Barrie Linklater's work in portraiture advanced strongly during his first London exhibition in 1972. Significant amongst the many commissions was a request from The Baltic Exchange to paint their chairman Hugh Granger and a request from a Lieutenant Colonel in the Welsh Guards for a portrait of himself in full dress uniform. On completion of this portrait the Welsh Guards High Command commissioned Barrie to paint the Colonel of the Regiment, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. As it included the ceremonial horse "Batchelor", this portrait began a whole series of paintings of people with their horses that continues to develop and grow. An impressive example of this is Barrie's painting of the Garter Procession with the Royal Coach, HM The Queen, HRH Prince Philip, HRH Prince Charles and HRH The Princess Royal in the foreground and ten other distinguished Knights of the Garter recognisable in attendance on the steps of St Georges Chapel.

His single portraits varied from HRH the Duchess of Gloucester commissioned by Queens Tennis Club to family portraits of children capturing some aspect of their life and interests for posterity.

A nicely framed portrait drawing by Barrie of HRH Prince Philip now hangs in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle for the Order of Merit Collection commissioned by Her Majesty The Queen.

Barrie Linklater was an acclaimed equestrian artist who especially enjoyed racing scenes and free action studies of horses and riders in oils and watercolour.

His first equestrian commission came from HRH Duke of Edinburgh during sittings for a portrait commissioned by the Welsh Guards when Barrie was requested to include his ceremonial horse in the painting. Prince Philip himself then commissioned Barrie to paint The Queen's favourite Mares and Foals as his Silver Jubilee present to Her Majesty the Queen.

Barrie's most recent accolade was winning the Presidents Medal for the "Most Meritorious Group of Paintings" in the Silver Jubilee Exhibition of the Society of Equestrian Artists in 2004 and the Best Oil Painting in 2006.

Barrie has painted a number of renowned horses including Best Mate, Supreme Rock, Shirley Heights, Bustino, Desert Orchid, Mtoto and Charter Party. His work has also included a commemorative portrait of Frankie Dettori's historic seven wins at the Ascot Festival.

His equine style encompasses both formal portraits and the elegant, rhythmic forms of horses at home in their natural environment.

He was a long-standing member of The Society of Equestrian Artists.

Barrie Linklater has painted a number of important commemorative works covering royal occasions, moments of equestrian history and other memorable events.

His commemorative portraits have allowed him to record some of the significant historical events of our times, from Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee, to the splendid depiction of the Royal Procession to Ascot through Windsor Great Park. He has also recorded the Garter Procession, the presentation of colours by HM The Queen to The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and HM The Queen's visit with Prince Philip to The Royal Engineers.

When plans were announced for the Thanksgiving Service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee, the Honourable Artillery Company
commissioned Barrie to depict the Queen's arrival in the gold coach, flanked by members of their regiment.

In 1996 Frankie Dettori made history by winning all seven races at the Ascot Festival. The Ascot Authority commissioned Barrie to record the event with a painting.

"Dogs seem to me to be the most natural animal companion for human beings. As a boy my first choice of animal campanion was a wire haired terrier called Punch.

A lovely subject for a painting, they make a nice addition to family group portraits and children tend to be more interested in sittings if their dog or cat is included in the painting"

Barrie Linklater has painted many magnificent and charming canine portraits.