BBC Children in Need’s Royally Big Portrait
Be part of history with BBC Children in Need’s Royally Big Portrait!
The historic coronation of King Charles III is taking place on Saturday 6th May, 2023 and to celebrate the momentous occasion, we’re inviting families and children across the UK to get involved and share their creative skills with the world.
The Royally Big Portrait is a giant digital portrait of King Charles III that will feature thousands of individual portraits of the King drawn by children across the UK.
This unique artwork will be created by a record breaking number of artists, and YOU can be one of them – you can still upload your drawing using the link above.
Join in with The Royally Big Portrait
Share your art with friends and family
After you submit your portrait you will receive a special digital link to view your artwork in the finished digital portrait, which you can share with your circle
Visit The Royally Big Portrait at Outernet London
From Monday 1st - Monday 8th May you can see The Royally Big Portrait on Outernet London's immense, immersive screens, an exciting exhibition experience
Break a world record
By taking part in The Royally Big Portrait you will help us break a Guinness World Records title for the most online contributions to a digital artwork!
Draw to make a difference
The Royally Big Portrait is supporting more than 160 BBC Children in Need funded projects working with children and young people experiencing food insecurity.
Not having access to a healthy diet or proper nutrition has a significant impact on children and young people’s physical development and mental wellbeing, which is why in the last year we have supported over 27,000 children impacted by food insecurity and we will continue to help where it is needed the most.
Please consider donating so that BBC Children in Need can be there for children across the UK.
See your art on the big screen!
The biggest screens in fact! If you take part in The Royally Big Portrait your art could be featured in Outernet London’s exhibition of the portrait on their floor to ceiling wrap around screens in flagship space The Now Building.
Outernet London is the official BBC Children in Need Home of The Coronation. Visit Outernet London from Monday 1st – Monday 8th of May, located opposite the Elizabeth Line entrance to Tottenham Court Road Tube Station, to have a fun and interactive experience for all the family!
Be a world record breaker…
When you take part in The Royally Big Portrait, you are helping us in our attempt to break a world record! BBC Children in Need is trying to break a Guinness World Records title for the most online contributions to a digital artwork. Over 5,000 contributions from the general public are needed to break the world record, so we need as many people as possible across the UK to get involved with this unique activity.
Be inspired by the National Portrait Gallery!
Ahead of the National Portrait Gallery’s reopening in June, it has shared paintings of famous kings and queens throughout history, from its collection. Discover these to spark some ideas for your own portrait of King Charles III and look out for these famous faces in the final Royally Big Portrait!
The Royally Big Portrait is being brought to life by artist Sam Barnett.
“I became a full time artist after I started painting portraits of inspirational people with my daughters, to expand their horizons and show them they could follow their own paths. My path is a strange one – I trained as a lawyer, spent most of my adult life building technology companies and only had the courage to become a full time artist when I was 38.
What I’ve learnt from my experiences is that following your true path is hard. People around you will tell you to do what they think is right for you, but how do you find what is right for you? It’s even harder to find your path if, like many children in the UK, you live in poverty; you’re alone, lost or sad; your family is in crisis or you’ve suffered injustice.
That’s why we’ve launched The Royally Big Portrait – to celebrate every child’s creativity and give them the self-belief to achieve, to be part of history, and to support other children so they can overcome their challenges.”
To support The Royally Big Portrait, BBC Children in Need partner the Post Office will be taking donations to Children in Need at every Post Office branch in the UK throughout Coronation Week from May 1st-8th! Donate to help over 160 BBC Children in Need funded projects working with children and young people experiencing food insecurity.
If you go to Outernet London: BBC Children in Need’s Home of The Coronation from May 1st-8th you can donate by cash with Post Office volunteers, or by cash or card within the Post Office branch located next to Outernet London at New Oxford Street.
A massive thank you to the Post Office for all their support over many years!
