Black History Month painting 'represent Norwich's diversity'

Artist Danny Keen wanted his portrait - a gift to the city - to reflect and celebrate Norwich's diversity

A portrait of a former lord mayor and two "inspirational youngsters" is being officially unveiled to mark black people's contributions to Norwich.

Jamaican-born artist Danny Keen, who until 2021 was chairman of Norfolk Black History Month, will hand over his gift at City Hall later.

The portrait features sisters Evie and Carly Gorton, who hope their inclusion reflects Norwich's increased diversity.

"It's quite different from the normal paintings of mayors," said Carly, 13.

"I really like the way he's brightened it up and it's got quite nice detail in it."

Carly won a global award in 2021 after persuading a children's wig charity to use her Afro hair to make wigs.

Until her campaign, she said most manufacturers believed Afro hair was too fine for wig creations.

However, research by the Little Princess Trust finally led to a technical breakthrough, meaning Afro hair donations could be made into wigs for children who had lost their hair through illness.

Evie (left) and Carly Gorton were delighted to reflect modern, diverse Norwich in the portrait by Danny Keen

Evie, 16, said the portrait was a "lot more modern" than the large collection of mayoral paintings hanging across the county.

"It's nice to represent Norwich and the diversity there," she said.

Mr Keen, who moved to Norfolk 30 years ago, said he chose his subjects after the Norfolk black history committee and the Gorton sisters were invited to take tea with Norwich's former Lord Mayor Kevin Maguire.

"That's an experience we had never had before," he said, adding that the sense of acceptance "was extremely important".

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Mr Keen said he also realised "we had a more sympathetic and inspirational lord mayor" after Mr Maguire was the first person to get up and dance at an event where a pan-African band was playing.

"I realised we had a cool and groovy lord mayor," said Mr Keen.

He described the Gorton sisters as "two inspirational young people".

Anna Mudeka with her daughters Evie and Carly, former Lord Mayor of Norwich, Kevin Maguire, and artist and former Norfolk Black History chairman Danny Keen (pictured in 2021)

For Kevin Maguire, being part of the portrait was "a brilliant process and a brilliant outcome as well".

He hoped that "because of its significance" the artwork would be hung in a prominent place in the city.

"It's so much more than a portrait; it's a metaphor; it tells a story, which is an important story for Norwich," he said.

The official ceremony takes place on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Keen will also be presenting his portrait of Johnson Beharry VC to Lady Pippa Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk and her husband Baron Richard Dannatt, who is the former Chief of the General Staff of the Army.

Mr Beharry was a Caribbean soldier who won the Victoria Cross for saving the lives of his comrades in Iraq in 2004.

Norfolk Black History Month is held annually throughout October.