Elizabeth Meek thinks small.

As one of the country’s leading miniature painters, the Seaford-based artist uses magnifying glasses and paintbrushes as slight as a blade of grass to produce detailed portraits only slightly larger than the average smartphone.

The 60-year-old follows in a centuries-old tradition that began with the decorated manuscripts of monks in the 1200s and evolved into a major industry in the 16th century, when miniature portraits were commissioned by noble families as a means of matchmaking (Hans Holbein was sent to paint Anne of Cleves before her marriage to Henry VIII), or as keepsakes for soldiers and sailors parted from their families.

The development of photography in the 19th century led to a decline in the popularity of miniatures but in recent years there has been a revival of interest, according to Meek, who is president of the Royal Miniature Society.

The Society’s recent exhibition in London represented more than 650 contemporary miniature artists from all over the world, and Meek says there has been a resurgence of interest from collectors in search of older examples.

Her own commissions, which sell for around £2,000 per 6inx4in painting, range from wealthy clients looking to continue a family tradition, to those who admire the skill of miniature painting and have saved up for months to afford one of their own.

“There’s something very magical about being able to hold and view closely a portrait of a loved one,” explains Meek, who has painted both the Prince of Wales and Princess Michael of Kent and has won dozens of awards for her work.

“Some clients have described it as like owning a Fabergé egg.”

Meek’s first forays into miniature painting came about by chance when she saw a book about the subject in WHSmiths.

She had been winning awards for her painting since childhood but had been discouraged from pursuing art as a career and had gone instead into nursing. But it didn’t last and she returned to her first love of painting, teaching herself the tools of her trade.

She was particularly enthralled by the world of miniatures, and within a few years of “giving it a go” had started to pick up awards including Best Portrait from the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists and the Gold Bowl award from the Royal Miniaturists Society (RMS).

She has since exhibited at the Royal Academy and Royal Portrait Society among others and was given the honorary position of president of the RMS nine years ago.

Unusually for miniature painters, who tend to favour watercolours, Meek works in weeks painting portraits on to ivorine, a plastic base popular since the use of the traditional ivory was banned.

She works from photographs mainly and will spend hours perfecting her work: “The smaller a painting is, the harder it is, because there’s no room for error. I try to mix my miniature work with larger-scale work so I’m not constantly squinting!”

But even after four decades as an artist, Meek says her profession has lost none of its appeal. “The journey has always been exciting, rewarding and surprising. I still need to paint constantly.”

*Find out more about Elizabeth and her artwork at www.elizabethmeek.com