Sarah was given a modelling session by her husband for a significant birthday.  Here's what she said about the experience:

We’ve owned an original nude painted by Rob for a few years. I read the testimonials of other models and I thought it would be an empowering experience to do it myself but I would never have the guts to do it.

Knowing me better than I know myself, my husband bought me a sitting for my 45^th birthday present.

I felt apprehensive. But Rob and I chatted quite a bit before the day itself and from the offer of a croissant, I knew we would get along! When I arrived I met Lisa, Rob’s lovely wife, and she explained how quickly I would relax. There’s no denying there’s something odd about taking your clothes off in a relative stranger’s house, but it quickly became nothing at all. The set-up is perfect, the room beautiful, and I felt every detail had been thought of to make sitters feel as comfortable as possible.

During the sitting, I felt like a bona fide goddess. Rob made me feel beautiful and interesting¹, we chatted away listening to an excellent playlist and I forgot to feel self-conscious. I was warned by Rob that some poses can be harder to hold than others, and was happy to be guided as well as make my own suggestions. I wanted to include a book in some poses as they are such a huge part of my life, and Rob helped me to incorporate that without it feeling gimmicky or weird. I felt like Rob really ‘saw’ me – the paintings very much reflect my personality and the four hours flew by.

After the sitting, I felt completely euphoric. Rob had described the experience as being like a parachute jump – terrifying before but exhilarating after – and that’s exactly how I felt.

I am immensely proud of what we achieved together (although my contribution is far less than Rob’s!²) and I am delighted I took the plunge and did something I was scared of. It worked out better than I could ever have imagined and I will carry that head-held-high feeling forwards. We had another five of the paintings framed in the end (they are so wonderful my mum even wanted a couple) and I know I will get huge pleasure out of seeing them and my magnificent bottom³ on our walls.

Notes from Rob:

1—She is.

2—No, it isn’t.

3—It is.

If you would like to book a modelling session (or just ask more questions) have a look in the webshop HERE.

Yvonne claims to be retired after two full-on careers but, with her commitments to a number of hobbies, charities and fitness, she is busier than ever. She is a mother with a life-time partner and has just celebrated a significant birthday.  Here is what she says:

All About Me Day!

For many years, my husband and I have wanted a life drawing of me and decided this was the year.  After research on his website, we agreed Rob’s style of art was very much to our liking.  As part of a fabulous birthday gift, my husband bought me the session.

Leading up to the day, Rob was in dialogue with me, asking what I liked, my hobbies etc.  This was reassuring.  It all felt personal and tailored to me.

As the day approached, I began to think, shall I do this?  Am I to old?  But, with Rob’s assurances, I felt, ‘Yep, this is your last chance, go for it’.

My husband accompanied me at my request, which Rob was happy with.  On arrival, we were greeted by Rob and his lovely wife.  Their friendly manner and hospitality straight away put me at ease and I knew I was going to have a fab day.  Any last-minute doubts had gone.

After chatting through my ideas, the poses we might like and how it worked, we were ready to go.

 ‘Just be you (whatever)’, is one of my favourite sayings.  I knew that was exactly what I was going to be.  ME.  It was hard to keep the smile from my face throughout the four hours as the pictures emerged.  They were amazing.

When the session finished, I was literally overwhelmed.  Genuinely to the point of tears.  I wanted to pinch myself, was that really me?!!!!

On the day, I said to Rob, ‘Four hours ago you had blank paper, in that time you created magic’.  I stand by that.  I genuinely FELT magic.  I can’t wait to have my selections on my wall (we chose six), where I can look at them every day and smile and know, ‘THIS IS ME’.

Would I do it again?  Yes, in a heartbeat!

I definitely recommend Rob and this experience.  Do not hesitate!  With his reassurance and professionalism, you too could smile and ‘Just be You!

Yvonne—November 2025

If you would like to book a modelling session (or just ask more questions) have a look in the webshop HERE.

Babs is a working woman with children that have left home.  After a battle with cancer and extensive reconstructive surgery, she has felt the need to embrace life.  Her husband suggested she pose for me as a way to regain her confidence.  Here is what she says:

I probably would have been fine on my own but my husband wanted to come, partly to be supportive but he was also keen to see how it worked and he had agreed with Rob that he could grab some ‘behind the scenes’ pictures.

From the moment Rob picked us up at the station I felt very comfortable in his company.  Although I was really nervous, I felt safe and looked forward to doing something I had never done before.

Rob explained clearly how we would work and the first poses were nice and simple.  I found it really exciting when he showed me the first painting, which was very quick.  I thought, wow, that’s what he sees?  I’m quite self-critical.  When I look in the mirror I focus on the lumps or bumps or evidence of surgery.  Rob saw me in a totally different way.  It made me see myself differently.  From then on, I became excited after each pose to see what he produced.  And the pictures just got better and better.  My husband (who kept well out of the way) said it was fascinating watching Rob work and how the paintings quickly took shape on the page.

Throughout, Rob chatted and put me at ease.  We had a lot of fun and laughs.  He was genuinely interested in my well-being.  It all felt very natural and calm. Peaceful actually.  I couldn’t believe how quickly the four hours went and how many paintings we produced.

My husband and I were both thrilled with the results.  We asked for few of them to be mounted up and framed.  We have a couple in our bedroom and my husband has even persuaded me to put one up in the lounge!  If you know, I guess it is obviously me, but if you don’t, it is just a lovely picture.  Anyway, if people do realise it is me, I’m proud to admit it.  After what I’ve been through, why shouldn’t I feel good about myself?

Would I repeat the experience?  Yes, indeed!  It was incredible.

You can see some time lapse videos of the creation of a few of Bab's poses HERE.

If you would like to book a modelling session (or just ask more questions) have a look in the webshop HERE.

Alison is a head chef and mother of three. Her husband bought her the modelling session after seeing my book. She had never done anything like this before.

When I decided to sit for Rob I had no idea what to expect. I knew the type of poses he does from his website and book but I wasn’t sure I would have the nerve to let anyone draw me like that!

The morning of the sitting, I confess, I was very nervous about it. However, from the moment I got to Rob’s house, I was made very welcome and I began to relax. His wife was happy to stay until I felt comfortable and every effort was made to let me know I was safe.

Taking your clothes off in front of someone you’ve just met is a strange experience but it didn’t take me long to realise I was really enjoying myself. We had lively conversation, listened to Rob's very eclectic playlist and the four hours just flew by.

The drawings blew me away each time he put another one down in front of me. Looking at myself as someone else sees me was empowering. It was also a surprisingly moving experience!  When my husband drove me home (a long drive) I just felt amazing. Like I was floating.

I definitely feel different about myself. I’ve always been self-conscious about my body but, looking at the paintings, I feel so much more positive and confident.

Thank you Rob, it was a wonderful day!

You can see a couple of time lapse videos of Alison's artwork being created HERE.

If you would like to book a modelling session (or just ask more questions) have a look in the webshop HERE.

Giorgia is a singer and lives in Liverpool.  Her best friend, Abbie, persuaded her to pose for me. They both posed on the same day.  (See the Couples section and Abbie here)

I had the privilege of working with Rob MacGillivray in a life modelling session, a last-minute opportunity that I’m incredibly grateful I didn’t miss. If I'd known about it further in advance, I probably would have overthought it and backed out. But this turned into a truly beautiful experience, one that allowed me to see my body in a whole new light, especially as a plus size woman.
Before the session, Rob took the time to explain exactly how the day would unfold. Hearing this in advance really put me at ease; knowing what to expect made the whole thing feel much less intimidating. His calm and professional approach reassured me that I was in good hands, and I felt comfortable and welcome as soon as I arrived.

One of the best parts was that I got to share this experience with my best friend, Abbie. Doing this together made it even more special, and I know it’s something we’ll both remember forever. We laughed, we encouraged each other, and having her there added to the empowerment I felt.
When we started, I thought I’d be using the fabric sheets Rob had available for cover—I did at first. But as the session went on, something in me shifted. Rob’s respectful guidance and his knack for making me feel powerful led me to let go of the covers, and I began to feel a real sense of confidence and freedom.

Afterward, I felt a renewed sense of empowerment that I hadn’t felt in ages, like I could take on anything. I hadn’t planned to share the artwork with anyone, but Rob captured something so beautiful that I couldn’t resist. I’ve proudly shown it to friends and family, amazed by what we achieved together.
To anyone considering an experience like this, don’t hesitate. It could truly change your perspective and boost your confidence in ways you wouldn’t expect. Thank you, Rob, for hosting us in your lovely home, for your warmth, and for creating such a memorable experience.

Philippa is an executive assistant in her forties and lives in London. The session was a great success (just look at all the pictures we did.  And you can see a time lapse of me painting one of them HERE). She eventually decided on two framed portraits for her home.

'I had been searching for a female life drawing for my house for some time. When I saw Rob's work at a local gallery I immediately loved his style. Then, when I realised he took commissions, it just seemed the perfect decision to have a work painted of me.

While it can be daunting to strip off in front of a stranger, Rob made the experience feel so comfortable by clearly explaining the whole sitting process in advance. So, despite having never done anything like this before, it never once felt "weird", which was my biggest concern beforehand! Instead the session was a truly fun and body positive experience.

What I did not expect were the emotions I felt at the end of the sitting when we reviewed all the paintings. Seeing myself through the eyes of an artist, and how Rob picked up on a range of aspects of my personality and saw beauty in ways I had not imagined, was an eye opening and liberating experience and one I highly recommend.

You can see a time lapse video of one of Philippa's paintings being created HERE.

Abbie lives in Liverpool.  She contacted me through Instagram and arranged to come down to London with her friend.  As it turned out, they both posed on the same day.  (See the Couples section and Giorgia here)

I had the absolute pleasure of modelling for Rob, and it was truly an incredible experience.

From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming, allowing me to feel at ease. Rob’s approach was both professional and supportive, which made the session feel empowering. He encouraged me to express myself and embrace my body, creating a positive space that fostered confidence and creativity. I left the session feeling not only inspired but also uplifted.

Rob's work truly astonished me.  I am in awe.  I'm not kidding when I say the session was one of the most powerful experiences I have had.

I highly recommend working with Rob to anyone looking to explore their artistic side.

Nikki designs and makes custom clothing for women who don't fit standard sizes.  Because of this, she has a keen interest in the portrayal of women of all ages and sizes as both beautiful and powerful.  This partly motivated her desire to pose.

I had never done anything like this before, but when I suggested it to my husband, he was happy for me to give it a go.  I don't think he ever expected me to go through with it!

I was nervous about how it would be.  I'm not a young, slender 'typical' model.  But I had seen Rob's work and the way he draws men and women of all shapes and sizes to reveal their inner strength and character is inspiring.

I was not disappointed. The pictures that came out of the session were superb.  We have two framed at home now.

I loved working with Rob.  He made me feel totally at ease and everything was fun.  I would definitely suggest any woman of any age or shape tries this.  I've felt even more confident in who I am after I did this.

Christine is a classically trained singer.  The session was commissioned by her husband.

After they viewed the results, they found it hard to pick only one so they now have three artworks framed on show in their home.

Here is what she said about the day;

My session with Rob was magical — a really special experience.

He was delightful to work with and made me feel very comfortable and confident

He is wonderfully talented as an artist and I am so happy with the artwork he created - something unique to treasure.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone.

Toph works for his local council.  He was proud of getting fit and decided this was something he had always wanted to try.  His wife was delighted with the results.  Though it might be a few years before they admit to the children who the man in the picture is!  Look HERE for a video of me painting Toph.

Before we went into this crazy idea (for me), Rob was really good at telling me what would be involved.  And suggesting things like bringing the shirt, which worked really well.

It was four hours but the time went very quickly indeed.  And I enjoyed it from start to finish.  Rob draws very quickly, I was surprised at how short the poses were.

He was always checking I was okay with what we were doing and we discussed ideas as we went along.

I'm absolutely thrilled with the results, the pictures look great and it is a wonderful experience to be part of creating art.

I really want to do it again!

Debora is an NHS nurse and works long hours helping others. She never thought she might pose for an artist, but was recommended to try by a friend and decided to give it a go.

It was an amazing experience. Rob encouraged me to be myself... the drawings that came out of the session really felt like ME.

I was surprised how easy it was. Very calm and natural.  And fun!  We shared a vision of portraying me as independant and strong.  Many of the best poses came directly from trying to communicate that.

I finished the session feeling really proud of what we had achieved and absolutely delighted with the results.

Sometimes I am not comfortable with my body... I often wear loose clothes to cover my shape.  Since doing this, I am much more confident about who I am and how I look... I am at home in my body a lot more.

Elise is an incredible woman. She had been going through a devastating health situation when she contacted me. Her wish was to stick two fingers up to that and celebrate her existence. She wanted to champion life as a positive force in the face of adversity. And she really is a force to be reckoned with herself. The same week she posed for me Elise was attending meetings at parliament for an ongoing (and successful) lobbying campaign on this subject.

Our modelling session was fun, fantastic and furious. And very productive. We were both very proud of what we achieved. I’ve never had a client order eleven pieces from one session but she just fell in love with so many of them. In her career, Elise has devoted herself to book publishing and reading is her passion. One of our favourite pieces was a pose with her holding a book. We titled it, ‘Heaven Can Wait.’

Kelley is an actress and TV stunt woman.  She is also trained in the use of medieval weapons and owns her own long sword.  (She's not as scary as that makes her sound.) Look HERE for a video of me drawing her.

Ahead of the session, Rob was great at chatting through what I wanted to do.  On the day, he made me feel really comfortable.  ...It just felt easy and natural.

Time flew by.  It was surprising how quick the poses were... By the time we finished the session we had plenty to choose from.  With lots of different styles.

I wanted to recreate a classic painting with a mirror.  Rob absolutely nailed it and that is the picture I have framed on the wall at home.

I also interested in something special for my partner as a surprise ...I brought along lingerie to model. My partner was absolutely thrilled with the result and was so impressed that I did this.

It was a brilliant experience, I'd recommend it to anyone.  Actually, I can't wait to do it again.

You can see a time lapse video of one of Kelly's paintings being made HERE.

Jools has a grown up daughter who modelled for me.  She was going through a difficult menopause and wanted to do something that reinstated her feminity.

When I saw the pictures of my daughter and heard how much she enjoyed it, I really wanted to give this a go.  It wasn't something I expected to do at my age... it was a brilliant experience.  I wish I had done it earlier!

I had a few ideas and Rob was great at talking about how to make them work and adding other thoughts. We did loads of different things.  He works very fast.

There was some lingerie I wanted to try for some pictures but mostly we just did natural simple poses.  It is wonderful how different aspects of me come across in the pictures.

I showed the paintings to friends and they didn't realise it was me to start with.  They were amazed when they realised who it was.

I have my favourite one hanging over my bed at home now.

Fran is a teacher in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA).  Her friend had already posed for me and suggested she should try too.  I love the feminine side of women, but I am also keen to show how strong they can be.  Fran revealed both qualities in abundance.

It took me a while to get the courage, but I am really glad I did.  I loved it.

Rob was able to show different aspects of who I am.  He was great at getting me to relax and be myself.  Some of the poses were tough, because they are genuine fencing positions, but it was worth it.  They are uniquely me.

It was fascinating seeing myself through someone else's eyes.  Rob brought out things about me in the pictures I don't think about.

I felt good about myself afterwards.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone lacking body confidence.  (Which is most of us, right?) It changes the way you view yourself.  You realise how the details you focus on in the mirror are not what others see at all.

Sally works as a technician for a large firm on the South Coast.

Due to work, I couldn't travel up to London for my session with Rob, but he very generously came down to me on a Sunday morning.  This was great because I felt very relaxed and natural posing on my own bed.

Rob instantly put me at ease and made it clear that if I was physically uncomfortable (I have some health issues) we would move on to another pose.  He was always checking I was happy with not just the pose, but the finished pieces as we went along.

I was blown away by how quick Rob is.  Few of the poses seemed to last more than ten minutes and the time flew by.  And we had a lot of laughs too.  It was very relaxed.  He even put up with me requesting a rather saucy pose for my bf at the end.

At the end of the session, looking at all the work we achieved, I was so proud of what we had done.  I was delighted with the way Rob represented me and felt great about my body.  Everyone should do this!

Emmie is a health worker who helps isolated people.  Her boyfriend put her up to doing this because he thought she would love it.

My boyfriend suggested I do this... I'm not that confident in myself and I wasn't sure.  But I saw the other pictures Rob had done and thought I would try it... I've never posed for an artist before.

I absolutely loved it from beginning to end.  It was just so much fun... Rob helped suggest poses that were dynamic but comfortable to hold.  I felt so relaxed during one pose I even fell asleep.

We produced a lovely collection of pictures.  In fact, Rob sold one in an exhibition.  Apparently, I'm hanging on someone's wall in South Africa right now. Which is a weird and wonderful thought.

On the way home, I was so excited and pleased with myself... I couldn't stop talking about it for days.  Of course, my boyfriend loved the pictures!  I'd definitely do it again.

Stéphane is a high achieving creative professional.

I have always hated my photo being taken but,  with Rob's way of working, I knew no one would ever realise who was in the pictures unless I told them, so it could remain anonymous... I just thought, 'why not?'

I turned proudly sixty at about the same time and this felt a liberating way to celebrate that.  It was exactly that!  A totally relaxed and fun experience.

Rob put one of my pictures in an exhibition and it was a thrill to see myself up on the wall.  I was there when someone started talking about how they loved my picture.  They had no idea it I was standing right next to them!

I'd recommend anyone to take the leap and have a portrait done - it's really fun and life affirming.

Katie was pregnant when she came into the gallery and wondered if I could draw her.  We waited until she was properly showing before we did the session. It was a delight help create a record of this incredible thing a woman's body can do.

I did a some photos for my previous pregnancy but I wanted something different this time... Rob has a unique style that I love.

Given my condition, I was a bit worried about long poses, but most of them were only a few minutes... he's really quick. Even the standing ones were surprisingly easy.

Rob always checked I was okay and we talked about the results as we went along... we produced a whole pile of lovely drawings.

I was delighted with the results! I had two of the pictures framed.  They are on the wall in our upstairs landing.  I love the comments when people see who it is in the pictures. It's a great souvenier of a very special time and something to show my son when he grows up!

Julie is a three-times grandmother and a public service worker.  She wanted to do something special to mark her sixtieth birthday.

My husband thought I was crazy to do this... But I just loved the idea of doing something a bit mad.  And he soon changed his mind when he saw the results.

It was pure fun from start to finish.  Rob encouraged me to try natural poses, like I was sunbathing. In fact, the sun was shining through the windows and that's exactly what I was doing.

I wish I had done something like this when I was younger, but I would probably have been too uptight.  Now I'm older, I don't care what anyone thinks any more.  I just want to be me.  If people aren't comfortable with that, it is their problem.

I enjoy showing the pictures to unsuspecting friends... then revealing who is the model in the picture.  One of hubby's workmates almost had heart failure when he realised!

Jo is by no means a typical model. She had never thought of posing until she came into the gallery.  The gallery is on the ground floor but has a tricky step which isn't great for wheelchair access, so it was a big deal she came in at all.

After she decided she wanted to pose (with her husband's full support), we then had to work around Covid regulations and her various impromptu trips to hospital. Jo has battled her illness for all her adult life and she said posing was another way of declaring she wouldn't let it stop her being herself.

It was an absolute joy to work with her and we are both so proud that, not only does she have a couple of her pics up at home, but I sold another pic from the gallery and she is actually on the wall in someone else's home who has never met her.

Lucy is also an artist.

‘I have drawn at life classes and wanted to experience what it is like from the other side. I turned sixty recently and came out of a long relationship with someone that had knocked my confidence. I’m not tall or slender and, like many, I’ve had issues about my body. Doing something like this felt a bit crazy, but decided it could be empowering as well. 

Rob and I had only met once before at an exhibition, but I also knew of his art through Instagram and was aware that he often worked with first time models. And I love his pictures!

I was okay until the actual morning when I started to feel some nerves. Rob arranged to come to my home, which made it easier.  When we started, I was surprised how quickly I relaxed right away. Rob was so good at making me feel at ease.

Conversation was interesting and funny. There was no pressure to do any pose that I felt unconfident with. In fact, as the session went on, I was suggesting poses, which Rob was delighted with. Rob is very quick at sketching, so the poses were short and we managed about fifteen set ups during the time. In fact, I found the whole experience calm and still. There is something quite Zen about it.

The hours flew by and at the end I found myself feeling very satisfied. Proud of myself and proud of the lovely artwork that we had created together. The experience made me feel positive and confident about my body and more aware, really, of who I am.

I can’t recommend it enough. I would certainly like to model for Rob again.  It was a fabulous afternoon, relaxing, very informative and fun!’

Cleo is a single working Mother. She had been following me on Instagram for many years.

I wanted to mark my half century and this seemed like a perfect and rather crazy way to do it. The way Rob represents women really appeals to me. The pictures are a celebration of feminity and that’s what I wanted.

However, I was very nervous about doing this. It is so far beyond my comfort zone — I’ve never posed naked or dressed for anyone in my life.

Rob put me totally at ease. He explained the process very clearly before we met. While I was there, it was clear my comfort was his priority. I had no idea how many poses we would get through or how quickly the time would fly by.

The whole day was incredibly liberating and such a positive experience. And a whole lot of fun!

I was delighted with the results. I’m so proud of the beautiful work we made together. (Rob has even included one of them in his book which I am thrilled about.) He had a couple of my pictures on show during his annual exhibition and being the subject of a work of art on a gallery wall was definitely something to brag about.

I can’t recommend the experience, and Rob, enough. My advice to ANYONE is just do it. You will feel totally different about yourself (in the best way) afterwards!

If you would like to book a modelling session (or just ask more questions) have a look in the webshop HERE.