National Galleries of Scotland

At the age of eleven, McEleny suffered a head injury which resulted in her developing paraplegia and epilepsy. She went on to become a world champion swimmer, winning three gold, five silver and seven bronze medals at the Paralympics. In Atlanta in 1996 she won more medals than any other British swimmer. She was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Paralympics and in 2004 she won two silver medals in Athens. This is a rather contemplative portrait ? perhaps a mediation of an athlete coming towards the end of her sporting career. It is a study for part of a larger commission by the National Portrait Gallery, London. Lessore was selected because, like McEleny, he is paraplegic.