The Life and Art of Ralph Heimans
Ralph Jacob Heimans is an Australian-British contemporary portrait painter based in London, England. Born in Sydney to a Dutch father and a Lebanese mother, his family heritage is of Dutch and Lebanese Jewish descent. He attended Mosman High School and won the Australian National Art Award in 1987. His academic background includes studies in architecture, fine art, and pure mathematics, completing a BA at Sydney University in 1991, followed by further study in drawing at the Julian Ashton Art School.
Heimans was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Birthday Honours for significant service to the visual arts as a portrait painter. He previously lived in South London with his wife, Tami Bokey, and two daughters, Ellie Rose and Hannah, before returning to live in Sydney after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notable Portraits and Collections
Heimans is recognized for several large-scale Royal portraits, including:
- The official Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which is part of the Collection of Westminster Abbey.
- A portrait of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, acquired by the Royal Collection Trust.
- A portrait of the Prince of Wales, held in the Royal Collection at Dumfries House.
- A portrait of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, commissioned by Frederiksborg Castle.
- A 2006 portrait of Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark.
His work also features cultural figures such as Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ben Kingsley, and pianist Vladimir Ashkenasy. His Shakespeare400 series included authors Margaret Atwood, Howard Jacobson, Anne Tyler, Gillian Flynn, Tracy Chevalier, and Jo Nesbo. Heimans's paintings are held in various international collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, and the European Court of Justice.
Questions & Answers
How is Ralph Heimans's career divided into periods?
A chronological account of Ralph Heimans's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.
Where can I see all artworks by Ralph Heimans?
Every work by Ralph Heimans on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
How many artworks by Ralph Heimans are available to browse?
You can browse 1 artwork by Ralph Heimans on the All Artworks page.
In which historical period did Ralph Heimans work?
Ralph Heimans worked in the Contemporary period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.
