MYLANDS AND THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: A CELEBRATION OF COLOUR, CRAFT AND CULTURE
Mylands is delighted to deepen its partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, one of the world's most revered art institutions, becoming the gallery's Preferred Paint Partner. This partnership underscores the gallery’s unwavering commitment to exceptional exhibition design and immersive visitor experiences, achieved through the transformative use of colour. It is testament to both organisations’ commitment to excellence and sustainability in their respective fields.
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift (20 February - 18 May 2025) Left and Back Wall in Blueprint™ No.50, Doors and Woodwork in Sinner No.238, Right wall in Bespoke Red
Bringing Art to Life Through Colour
For over a decade, our richly pigmented, high-performance paints have played a vital role in shaping the visual narrative of the National Portrait Gallery’s most celebrated exhibitions. We have been a long term supplier of the gallery. Recent iconic exhibitions as Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, David Hockney: Drawing from Life and Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens all feature our striking paints that have provided the perfect backdrop, enhancing the drama, emotion, and historical resonance of each display. Most recently, Mylands’ signature shades could be seen in The Face Magazine: Culture Shift, an exhibition bringing to life the extraordinary story of the magazine.
Chosen by the gallery for the quality, exceptional coverage and richly pigmented shades of its paints, the new partnership will see Mylands’ paints used for the gallery’s temporary exhibitions and selectively across the landmark building.
Mylands x The National Portrait Gallery, Walls in Indian Lake™ No.288 and Empire Grey™ No.171
Mylands x The National Portrait Gallery, Walls in Indian Lake™ No.288, Dukes House™ No.44 and Pleasure Gardens Green™ No.214
Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII's Queens
This was the first major exhibition to place its focus on the women who married the infamous Tudor king. Exploring agency, influence and cultural impact both in life and afterlife, the exhibition steps back through time - showcasing contemporary portraits, costumes and sixteenth-century portraits.
Reuniting items that would have last been seen together when in the possession of the queens themselves, this exhibition features items that have never been on display and a 16th century portrait once thought lost, against a stunning canvas of Mylands colours in regal tones.
The chosen colour palette that ruled throughout the exhibition, evoked regality and statliness that matched with the grandeur of the Tudor portraits. Shades like Indian Lake™ No.288, Dukes House™ No.44, Pleasure Gardens Green™ No.214 and Egyptian Grey™ No.154 created a depth and contrast to the space.
Discover the colours used at Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII's Wives
Paul McCartney Photographs, 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm (28 June - 1 October 2023) , featuring walls in Enamel Blue™ No.78
The Art of Exhibition Design
The National Portrait Gallery is renowned not only for its extraordinary collection but also for its masterful use of space and colour. Under the visionary leadership of Jude Simmons, Head of Design, the gallery’s exhibition spaces are meticulously curated to evoke a sense of time, place, and emotion.
“Our approach to exhibition design begins with the artworks themselves. We develop a colour scheme that enhances the portraits, ensuring they are presented in the most compelling light. We take inspiration from the artist’s palette, historical colour references, and architectural influences, crafting an environment that not only respects but elevates the art.” says Simmons.
The temporary gallery spaces are fully re-designed for each exhibition, including creating new partition walls and spaces. It showcases how colours and paint can transform a space, creating a complete different atmosphere and backdrop for each project.
“Mylands paints offer exceptional depth of colour and coverage." adds Simmons.
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm (28 June - 1 October 2023)
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm (28 June - 1 October 2023) , featuring Maritime™ No.236
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift (20 February - 18 May 2025) featuring right wall in Enamel Blue™ No.78, left wall in Sinner™ No.238, back right wall in Dukes House™ No.44, and Bespoke Red Colour on back wall.
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift (20 February - 18 May 2025) featuring back wall in Sinner™ No.238 , left wall in Enamel Blue™ No.50, and right wall in FTT-006™ Shocking Pink
THE FACE MAGAZINE: CULTURE SHIFT
For its first exhibition of the year 2025 – The Face Magazine: Culture Shift, the National Portrait Gallery developed a vibrant palette, with colours Dukes House™ No.44, Sinner™ No.238, Enamel Blue™ No.78 and FTT-006™ Shocking Pink that created a bright and stylish contrast.
The National Portrait Gallery has been a pioneer in taking a sustainable approach to exhibition design. The National Portrait Gallery has used Mylands’ Upcycled Paint collection, featuring Mylands’ Enamel Blue No. 78, a richly pigmented light and bright cerulean shade.
The Upcycled Paint collection is part of Mylands’ initiative to minimise waste by repurposing sample colours, returned orders or leftovers into a limited number of favourite colours.
All Mylands’ paints and wood polishes are made at its factory in South London, ensuring that all its products are of the highest quality. This partnership is the latest in Mylands’ longstanding relationships with cultural institutions which include Dulwich Picture Gallery, Shapero Modern, Mapperton and Tate Liverpool.
A Vision for the Future
Mylands’ partnership with the National Portrait Gallery is the latest in its long legacy with the film, TV and art industry, working closely with leading cultural institutions, including Dulwich Picture Gallery, Shapero Modern, The Decorative Fair and Tate Liverpool. By blending heritage craftsmanship with cutting-edge design, this partnership continues to redefine how colour and curation can shape the way we experience art.
Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands, comments: “This partnership is a celebration of artistry, heritage, and innovation. The National Portrait Gallery’s designers have an extraordinary talent for transforming space through colour, and we are proud to contribute to this creative vision. Together, we are not only enhancing the visitor experience but also taking significant strides toward a more sustainable future for the arts.”
A Sustainable Legacy Rooted in Craftsmanship
Our commitment to sustainability is seamlessly woven into every aspect of our heritage craft. From responsible sourcing and local production to eco-conscious innovation. As Britain’s oldest family-owned paint manufacturer, we maintain complete control of our supply chain, with all paints meticulously produced at our South London factory, ensuring traceability, quality, and reduced transportation impact.
The paint is designed with superior coverage and durability, minimising material usage without compromising on quality or finish. This efficiency is matched by our made-to-order production model, which avoids overproduction and significantly reduces excess stock and waste. We are proud to have earned Plant Mark certification, recognising our commitment to lowering environmental impact and supporting long-term net zero ambitions.
The Upcycled Collection, introduced in 2024, reimagines surplus, sample, and returned paints into a curated range of timeless hues. By reducing waste and extending the life of high-quality materials, this initiative reflects our belief that sustainability and style go hand in hand. Furthermore, our Plant-Based Multi-Surface Paint, offers an advanced, environmentally conscious alternative to conventional acrylics. Formulated with impressively high bio-carbon content, it delivers exceptional performance with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.
Our entire range holds a Minimal VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) classification of 0.1–0.29%, meeting the highest standards for indoor air quality and environmental responsibility.
And for our London-based clientele, we offer low-impact local delivery, reducing emissions and reinforcing our pledge to sustainable urban living. At Mylands, sustainability is not an add-on, it’s a tradition we’ve evolved, refined, and upheld for generations.
