Prince Charles has spoken of the Royal Family's affection for Norfolk artist Edward Seago and the 'wonderful moment' each year when the painter would present the Queen Mother with a gift of one of his works of art.

Eastern Daily Press: Boats on the Hard, Blakeney by Edward Seago. Image courtesy of Portland Gallery.Boats on the Hard, Blakeney by Edward Seago. Image courtesy of Portland Gallery. (Image: SUPPLIED)

Seago was a regular guest to Sandringham, and in the foreword to a new book - Edward Seago by James Russell - Prince Charles fondly recalls a tradition of the painter's visits.

'My Grandmother was particularly fond of Ted [Edward Seago] and every year he would be invited, with other old friends, to stay at Sandringham during the week of the annual flower show at the end of July,' he writes.

'There was always a wonderful moment, I remember, when Ted would give my Grandmother his annual present of a painting – sometimes one of the great big oils which, again, used to form such a special part of the unique atmosphere which pervaded my Grandmother's homes.

'I am so glad that this book has been produced and that it will help to keep alive the memory, and genius, of someone whose personality and talent will always remain as a treasured part of my formative years and whose paintings mean so much to his many devoted admirers.'

Prince Charles, who was taught to paint by Seago, also reveals: 'I remember him (Seago) telling me that he used to paint his Norfolk pictures in Sardinia and his Sardinian, or Venetian, ones in Norfolk.'

In 1953 Seago was appointed an official Coronation artist and accompanied the Duke of Edinburgh on a world tour in 1956-7.

In his foreword to an earlier book – Edward Seago: The Landscape Art - Prince Philip said of Seago: 'He had a knack of capturing a scene with a speed and dexterity that rivalled that of a conjuror.'

Seago lived at The Dutch House, in Ludham, and was born at 13 Christchurch Road, Norwich, on March 31, 1910. This year marks the 40th anniversary of his death, on January 19 1974.

Since his death the value of his work has soared. The current world record for a Seago painting is £318,850, the sum paid at Christie's, in London, on May 21 2004 for his oil painting Derby Day.

• Edward Seago by James Russell is published by Lund Humphries and costs £40.

• Do you have an arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk