King's portrait artist Jonathan Yeo reveals he had a heart attack before his painting of Charles was finished, and says he couldn't die because he 'still had stuff to do'

Jonathan Yeo has revealed the personal setbacks he has faced throughout his life, including having a heart attack mid-way through painting Charles.

The 53-year-old is the artist behind the new portrait of the King, which was commissioned back in 2020 to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales's 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company.

Renowned artist Yeo had four sittings over several years, beginning when His Majesty was Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House.

The 'fiery' painting - which is mainly red in colour - depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975.

Yeo revealed that he suffered a heart attack in March last year when he was painting the crimson canvas. 

Artist Jonathan Yeo poses next to his painting of the King at Buckingham Palace. He revealed he suffered a heart attack whilst painting the portrait

Yeo said he was diagnosed with cancer when he was 22 and underwent treatment for it. Above: Pictured in 2022

He told the Sunday Times that his heart stopped one quiet Sunday evening and said the sensation began with a 'weird flushing feeling'.

He then felt pain that spread to his arms and insisted that he did not want to be called an ambulance. But ten minutes after a paramedic arrived to assist him, he collapsed.

Yeo said: 'I had this out-of-body experience, where I was being led off and shown another world and you find you're looking down at something chaotic. And it's like: 'Well, do you want to go there or there?'

Yeo said he felt like he couldn't die because he still had 'stuff to do' and added: 'The second you make the decision, you're back in your body with the [paramedic] saying: "Stay with me".'

After his out-of-body experience, he now believes in the afterlife, adding that it has changed his view on it. 

He admitted that the colour choice on King Charles' painting may have been psychological, due to his medical emergency.

Yeo told the newspaper: '[The colour] may also have had psychological backing, because I had a heart attack [in March 2023] when I was painting this. 

'But certainly none of that I was conscious of — it was just: I like this colour.' 

Medics told Yeo that the heart attack was most likely caused by damage to his heart from the radiotherapy he had to treat his cancer when he was in his twenties. 

The 53-year-old renowned artist said it was fascinating to watch Charles 'gain stature' after he became King following the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022

King Charles unveiled the first completed official portrait of himself since the Coronation at Buckingham Palace yesterday

Yeo also said in the footage that he was unaware of the King's cancer diagnosis during the final sittings for the painting

A portrait released by Jonathan Yeo in 2008 of Prince Philip, who died in April 2021

Although Yeo did not have any 'warning signs' he felt as though he 'dodged a bullet' and added that felt a strong pull to finish the King's painting and put aside other projects. 

The artist described Charles as a 'caring, thoughtful person' and said he only spoke to him briefly about his illness.

Yeo revealed to the outlet that he experienced much 'family chaos' during his childhood, with both he and his younger were diagnosed with cancer. 

When Yeo was studying for his A-levels, his sister developed a brain tumour and the family was told that she would not survive. 

His younger sibling was in hospital for months, He said: 'She's alive, but disabled and needs constant care. My parents — being very British — never complain.'

But aged just 22, Yeo himself was told that he had lymphatic cancer. He added: 'Because of my sister, it paled into insignificance. It was just annoying to have a year of treatment.'

Yeo never went to art school and believes the experiences in childhood allows the people he paints to open up to him and reveal their secrets.

Jonathan Yeo chats to Queen Camilla as they discuss the painting of Geoffrey Pattinson (left) in 2015

Some of the images that inspired the bright red colours of the painting, which the artist admits he thinks not everyone will appreciate

Some of the photographs of the King that Yeo used to help him paint the official portrait

He told the newspaper: 'Having had all this visible family chaos and tragedy meant people who sat for me would open up from day one.' 

Yeo also opened up about painting the King's father, Prince Philip in 2006 and said he was 'fiercely intellectual' and an 'impatient character.'

He said Philip would 'get bored' and 'walk off' but he had to sit so that Yeo could complete his masterpiece. 

The Queen's husband would also often try and prompt Yeo into a debate about politics or science during his painting. 

Prince Philip - an art fan himself - also brought his own paintings to the next sitting as he valued Yeo's opinion, who said they were 'surprisingly good'.

King Charles was still sitting for the portrait, unveiled earlier this week at Buckingham Palace, when Queen Elizabeth died on September 8th 2022 and he became Monarch. 

Speaking about painting Charles before and after his ascension to the throne, Yeo said: 'When he became King half way through [sitting], that in a way made it more interesting.

'I was able to see the shift in the body language. Sometimes you talk about these things metaphorically but to be visibly able to see someone gain stature and to become more comfortable in themselves is a really interesting thing.'

Yeo also said he was unaware of the King's cancer diagnosis during the final sitting for the painting. The last sitting took place in November 2023 at Clarence House.

He said: 'I didn't sense anything wrong in particular. And also I think when you've got cancer...it's often towards the end of the treatment that it takes a more physical toll.'

Speaking about how the portrait will be received, he said: 'There's always people who will disagree with you on how to paint these things. 

The King sat with the artist four times over a period of several years, beginning in 2021

'People may not agree with how I've done it but it's a bit different from the other royal portraits I've seen.

Yeo said the bright red colours were part of that, explaining: 'I was playing with this idea of mysticism. We still buy into the idea of the royal family being a bit different from us in some way.'

He also touched on the King as a sitter, saying in the short clip: 'He'll pretend to laugh at your jokes and be funny and curious and interested. He's good at putting people at their ease.

'All of us have our biography etched into our faces. It was more the weight of the world on his shoulders once he'd become King - but he hadn't lost his sense of humour or his curiosity about lots of different things. He was always asking questions and interested in everything.

He also worked from drawings and photography he took of His Majesty, allowing him to work on the portrait in his London studio between sittings.

Yeo used photographs of the King in military regalia alongside 'a bit of the recollection of being with him' to create the painting, saying he wanted to 'recreate the sense of being with someone' and 'try and show a few different elements of their personality, sometimes contradictory ones.'

Yesterday at the unveiling, the artist also spoke about the butterfly on the portrait echoing Charles's 'metamorphosis' from Prince to King during the process - and the monarch joked that it was nice to know he was a chrysalis.

Yeo added: 'People often say is there a secret to doing a good portrait? And I say I don't know really. Actually I think there is one, and that's having an interesting subject to start with. And you couldn't ask for a better one than this, other than Her Majesty.' 

The artist gestured towards Camilla, also in attendance - whom he also painted a portrait of in 2014 - and the comment was greeted with much laughter by those gathered in the palace. 

Yeo said: 'It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers' Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation.

'When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in our public life has transformed.

'I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter's face. In this case, my aim was also to make reference to the traditions of royal portraiture but in a way that reflects a 21st Century monarchy and, above all else, to communicate the subject's deep humanity.

Here goes: King Charles seen preparing to unveil the painting at Buckingham Palace

The painting was revealed for the first time by King Charles at Buckingham Palace

King Charles seen standing at Buckingham Palace next to Yeo earlier this week

'I'm unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming King.'

At Buckingham Palace, Charles and Queen Camilla were met by The Master of The Drapers' Company, Tom Harris and Past Master, William Charnley.

Together they joined Yeo who said a few words after His Majesty unveiled the portrait.

Guests included other members of the Drapers' Company, students and staff from the Drapers' Academy, Welsh Guards and Yeo's family.

The portrait will go on public display for a month at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, from this Thursday until June 14. Entry is free.

The artwork is expected to be displayed at Drapers' Hall from the end of August.

Yeo is one of the world's leading portrait artists whose subjects have included the industrial designer Sir Jony Ive, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and activists Malala Yousafzai and Doreen Lawrence.

A portrait by Jonathan Yeo of Queen Camilla in 2014 when she was Duchess of Cornwall

He has also produced portraits of actors Nicole Kidman, Giancarlo Esposito, Dennis Hopper, Idris Elba and Sienna Miller, artists Damien Hirst and Grayson Perry, model Cara Delevingne and former world leaders Tony Blair, David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Juan Manuel Santos.

In addition, Yeo has previously produced commissions of Prince Philip and Camilla.

Known for both traditional and experimental portraiture, his work has been exhibited widely in museums and galleries worldwide. He is currently artist trustee of the National Portrait Gallery.

The Drapers' Company can trace its allegiance to the monarch back to 1364 when it received its first charter from King Edward III.

This formally recognised the fraternity of Drapers in the City of London and granted them the monopoly rights over the cloth trade within the City.

The Company was frequently called upon to supply money, men and arms as required by the Crown.

From the 18th century, such support changed to the financial support of servicemen and the relief of need of the dependants of those injured or killed on duty.

Prince Albert, later George VI, became a Draper in 1919. Queen Elizabeth II became a Draper in 1947, joining the Court in 2017.

Charles became a Freeman of the Drapers' Company in 1971, when the Company also provided offices for the newly formed Prince's Trust at Drapers' Hall.

The Drapers' Company also boasts a substantial philanthropic arm, which dates back to Tudor times and now is administered through many charitable trusts that have been left in its care.