Mikéla Henry-Lowe
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Painting our Past -
​The African DIASPORA in england 


English Heritage has commissioned a series of portraits depicting six historic figures from the African diaspora whose stories have contributed to England’s rich history. Each artist has been supported by our curators and historians to creatively portray their subject.
The paintings will be hung at the English Heritage site connected to its subject this summer. Learn more about the commissioned artists and their subjects here. 
READ MORE...
Picture

​Dido Belle

1761 - 1804
​Mikéla’s portrait depicts Dido Belle (1761-1804), the daughter of a young enslaved Black woman and a Royal Naval officer. Born out of wedlock, Dido was raised as part of the aristocratic Murray family in Georgian London and spent much of her life at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath in north London.
 
Mikéla Henry-Lowe said: “I wanted to paint Dido Belle because a lot of my portraits are of black women wearing head wraps representing black culture, but Dido’s head wrap isn’t cultural. It was most likely to cover her hair because at the time many didn’t know what to do with curly hair. I think it’s amazing that I’ve been given the opportunity to paint a black woman who experienced growing up in an aristocratic family, because most depictions of black women in Georgian Britain were shown as slaves.”

"I think it’s amazing that I’ve been given the opportunity to paint a black woman who experienced growing up in an aristocratic family..."

- Mikela Henry-Lowe

Displayed at Kenwood House

In the library
Picture
Picture

All the artists

Mikela Henry-Lowe, Dido Belle (1761 - 1804), Kenwood House, London
Clifton Powell, Abbot Hadrian (c.630–710) St Augustine’s Abbey, Kent
Chloe Cox, Arthur Roberts (1897–1982) Berwick-upon-Tweed Barracks, Northumberland
Elena Onwochei-Garcia, Septimius Severus (AD 145–211) Corbridge Roman Town, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Hannah Uzor, Sarah Forbes Bonetta (1843–80) Osborne House, Isle of Wight
Glory Samjolly, James Chappell (c.1648–1730) Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire

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  • Painting Our Past
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Digital Art
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016 >
      • Head Wraps
      • Natural Hair
  • Exhibitions
  • Press
  • Art Platforms
  • Store
    • Original Paintings >
      • UPCOMING
      • AVAILABLE
      • SOLD
    • Canvas Prints
    • Framed Prints
    • Metal Prints
    • Posters
  • Accessories
    • Tote Bags (RedBubble)
    • Tote Bags (Spreadshirt)
    • Stickers (Redbubble)
    • Stickers ( Spreadshirt)