Mr Tadashi Serizawa

I was asked by MasterCard to paint five portraits in Asia, commemorating the service of each Director retiring from the company’s global board.

A three-week whistle-stop tour of Asia was planned, taking in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Although it was not an ideal way in which to work, and I had only a few days in each city, I was able to paint and sketch furiously and bring back studies from which I could work up larger canvases. MasterCard planned the trip for me, and included visits to the main sights at every stop.