A new portrait of Baroness Arlene Foster now hangs in Queen's University Belfast's Great Hall.

The former first minister's painting will form part of the university's portrait collection, which aims to redress the imbalance in the representation of influential women connected to the University.

The honour recognises Baroness Foster's influential political career, including her roles as the first female leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Northern Ireland's first female first minister.

Baroness Foster said: "It is an immense honour to be recognised in this way by Queen's University… a place that shaped my passion for politics and my belief in the importance of strong leadership.

The honour recognises Baroness Foster's influential political career (Image: Queen’s University Belfast ) "As the first female leader of the DUP and the first female first minister of Northern Ireland, I've always been conscious of the responsibility to lead by example.

"Representation matters, and when women see themselves reflected in positions of influence, it sends a powerful message that they too can break barriers, challenge conventions, and achieve great things."

The painting was created by local artist Kathryn Warden, who was commissioned to capture Baroness Foster's political achievements and her connection to Queen's University.

The university's president and vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, said: “When Queen’s opened its doors in 1845, women were largely absent from campus life, and our walls heavily adorned with the portraits of men.

"For many years, the only portrait of a woman to hang in the Great Hall was that of Queen Victoria.

"The Queen's Gender Initiative has taken significant steps to redress this imbalance, actively commissioning portraits of influential women associated with the university.

"We've achieved immense progress on the journey towards gender equality over the years, having recently been awarded Gold University status by the prestigious Athena Swan charter."