A BARRY artist has painted portraits of Elvis Presley impersonators ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Memphis singer's death.

Dan Llywelyn-Hall has painted some of the most celebrated Elvis Presley tribute artists, including Dean Mack from Newport, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Memphis singer's death on Wednesday.

Barry painter Dan Llywelyn Hall, whose expressionist-style painting of the Queen marking the 60th anniversary of the Coronation generated strong views among many in 2013, said the tribute acts provided a rich subject for portraits.

Llywelyn-Hall added that the challenge was in "trying to decipher the individual characters that sit beneath these costumes".

The 15 portraits of performers from as far afield as Mexico and Lithuania will be exhibited at what is considered to be the world's biggest Elvis festival in Porthcawl next month.

The festival, which attracts up to 35,000 fans and generates millions for the local economy, is in its 14th year and will play host to 150 tribute acts from September 22 to 24.

Llywelyn-Hall met his subjects in April during the Welsh event's sister festival, the Benidorm Elvis Fiesta, sketching them backstage in between performances.

He said: "I suddenly realised that all of these guys have an absolutely unique stance on Elvis and over the course of their careers they have sort of carved out these different causes.

"They all have different approaches; some of them work in rehabilitation centres, they go around homes for the elderly and perform and they see that these people completely spring to life.

"So there is a sub-culture which has gone on surrounding Elvis which has now grown into something else, which I found the most fascinating thing."

Llywelyn-Hall added: "You have got this pop icon, 40 years on from his death, you have got all these hundreds of people who impersonate him and this little community which exists.

"They all know each other, they all hang out with each other and on top of that you have this thing where they all believe that Elvis can be a force for good in the community."

The auction will start on Wednesday and run to September 25 with information available from www.danlhall.com