Update: Picture perfect

6 June 2006

To mark his retirement after six years as Chairman of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Dominic Cadbury was presented with a portrait – painted by one of his fellow Governors.

Professor Ronald Plasterk is best known – scientifically at least – for his work on the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and as head of the Hubrecht Laboratory of Developmental Biology in Utrecht, The Netherlands. But his interests extend well beyond the laboratory walls. He writes a weekly column for the popular Dutch newspaper Volkskrant and contributes to the Dutch political television programme Buitenhof – making him, arguably, the most visible and influential scientist in The Netherlands. In The Netherlands, he wields considerable political influence. But he is equally adept wielding a paintbrush: in his spare time, he is a keen amateur artist. So it was that he offered to paint Sir Dominic's portrait – presented to the departing Chairman at a special ceremony in April 2006.

Portrait of Sir Dominic Cadbury by Professor Ronald Plasterk.