A PLAQUE commemorating the renowned Kendal portrait artist George Romney has been unveiled in his home town by the president of the Royal Academy, Christopher Le Brun.

The unveiling was carried out by the president of the Royal Academy, Christopher Le Brun, who travelled from London for the ceremony.

Mr Le Brun described Romney as one of the three top portrait painters in a golden age for British art - 'up there with Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough'.

He was not academically trained and his drawings had a great freedom of expression.

Mr Le Brun added that he was glad to be recognising Romney 250 years after the foundation of the Royal Academy which Romney was never invited to join.