The Country House Podcast1 Okt 2025

Painting Houses: Rory's Watercolour Portraits | Ep. 92

The challenge for all portraitists is in painting not only what they see but in trying to distil and capture the essence or spirit of their subject in oil, ink or watercolour. This challenge applies as much to those who paint portraits of buildings as it does to those who paint people. On The Country House Podcast we often talk about how houses are far more than mere bricks and mortar - they are living, breathing family homes that imbibe and embody the spirits of those who live and work in them.

In this week's podcast episode, Geoff interviews co-host Rory Fraser about one of his main vocations - painting buildings (from ancestral homes and castles to cottages, colleges, churches and holiday villas). They discuss what inspired Rory to begin doing this, why and how he goes about the process, and the unique joys and challenges of using watercolours rather than other mediums.

Rory is currently taking Christmas commissions - the perfect gift for friends and family members, whether it's a portrait of a cherished family home or another significant building such as a church (great wedding or anniversary gifts), university or school, or something else entirely! Rory can work from photographs, so please don't hold back even if you live abroad!

For more information, please get in touch via Rory's website (www.rory-fraser.com) or send a direct-message on Instagram to Rory (@roryfraserr) or through our podcast page (@thecountryhousepodcast).

Pricing as follows (based on him painting from photographs):

A4 - £400

A3 - £600

A selection of prints from Rory's series on follies are also available (ranging from £65 to £95)

https://www.rory-fraser.com

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