Rolf Harris paints official portrait of Queen

Rolf Harris stands next to his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Picture / Reuters

LONDON - Rolf Harris initially feared his portrait of the Queen looked like a Norwich butcher, but now describes it as "a nice painterly job".

The 75-year-old artist and performer was a surprise choice to paint the official portrait marking the monarch's 80th birthday next year.

When approached to take the job, he admitted it "frightened the wits out of me" but he said the Queen had made him at ease during two hour-long sittings at Buckingham Palace.

"She was just wonderful. After my initial nervousness she had me totally at ease and it was a delight," Harris said today.

The impressionistic image, which will be displayed at the palace's Queen's Gallery, shows the Queen smiling and dressed in a bright turquoise outfit.

Harris revealed he had to work hard to get the image just right, struggling to perfect her dress and teeth.

"It was a bit stressful when I couldn't get the likeness right," Harris said.

"It looked like a pork butcher from Norwich, it didn't look like the Queen at all.

"Without a good likeness you are dead in the water."

But Harris said he was thrilled with the result.

"I feel it's a good likeness and it shows a relaxation I had not seen in many royal portraits," he said.

"I wanted to avoid that state portrait thing with the jewels and the pomp and splendour -- I wanted to capture the lady as she is, with her humanity and reality."

The painting -- the Queen's 180th official portrait -- took Harris two months to complete after the sittings at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen has a policy of never commenting for good or ill on a finished work, but had some kind words when she saw the rough version.

"The Queen said it was a very friendly painting as she walked out the door," Harris said.

"She never comments on a painting.....so that was nice as she walked out.

"Judge it for what it is and see what you think in relation to other portraits in the past -- I think it compares favourably.

"I'm not claiming it's the greatest portrait of a royal family member ever -- I feel it's a nice painterly job."

- AAP