Painting & Patronage is a unique exhibition and cultural collaboration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, featuring paintings by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Al-Saud, HRH The Prince of Wales, and the British artist James Hart Dyke.

The first part of the exhibition, sponsored by BAE Systems and Shell, was held in London from 16-21 June 2000, open to the public free-of-charge . HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and HRH The Prince of Wales officially inaugurated the exhibition on 15 June in the presence of over 500 leading British and Saudi Arabian figures. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and The Prince of Wales, have known each other for many years and have much in common, especially in the wide range of their cultural interests and patronage of the arts. The exhibition is touring Sauidi Arabia in 2001.

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal is the son of His late Majesty King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz. He is Governor of Asir Province in south-western Saudi Arabia, a spectacular region that has inspired a variety of landscapes and colourful portraits of its people featured in the exhibition.

The Prince of Wales, since the mid-1980s, has painted over 450 pictures, and on display at Painting & Patronage are new landscapes of Scotland, Provence, Greece and Turkey, plus two images of mountain scenery in Asir.

Many of the paintings show the magnificent scenery of Asir Province in south-western Saudi Arabia, where HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Al-Saud is Governor, and which HRH The Prince of Wales visited in November 1999. Also on show are paintings by James Hart Dyke, who accompanied the Prince of Wales on this visit.

In a quote taken from the exhibition catalogue, The Prince of Wales comments on his two views of Asir Province: "I have tried in my paintings of the area to capture something of the grandeur of the scenery, the peaceful atmosphere and the effect of sunlight on the serried ranks of mountains."

The exhibition has been designed by the British designer Charles Marsden-Smedley. The centrepiece is a large Arab tent in which Prince Khalid Al-Faisal's paintings will be shown. The design of the tent amidst the classical and baroque splendour of The Banqueting House – one of the greatest architectural masterpieces in Europe – gives visitors an immediate impression of a fusion of cultures.

Funds raised from the London exhibition went towards a Summer Programme for young artists at The Prince's Foundation in London's Shoreditch. In its inaugural year, this included workshops for students of the King Fahad Academy and other London-based schools.

The London exhibition was open to the public free of charge from 16-21 June 2000. It was accompanied by a 136-page fully illustrated colour exhibition catalogue, which includes forewords by both Princes, available in hardback at £35.00 and softback at £20.00. The exhibition will open in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 17 February 2001 at Riyadh.

To mark this special occasion, HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Al-Saud and HRH The Prince of Wales have issued a set of two lithographs in a limited edition of 100. Each print has been signed by the artist, mounted, framed and specially boxed, and includes a certificate of authenticity. They will be on sale during the exhibition. All proceeds from the sale of catalogues and limited edition lithographs will benefit the King Faisal Foundation and The Prince's Foundation. A selection of paintings by James Hart Dyke included in the exhibition will also be for sale, with 30% of proceeds going to The King Faisal Foundation.

The exhibition has been organised by public relations consultants Eligo International and art consultants Sheeran Lock on behalf of The King Faisal Foundation.