MOST people don’t get the opportunity to have their portrait painted.

We take photos all the time, but sitting for a portrait artist is generally, as Bill Bailey says, confined to “the great and the good”.

“Historically, portraiture is usually blokes, let’s face it. Often sitting on a horse, self important, looking down on everyone,” says Bill. “It’s a symbol of wealth and power. This show democratizes that and celebrates people from all walks of life - telling their stories in the process.”

The show he’s referring to is BBC One’s Extraordinary Portraits. Presented by Bill, this rather lovely series explores the remarkable stories of ‘ordinary people’ through their portraits painted by guest artists.

Six unsung heroes from the current series are featured in an exhibition which has opened in Bradford’s newest venue - the Loading Bay. The pop-up arts space, in a former Marks & Spencer warehouse in the city centre, has a programme of exhibitions, theatre shows, comedy gigs and live video games throughout Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.

The first Loading Bay event is Extraordinary Portraits, a partnership between Bradford 2025, the BBC and Chatterbox Media. Comedian, musician, actor, artist and TV presenter Bill Bailey launched the exhibition this week, joining sitters and artists whose work is showcased in the new gallery.

The six portraits are: a couple who have fostered almost 200 teenagers; a railway worker who saved 29 people from taking their lives; an army veteran who walked around the UK’s coastline and raised more than half a million pounds to support ex-servicemen and women; an influencer with Down’s Syndrome who is campaigning for equality around pregnancies; a ‘lost Lioness’ whose World Cup football story was hidden for half a century; and Clare, a woman diagnosed with incurable cancer aged 25 who has set up a charity to help other young cancer patients.

Marva and Lionel, who have fostered nearly 200 children, painted by Chloe Cox Marva and Lionel, who have fostered nearly 200 children, painted by Chloe Cox (Image: Tom Arber)

“Extraordinary Portraits is a simple but novel idea - celebrating ordinary people doing extraordinary things - and it’s surprisingly moving,” says Bill. “There’s something about seeing yourself as others see you. That doesn’t normally happen. This programme is about two things - it’s an insight into the artistic process, seeing how the artists approach their subject and interpret someone’s life. And it’s also stories being told, of ordinary people and the challenges of life.

“You see the bond between the artists and sitters. When they first meet, they don’t know how it’s going to pan out. The artists talk to their family and friends and get a broader picture of them.”

Bill is no stranger to art, having designed artwork for his comedy promotional material, and over the last decade he has “fallen in love with drawing wildlife.”

He welcomes the Loading Bay as an accessible space for art: “It’s a wonderful idea. Art should be for public consumption, not collected by rich people and squirrelled away. This is a great way to show people what art can do - in Bradford’s City of Culture year. Portraiture is very powerful. I hope people will be inspired by all this.”

Gill Sayell was painted by former goalkeeper turned artist David James. Gill was14 when she was picked to represent England at Copa 71, the Women’s World Cup in Mexico. But after the tournament Gill and her teammates were hit with a ban by the Football Association, which had, since 1921, forbidden women from playing on professional pitches.

Gill went on to be a founding member of Arsenal Women football club, but her remarkable World Cup story was kept hidden for 50 years. “I didn’t speak about it because I was made to feel like I’d done something wrong,” she said. “It wasn’t even mentioned at school when we came back from Mexico. I used to take out my kitbag now and then, just to remind myself that it really happened.”

Gill’s portrait captures strands of her football story, including a Copa 71 poster and an ornament called Billy - the name Gill gave herself when she pretended to be a boy, so she could play football as a child.

David James with Gill and her portrait David James with Gill and her portrait

“I didn’t know Gill or her World Cup background when I met her,” said David. “I thought her story was amazing, but I wasn’t sure how to balance this massive event in football with Gill the person. I had to include the Arsenal shirt, because that’s who Gill is, but I also put items on shelves behind her which piece together her story. There’s a trophy, a figure representing justice and a pair of scissors, because she cut her hair to pretend to be a boy.”

Added David: “This was a completely different challenge for me, I was out of my comfort zone. But it was fantastic. Gill is very inspiring. This is the first time I’ve seen it on the wall.”

When ex-paratrooper Christian Lewis struggled with civilian life, he spiralled into depression. One day he left home with just £10 and ended up walking the entire coastline of the UK - all 19,000 miles of it.

“I set off with a pair of boots that didn’t fit, a tent with a hole in it and no plan. I came back six years later with a wife and a baby, having raised half a million pounds for charity,” smiled Chris.

Taking on the challenge of capturing this remarkable story, acclaimed sculptor Hywel Pratley created a striking bronze sculpture of Chris and his beloved dog, Jet, who accompanied him on the walk.

Christian Lewis with the sculpture of him and his dog Jet Christian Lewis with the sculpture of him and his dog Jet

“Jet died nine months after the walk. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her,” said Chris. “She slept in my sleeping bag with me. It means everything to me that she’s in the sculpture.”

* Extraordinary Portraits is at the Loading Bay, Duke Street, Bradford, until April 6.