In the catalogue for one his exhibitions Hannaford wrote: ‘I have always loved drawing. Over the years this activity has literally opened the World to me: for, in representing something carefully, my interest in the subject inevitably extends.’
Following in the footsteps of Sir Ivor Hele, Robert Hannaford is today one of Australia's foremost portrait painters. In 1972 Hannaford painted Sir Donald Bradman’s portrait for display in the Long Room of Lord’s. In 1987 he painted the portrait of retiring Headmaster Geoffrey Bean, and in 1999 the portrait of Dr Webber, both of which hang in the School. Though unsuccessful in the Archibald Prize, Hannaford has won the People’s Choice competition, which is run at the same time.
Portraiture does not form all of Robert Hannaford's output, and in an exhibition of his work you will find drawing, still life and landscape.