Bannu Studio in Jaipur was set up by the artist Ved Pal Sharma, popularly known as Bannuji. Son of Mahipalji, who was the son of the last royal artist Mohanlalji, he hailed from a family of legends, and was trained by the best that one could get. Initially he worked on restoring old Indian miniature paintings and became a formidable authority in restoration, given his unique personal style and expertise in a variety of styles of Indian schools of paintings. A master at extracting pigments of delicate hues by grinding and mixing semi-precious stones and plant substances following the ancient recipes, he was renowned for his ability to recapture the mood, the innate lyricism, and the spirit; not merely the form of the work. It is these special techniques and art forms that he shared with numerous aspiring artists in his studio cum school. Amongst those who trained with him at the Bannu School of Indian Painting was Stuart Cary Welch. His legacy is now being carried forward by many of his students, while his son Virendra Bannu manages the studio and runs the school that continues to train art students from around the country and the world in miniature painting.