The University's seven Vice-Chancellors. (Standing, left-right): Professor Michael Farthing, Lord Fulton, Lord Briggs, Sir Leslie Fielding and Sir Gordon Conway; and (sitting, left-right): Sir Denys Wilkinson and Professor Alasdair Smith

(Left-to-right) Vice-Chancellors Lord (Asa) Briggs, Sir Denys Wilkinson, Sir Leslie Fielding, Professor Gordon Conway, Professor Alasdair Smith and, current VC, Professor Michael Farthing, with a portrait of Sussex's seven VCs

Painter Stephen Farthing RA with his portrait of Sussex's seven Vice-Chancellors, donated to the University in 2011-12, its 50th anniversary year

A portrait of the men who have led the University of Sussex in its first 50 years was unveiled yesterday (Wednesday 4 July) in the Library on campus.

The portrait of Sussex’s Vice-Chancellors past and present is a gift from renowned artist Stephen Farthing RA  – brother of the current Vice-Chancellor Michael Farthing – and will serve as a lasting legacy of the University’s 50^th anniversary celebrations, which have been taking place throughout 2011-12.

Sussex has had seven Vice-Chancellors, who are all depicted in the painting:

• Lord (John) Fulton (who held the position from 1961 to 1967)
• Lord (Asa) Briggs (1967–76)
• Sir Denys Wilkinson (1976–87)
• Sir Leslie Fielding (1987–92)
• Professor Gordon Conway (1992–98)
• Professor Alasdair Smith (1998–2007)
• Professor Michael Farthing (2007–Present)

Apart from Sussex’s first Vice-Chancellor Lord Fulton, who died in 1986, all were back on campus yesterday to join staff and students (current and former) in viewing the portrait and meeting its creator Mr Farthing.

All six living Vice-Chancellors were painted from sittings and Mr Farthing painted Lord Fulton using an existing portrait.

The canvas, which is 208 centimetres wide and 173 centimetres tall, is located at the front of the Library on the first floor*, near a number of other works of art honouring people important to Sussex over its first 50 years. These include, most recently, a 2008 portrait of former Chancellor and long-term supporter of Sussex Lord (Richard) Attenborough.

A spray-painted mural inspired by student life at Sussex was earlier this year bought from local artist Mark Lingham and is now hanging in the Fulton building. 

* _{Turn right as you enter the Library and go up the stairs towards the first floor. Halfway up, turn left to face the large windows looking out over the outside Library steps and the portrait is up some more stairs to your left-hand-side.}