I haven't paid much attention to British portriat painting, but I have noticed that portrait sculpture is extremely popular over there. Some of the best portrait sculptors I know are british and were taught in the traditional ways - some are current or past employees of Madam Toussaud's in England.
Anyway, here are a few British sites full of some fantastic portrait sculpture if you care to browse...
http://www.portrait-sculpture.org/
http://www.rbs.org.uk/pages/gallerie.../moreinfo.html
http://www.commissionaportrait.com/q...word=sculpture