Painting the scenes behind the scenes

One of Britain's leading producers has appointed the first artist-in-residence on a major movie set.

Stephen Evans, whose award-winning films include Henry V and The Madness of King George, has asked painter John Wonnacott to record the making of First Night. He now wants to work with him on future productions.

Wonnacott's past commissions include a monumental portrait of the royal family which featured the first formal depiction of princes William and Harry.

First Night stars Richard E Grant as a wealthy businessman who assembles an opera company to stage Così Fan Tutte at his stately home.

Evans said: "I've never heard of an artist on a film set. He's captured from a painter's perspective how a scene looks. We're seeing an artist's view and a director's view. It's an interesting comparison."

Wonnacott, whose portraits of the royal family and John Major are in the National Portrait Gallery, painted action shots and views of actors relaxing between scenes. Born in London in 1940, he trained at the Slade School of Fine Art and lives in Southend.

His paintings can be seen at Agnew's in Albemarle Street, W1, from tomorrow until February 25.