The pop-art portrait

The mock Warhol portrait has been joined by the mock Julian Opie and the mock Roy Lichtenstein – all fun things to hang over your mock Alvar Aalto Ikea furniture. The main provider is www.youareart.co.uk (from £25).

The warts-and-all version

This has been revived in the modern portrait as lacerating, mega-honest scrutiny. The patron saint is Lucian Freud; the style includes inner depths and open pores. Its main proponent, Stuart Pearson Wright, paints in an old saveloy factory in the East End, and annoyed Prince Philip by depicting him with a fly on his shoulder (from £3,000; www.thesaveloyfactory.com).

The official likeness

Full of dynasty, legacy and pomp. Once strictly oils and gilt frame, the tendency now is for painterly informality over “eyes that follow you around the room” glare. The best source is the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (www.therp.co.uk). Its top painters include Michael Noakes (from £2,000) and Daphne Todd (from £1,500).

The nude

There’s a growing tendency for nudes, usually bought by women as a surprise for men, often in midlife – perhaps as his gaze turns away. “It’s surprising, the women who ask for them, but I’ve noticed they tend to have good figures,” says Sara Stewart. The Russian artist Valery Gridnev is popular for nudes (from £5,000; www.fineartcommissions.com).

The fashion plate

Drop the meringue-haired pastel – now the lady of means wants a David Downton wispy fashion portrait (price on request; www.daviddownton.com). It suits the new mood of portraiture as fleeting, dynamic and sexy, not dumpy, frozen and glowering.

The cute kid

Children are always popular, but inject a bit of fantasy with a Narnia-style unicorn, take “reportage” action shots of cartwheels or bung a favourite photograph onto canvas. The popularity award goes to Venture portraits (from £25; www.thisisventure.co.uk ).

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