[1] Since the year 2000, Whatley's Christian faith (he was born Anglican and converted to Roman Catholicism in 2011) has inspired him to paint numerous tributes to Catholic devotions.

[2] In December 2008, TIME magazine editors selected his portrait tribute of Barack Obama from 100,000 images on the photography site Flickr.com for publication.

[6] In 1999, London Transport commissioned Whatley to paint an interior - "The Grand Staircase" – which he did on location inside Buckingham Palace.

In 2012, his Diamond Jubilee portrait tribute of Queen Elizabeth II was exhibited at the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair, London.

[12] Whatley has painted the portraits of many public figures, who include actors Dame Judi Dench, Susan Hampshire OBE, Alec McCowen CBE, Sir Ian McKellen, Barbara Windsor MBE, Frances Barber, Prunella Scales CBE, Julie Walters OBE, Alison Steadman OBE, actor and singer Helen Reddy, and Siân Phillips CBE, TV presenter Sarah Greene; and barrister Michael Mansfield QC.

His exhibition Hollywood Icons to Royal Gems also opened at the Arndean Gallery in London's Cork Street; exhibiting two Royal exclusives, one of his paintings, the "Crown Jewels II", on loan from HM Tower of London & "Buckingham Palace: View From The East Front", on loan by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen.