The dancer and choreographer Michael Clark was born in rural Aberdeenshire. He trained at the Royal Ballet School and worked with the Royal Ballet and Ballet Rambert until he founded his own company in 1984. His work continues to push the boundaries of dance and visual art; his 40-year career has been described as ‘fusing his classical training with post-punk energy, drag performance, queer subculture and pantomime.’ David Williams has said of his portrait of Clark, ‘I’m fond of this portrait for a number of reasons, not least because of the juxtaposition of Michael’s head, so serenely rendered, with the almost brutal tear in his jeans. It's as though the latter simply cannot contain the explosive energy contained in those incredibly powerful legs, the most vital tools of his trade.’