Here is another attempt at a portrait – this time of Maria Machado (from an image on the BBC website). I struggled with the eyes in this one …but I am learning. Although she was barred from the Venezuelan presidential elections in 2024 the candidate she backed won easily…until Maduro was declared the winner. Now she has been able to return to Venezuela after secretly leaving to accept the Nobel Peace prize…and quite rightly has criticised the Trump-Rodriguez oil deal and called for new elections.

Fri-30-Oct-2026