After four years as Prime Minister, the first official portrait of John Major is about to be unveiled. In the hard and competitive world of prestigious commissions, he holds his own - with the realistic desclaimer that "They all help to pay the mortgage". That's Peter Deighan for you....

Mike Ellison
Arts correspondent, The Guardian

I don't usually like looking at representations of myself but I could live with Peter Deighan's portrait.

John Major

It's absolutely fabulous
Norma Major

 I first met Peter Deighan some years ago, on Ireland's Late Late Show, on which we were both guests. On the show were a number of his portraits, which were strewn around the TV studio, I was at once struck by the remarkable quality of two pictures in particular - portraits of the Irish Prime Minister, Mr Charles Haughey and Cardinal Basil Hume.

It was in the hospitality room after the show that the show's host, Gay Byrne, suggested that Peter paint a portrait of myself. As I had never been painted, and was rather apprehensive of the whole business, I demurred. However, Peter later called me in London and persistence eventually had its reward - I agreed to sit for him.

After three sittings at his studio in Luton, he allowed me to look at he work and my fears abated. Not only is Peter a consummate artist, he must also be a very kindly man in as much as he in no way fulfilled my suspicions that he would present me as someone who really ought to be assisting the police with their enquiries.

Frederick Forsyth

On visiting the Royal Society of Portrait Painters' summer exhibition, I found myself looking at myself looking at me, and began to know what life must have been like for Dorian Gray. Peter Deighan's virtuosity astonishes me. That is why in the portrait I look so mesmerised. As a matter of fact, I see now my resemblance to that great aunt.

Benny Green

My portrait by Peter Deighan was a fascinating experience, watching one's image take form on a white canvas, I am thrilled to have had it done. I only wish however, that my name was Dorian Gray and the painting got older instead of myself. Alas, with a portrait one can only look back and see the way we were.

Jimmy Greaves

When Steve won his first World Championship in 1981 it was quite appropriate, therefore, for us to choose Peter to paint a portrait of Steve commemorating his first majestic title. I was delighted with the result and of course have been even more delight that the careers of Steve Davis and Peter Deighan have continued to flourish.

Barry Hearn

Undoubtedly Co. Monaghan's two most accomplished sons - though in widely divergent professions - are pictured together in Clones.
Peter Deighan, a native of Monaghan town and recognised as Britain's leading portrait painter called on Barry McGuigan for the personal signing of 850 prints of the portrait of Barry against a montage of some of his more famous fights which was reproduced in the Standard.
Quite a test of Barry's right arm signing each of them individually....

Paddy Turley
Editor, Northern Standard