Bolt joined the Navy in 1923 and became a naval aviator. This portrait shows him halff-length, turned to the left, in commander's undress uniform (1921 pattern) holding a pair of binoculars. In the Second World War (1939-45) he served in the carrier 'Glorious' and won the DSC and Bar while flying as observer from the battleship 'Warspite', flagship of the Mediterranean fleet, before joining the Admiralty staff. From 1949 to 1951 he commanded the carrier 'Theseus', including in the Korean War (1950-51) until being promoted rear-admiral and becoming Director, Naval Air Warfare, at the Admiralty, 1951-53. He subsequently became Chief of Staff to Flag Officer Air (Home), 1954-56, and Deputy Controller of Military Aircraft, Ministry of Supply ,1957-60. He retired in 1960.

Rupert Shephard trained at the Slade School, 1926-29, and was originally a schoolmaster, painting in the evenings. He exhibited in London from 1929, including in the inaugural exhibition of the Euston Road painters in 1937. During the Second World War he was an official war artist, and this portrait, signed and dated 1945, is one he did for the War Artists Advisory Committee. After the war he moved to South Africa with his family and became Director of the Michaelis Art School in Cape Town, but returned to England as a full-time painter from 1962. [PvdM 26/11]