A TOP Cumbrian business celebrated its 150th anniversary in style with a major event in Carlisle.

Around 200 people joined representatives of Armstrong Watson, the leading independent financial and business advisory company in the north of England and Scotland, for an evening of celebration at The Halston.

The focus of the event was the unveiling of 10 portraits of family business leaders across the region by award-winning artist Helen Perkins.

The portraits have been featured in a monthly family business section, in association with Armstrong Watson, in CN Group’s in-Cumbria business magazine.

Last night was the first time the finished portraits had been unveiled in public at the end of a major 12-month collaboration.

Helen joined Armstrong Watson managing partner Paul Dickson on stage to reveal some of the stories behind each sitter and their family business.

Two of the Cumbrian portrait models - Mike Lee of Palace Cycles of Carlisle and Diana Matthews chairman of Rayrigg Estates in Windermere - joined respective partners of Armstrong Watson Grant Smith and Richard Rankin on stage, to talk about the portrait project and how Armstrong Watson had helped their businesses in a variety of ways over many years.

Mr Dickson said: “We have fantastic people working in our business. And we work with fantastic businesses.

“The portraits have been a great way to tell some of the stories of our clients. Each one tells a different story.

“We are delighted to be celebrating 150 years in business. Not many businesses can do that. And we look forward to the future and continuing to look after our clients for the next 150 years.”

Diana Matthews said she was struck by the importance of Armstrong Watson’s mantra to business success.

“Armstrong Watson say ‘we are with you’ and they really are. And they say ‘we are a firm in which friendship and trust are equal to profit and growth’ and that is so true.”

Mike Lee said he had thoroughly enjoyed the portrait painting process, praising Helen for the way she put him at ease, and thanking Armstrong Watson for the way they had supported his business through the generations for 70 years.

The Face Forward family business portrait project by Helen Perkins in association with Armstrong Watson, features in in-Cumbria every month. Find out more about the project and subscribe to an e-newsletter, click HERE and look out for a bumper section in next month’s print edition.

For more information about Helen Perkins’ portrait work go to www.helenperkins.co.uk and for more about Armstrong Watson’s 150th anniversary visit www.armstrongwatson.co.uk