The British Open: Claire Fahey 2025

My very first Sports Portrait Painting of the Real Tennis Pro: Top Woman Champion: the Inimitable, Claire Fahey at Queen’s Racquets Club, West Kensington during The British Open.

The game of Real Tennis, precursor to Lawn Tennis which began in the France during the 12th Century is a far more complex game combining aspects of squash where the ball is hit against the wall in addition to over a net at the opponent. It was known then as, ‘Jeu De Paume’ as the ball was hit using the palm of the hand until the 16th Century when racquets were introduced. The sport also came to be known as Royal Tennis as it was played by Kings, particularly King Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace.

What I love about Real Tennis from an artistic perspective, as well as the history is the texture of the walls and the ground of each court; years, even centuries of balls pounding the surfaces. Each court has it’s own individual historical insignia hand-painted onto the walls, including the markings in bright primary colours. The oldest courts in particular are most atmospheric.