The latest Mall Galleries Art Consultancy project is 'Outrageous'
/ Royal Society of Portrait Painters
In celebration of the highly anticipated six-part series Outrageous, Mall Galleries Art Consultancy has been commissioned to produce a collection of striking portraits of the Mitford sisters as portrayed in the new drama.
Set against the gathering storm clouds of the 1930s, Outrageous will bring the full, uncensored story of the infamous Mitfords to the screen for the first time from today, 19 June on free streaming service U and U&DRAMA.
Six artists were commissioned to interpret the talented cast in character as the infamous aristocratic sisters: Catherine Chambers, David Caldwell RP, Arianna Tinulla Milesi, Florence Yuqing RI, Sam Clayden and Tania Rivilis.
Known for courting both admiration and controversy, the Mitfords left an indelible mark on history, and defied convention, making headlines across the globe. Each sister has been uniquely captured by the artists through a single word that embodies the essence of her character.
Portraiture is able to transcend time, offering new interpretations of historical figures through contemporary artistry. This collection reimagines the Mitfords through the cast of Outrageous, capturing their bold, unapologetic spirits while showcasing the talent of The Federation of British Artists behind the works.
Audacious by Catherine Chambers
Bessie Carter as Nancy Mitford
By her portrait of Nancy Mitford, Catherine Chambers sought to highlight the continuity between how Nancy depicted people in writing, actress Bessie Carter embodied Nancy in performance, and how Catherine portrayed both of them in painting.
Dangerous by David Caldwell RP
Joanna Vanderham as Diana Mitford
Twice-shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award, artist David Caldwell used a single transparent red pigment called Rose Madder—a ‘fugitive’ pigment—in his work. In time, the painting will gradually fade and darken in an unpredictable manner, ultimately leading to its own condemnation.
Rebellious by Arianna Tinulla Milesi
Zoe Brough as Jessica Mitford
Ariana Tinulla Milesi decided to blend a picture of Zoe Brough with two of Jessica Mitford, creating a central gaze with six eyes all in the direction of the observer, a multiplication of power and a homage to Man Ray’s famous portrait of the Divina Marchesa Casati.
Boisterous by Florence Yuqing RI
Orla Hill as Deborah Mitford
In painting Deborah Mitford, Florence Yuqing sought to capture Deborah’s essence and soft, earthy tones and gentle layering to reflect her strong connection to the countryside and to Chatsworth House.
Notorious by Sam Clayden
Shannon Watson as Unity Mitford
Using a palette of dark and muted colours, Sam Clayden focussed on a pose and expression that would make viewers feel uncomfortable when looking at the portrait, and Unity’s dangerous, fanatical and obsessive views.
Adventurous by Tania Rivilis
Isobel Jesper Jones as Pamela Mitford
Painting Pamela Mitford was an unexpected yet deeply rewarding journey for Tania Rivilis, proud recipient of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2022 William Lock Prize. As Tania delved into Pamela’s story and connected with her rural spirit, Tania uncovered striking parallels to her own life, inspiring her to capture a unique balance of strength, independence, and quiet adventure.
About Outrageous
Outrageous is the story of six aristocratic sisters who refused to play by the rules, their often-scandalous lives making headlines around the world. It is a cautionary tale that explores how and why these women, unwilling to conform, were so ahead of their time - and what drove them to take their very different, contentious and often dangerous paths. A family saga like no other, this is the Mitfords as they really were: unapologetic, flawed and utterly outrageous.
Created and written by Sarah Williams (Small Island, Flesh and Blood, The Long Song), the drama is based on Mary Lovell’s definitive biography The Mitford Girls. Produced by Firebird Pictures—one of BBC Studios' owned production labels—and co-commissioned by UKTV and BritBox International. Executive producers include Elizabeth Kilgarriff, Matthew Mosley, Craig Holleworth, Helen Perry (UKTV), and Robert Schildhouse, Jess O'Riordan, and Stephen Nye (BritBox International).
Stream Outrageous free on U from 19 June.
Mall Galleries Art Consultancy
Mall Galleries Art Consultancy specialises in commissioning and curating fine art collections for private collectors, corporate clients and interior designers.
This includes the RP Portrait Commissions service in collaboration with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.