When someone commissions a painting it is always a special experience taking the artist on a journey of discovery.

Such was the case when Glynis Hayne commissioned me to paint the Australian Bred rose, Governor Marie Bashir, for her to present to Paul Hains, the breeder of the rose.

Glynis sent me a number of photos to paint from and we both agreed that her photo of a bunch of these roses would make a very dramatic painting.

This pale pink floribunda with a coral centre and a mild fragrance has exquisite form, so I enjoyed every moment of painting each of the five roses.

The rose is named in honour of the former Governor of New South Wales, Dame Marie Bashir, who has fond memories of the formal rose gardens in her childhood home in Narrandera, and royalties from sales of the rose will be donated to the Wayside Chapel, of which Dame Marie was patron.

Below is a smaller study of the same rose.