Well-known portrait and figurative painter Henry Ward?s star is very much on the ascent in London?s prestigious art world.

Not only is he due to have a solo exhibition of his work in a gallery on London?s famed Old Bond Street in September, 2006, but also six of his life-size paintings of fashion models will dominate an exhibition of works by former Harrow School pupils, including Sir Winston Churchill, at an exhibition at Christie?s in London from January 10 to 24 next year. Mr. Ward, who left the famous school in 1989, chose to show all of the models, male and female, wearing their socks.

This installation was conceived from within the image-dominated culture of New York City, where the artist lived and worked in his Brooklyn studio for five years. The models are ?Manon?, ?Sara?, ?Sue?, ?Lisa?, ?Kat?, ?Aleksandra?, ?Klynt?, ?James? and ?Jeff?. All pieces are painted on white, 12 inches from the bottom of the canvas, and are designed to ?hover? out of the wall.

A former model himself, Mr. Ward began by contacting modelling agencies and visiting fashion shoots where he was able to photograph the model between takes. The models then visited his studio for further sittings where he had begun the work in oil and often introduced him to his next subject. The artist met Chanel supermodel Manon von Gerkan in Bermuda and ?Sara? is the Swedish celebrity actress and model whom he met on the New York subway. ?The Model Paintings?, previously shown here, will be sold as one group for around ?50,000.

Other highlights from the January, 2006 exhibition will include works by Old Harrovians (as former Harrow students are known) Sir Winston Churchill, Cecil Beaton, Victor Pasmore, Eliot Hodgkin, Spencer Gore and William Fox-Talbot ? all on loan, and from the School?s own art collection. Contemporary artists include Julian Barrow, Richard Foster, Lincoln Seligman, Nicholas Hely Hutchinson and John Pawle. The majority of the pieces will be for sale with prices from ?500.

Harrow?s headmaster Barnaby Lenon, said: ?From the pioneering photography of William Fox-Talbot to the abstract paintings of young contemporary artists, we are incredibly fortunate to benefit from a rich artistic heritage at Harrow.

The exhibition is to be a celebration of the talent of Harrovians, past and present, and will raise money for the improvement of art facilities at the School.?

Harrow School was founded in 1572 under the Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I to John Lyon, a local landowner, and includes a host of famous figures among its alumni.

The exhibition will be curated by James Mitchell of John Mitchell Fine Painting, Bond Street, and will be held at Christie?s, 8 King Street, St. James?s, London SW1. Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For further information?tel: (01144) 207-389-2978.

Professional artist Mr. Ward currently lives in London, and works from a studio in Notting Hill. He recently became a first-time father with the birth of a son, Xander. After attending Harrow, where he won the art prize five years in succession, he attended Chelsea College of Art, Goldsmiths College and Winchester School of Art. Mr. Ward has previously exhibited in London, where he was also a Royal Institute of Oil Painters ?Young Artist of the Year? prize winner in 1999, and he also had a solo exhibition at Tatistcheff & Co. on New York City?s 57th Street.

Locally, the Bermudian artist has had many solo shows over the years, as well as participating in group exhibitions and Bermuda National Gallery Biennials.

In another art-related activity, Mr. Ward was invited to be on the board of this year?s British Red Cross ?Art For Humanity? committee which is currently preparing for a glittering fund-raiser at the Plaisterers? Hall, London in November at which a host of valuable collectors? pieces will be auctioned. This mixed media art collection will include works donated by individual artists from around the world, including three from Bermuda: Desmond Fountain, Sheilagh Head, Graham Foster Dan Dempster. Not all artists who submitted work had their pieces accepted, so the fact that three from Bermuda were successful is not only a signal honour for them as individuals, but will also mean that they and the Island will receive international recognition from collectors, dealers, the media and cognoscenti.