In this portrait titled “Andy Murray” the viewer sees a lively, oil‑on‑canvas rendering of Sir Andrew Barron, a 1987‑born Wimbledon champion and Olympian. The painting’s size—about five feet wide and four feet tall—lets you take in his face and relaxed pose with vivid detail. Notice how the artist uses warm strokes to capture his expression, suggesting motion even while he sits.
This work was completed in 2019 by Maggi Hambling, an avid tennis fan who befriended Murray and invited him for a sitting. The portrait fits into the gallery’s group of “Olympians and Paralympians” as well as its broader “Sports and leisure pursuits” theme.
The canvas feels alive because of Habling’s loose brushwork that balances light and shadow. In the frame, you can see subtle hints—his jacket collar, a tennis racket in the background—that anchor him to his sport without cluttering the composition. The painting sits proudly in the National Portrait Gallery’s Primary Collection, welcoming viewers to appreciate both athlete and artist together.
Andy Murray is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.