This is a quarter-length portrait of Rear Admiral Sir Harold M. Burrough. He is holding binoculars and looking away from the viewer towards the left hand side of the picture plane, as though searching the horizon. The background suggests he is standing on the deck of a ship as heavy pipes and machinery can be seen to his right, while behind his head and shoulders is the grey of a cloudy sky. On the left hand side of his jacket are many coloured ribbons from various awards and medals, whilst the pattern of the gold embroidery on his cuffs indicates his rank as a rear-admiral. Dring has captured a great deal of character in the features of his face and his piercing blue eyes. The focused expression suggests a certain authority and wisdom, as befitting his rank as Rear Admiral. This portrait is signed and dated, and is still in the original mount and frame from the War Artist’s Advisory Committee. [The original WAAC number is LD. 2451].

William Dring (1904-90) earned his reputation as a fine draughtsman and portrait painter whilst studying under Henry Tonks at the Slade School of Art between 1922 and 1925. He worked as a teacher of drawing and painting at the Southampton School of Art until 1940 when he was employed by the War Artist Advisory Committee, first as official war artist to the Admiralty and later to the Air Ministry. He made a large number of portrait drawings of individuals and groups, all remarkable for their informality. Dring travelled extensively to complete his commissions. The drawing is always precise and carefully modelled using pastel, a medium in which he specialised, and which allowed him to capture the likeness and spirit of his subjects quickly and under a variety of circumstances.