Danielle de Niese

Artist Fiona Graham-Mackay paints a portrait of top opera soprano Danielle de Niese.

The relationship between an artist and her sitter is unique, a bit like being in the therapist's chair - the painter stripping away the layers to reveal the true likeness of her subject. And in the hush of the sitting, conversations meander in unexpected ways.

We eavesdrop on the conversation between the two artists across three meetings as the portrait develops.

The programme begins with a blank canvas, and ends with the big reveal as Danielle meets her likeness in the portrait Fiona has painted.

Producer: Eve Streeter

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2017.