portrait that I should like to think not only has a contemporary relevance but will also hold the interest of many future generations of viewers.’ ENDS