Oswald Birley
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Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley, MC, RA (31 March 1880 - 6 May 1952) was a New Zealand born British portrait painter in the early part of the 20th century.
Birley was from an old Lancashire family. He was educated at Harrow School, then Trinity College, Cambridge
He served in France in the Intelligence Corps during World War I obtaining the rank of Captain and being awarded the Military Cross in 1919. During World War II he served with the rank of Major in the British Home Guard
He married the Irish beauty Rhoda Vava Mary Lecky Pike in 1921 with whom he had 2 sons. One of whom Mark Birley was the first husband of Lady Annabel Goldsmith.
A favourite of the Royal Family he was well-known for his portraits of King George V, Queen Mary, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the present monarch Queen Elizabeth II.
He painted several highly regarded portraits of his friend Sir Winston Churchill (to whom he also gave lessons).
Other subjects were many war time leaders such as General's Eisenhower, Montgomery, Admiral Mountbatten & wealthy American financier's Andrew Mellon & J.P.Morgan.
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