FINE ART
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
CASTLEFINEART.COM
A SENSE OF STYLE KATIE COLLINS SHARES HER TIPS AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM RICHARD ROWAN JON JONES MADE IN BIRMINGHAM
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AVAILABLE NOW
Welcome to Spring 2022’s issue of Fine Art Collector , the contents of which – I hope – will touch on a number of hot topics currently subject to discussion and debate in the dialogue of today. Forward-thinking and in tune with a disposition that unites likeminded individuals worldwide, art conversely also has the power to act as a vehicle to broach and process polemical issues. The notion of citizenship, a focus on the importance of allowing history to shape and guide progress, feelings of guardianship over our planet and the conversation efforts required to preserve it, the need for inclusivity, political and societal representation in the arts, global unease…the list is endless. No wonder so many media outlets are reporting on a pervading sense of mental fatigue felt by a wide cross-section of society. Then add this into the mix - according to a study carried out by Microsoft UK, 40% of people surveyed said they felt guilty for not carrying out the changes or commitments they promised themselves that they would after the pandemic; a new cognisance that has been titled “the productivity trap”. Upon reading this, the irony wasn’t lost on me that, for many of us, the (seemingly endless) lockdowns provoked an appreciation for a slower pace of life. It allowed us to pause, reassess our work life balance and rediscover previously forgotten simple pleasures. With a nod to this, Castle Fine Art recently joined
countless other galleries, museums, organisations and individuals across the world on 2nd April in championing Slow Art Day. Founded as an antidote to the screen-based, rapid scrolling, multi- tasking way a great many of us now view art, the movement encourages us to find our way back to viewing art in real life, consciously making the time to arrange the visit and enjoy what it affords to us. This is, however, somewhat at odds by the rising star that is NFTs. Contrary to the popularly held belief that they’ll fade into distant memory seemingly as quickly as they emerged as the next big player in the art market, NFTs have marked their territory and are here to stay. Quite what their lifecycle will look like and where they will end up [black dwarf or supernova?] is anyone’s guess, but they’ve opened up a previously unexplored dimension to the creation and trading of art that has undeniably changed the landscape of the market for artists and collectors alike. Perhaps most consistently at the forefront of our shared consciousness in recent years has been the need for greater focus on environmental issues. As more than 79% of UK consumers change their purchasing preference in order to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle, companies are being encouraged to adopt out more eco-friendly and ethical practices. I am delighted to say that Castle Fine Art has indeed evolved many
aspects of its business to provide more environmentally friendly operations. Swapping simple practices within marketing, delivery services and framing logistics has allowed us to increase our sustainability measures across the business. We have chosen to work with Acorn Press for our literature print (such as this very magazine!) as the company is proud to be ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 registered and are also FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certified, supporting the environment, and aligning with our values and pledge to be more eco- friendly. In February this year, they produced Richard Rowan’s fine art book titled An Impossible Dream, the very first to be printed carrying both the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) andWLT (World Land Trust) accreditations. More on this – and our other philanthropic pursuits – to follow in our Autumn issue. In the meantime, we invite you to pretend it’s 2nd April 2022 all over again (Slow Art Day, for anyone who skipped over the earlier paragraph!) and savour Fine Art Collector cover to cover. Hit pause on your to-do list, whatever email you haven’t answered and tune out the world around you. Art was here long before any of us, it will outlive us and its qualities enrich us. Long live art, and all it gives to us. Enjoy!
Daniela Quinlan Editor
© 2022Washington Green Fine Art Group Limited. Printed In England
Fine Art Collector is published by Washington Green Fine Art Group Limited and distributed by Castle Fine Art. Email hello@castlefineart.com Website castlefineart.com All the art featured in Fine Art Collector is available through Castle Fine Art across Great Britain. Visit our website at castlefineart.com to find your nearest gallery. The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. Prices illustrated throughout this magazine are recommended retail prices.
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Contents
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James McQueen The latest artist to join the Castle Fine Art family is already making waves among our collectors
NFTs A passing fad or a brave new world? Read our feature to help inform your view
Sir Billy Connolly
Beyond Our Walls From haute cuisine to hospitality, our art has found homes in prestigious venues across the UK
Find out why 2022 is all set to be a big year for the Big Yin
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Richard Rowan ‘An Impossible Dream’ made possible – discover Richard’s latest collection and first ever fine art book
Cover: Jon Jones
Gamechangers The second instalment in this new editorial series focuses on pioneering female photographer, Ruth Orkin
Lemon & Lime Interiors Meet our new interiors partner, and learn about the art of home staging from founder Elaine Penhaul
New Galleries Take a look at Castle Fine Art’s brand-new bespoke spaces in York and Leeds
Editor: Daniela Quinlan Deputy Editor: Charlotte Brazier Contributors: Monika Adamska, Emma Blackburn, Charlotte Brazier, Imogen Cranston, Samantha Gurdamar, Amy Harrison, Michael Perry, Daniela Quinlan, Harriette Walters-Hutton Designers: Ak Suggi, Christy Guan, George Wilson, Matt Johnson
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Retrospectrum Bob Dylan’s internationally acclaimed museum retrospective makes it debut at Castle Fine Art
A Sense of Style Digital creator Katie Collins shares her tips with us for getting inspired and building your collection of art
Jon Jones How his public art installation
Art Trends Discover art trends for stylish statement pieces or timeless classics in this handy guide
is set to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital
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In Every Issue 1. From The Editor 48. Your World, Our Art® 80. The Social Edit 120. Studio Sessions Throughout In the Gallery
Bob Barker The master of Northern Impressionism celebrates 15 years with Castle Fine Art
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and be the first to hear the latest news, events and industry updates! Plus, we’ll keep you inspired with beautiful photography of our art, shots behind the scenes with our artists and information about our exhibition schedule.
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‘Tribeca Rider’ stands out as Castle Fine Art’s exclusive first release from Richard Hambleton’s Horse and Rider series. Hailed as one of the ‘three kingpins’ of graffiti art for his Shadowmen , these marked an energetic departure for Hambleton, away from his standing figures’ menacing stasis. The sweeping strokes and splatters of tar-black give way to subtle blues in this exclusive run of seven colour silkscreens, which at once presents a glimpse into the turbulent 1980s New York scene and reflects the solitary heroism of Hambleton as an iconic contemporary artist. The image of the horse and rider resurfaces continuously throughout art history and popular culture. In Hambleton’s work, their shadowy reimagining emerges from the artist’s cynical fascination with the ‘Marlboro Man’, the lone cowboy who sold Marlboro cigarettes to the masses with his all-American coolness but was never shown to suffer the harmful consequences of smoking. ‘Tribeca Rider’ illuminates the inescapable darkness associated with our vices, despite our struggles to maintain the composure of our idols. True also for Hambleton, who himself grappled between his lifelong commitment to pursuing his craft and his isolating addiction to drugs. The result of which, a body of work which is both sinister and ecstatic. Richard Hambleton
Tribeca Rider Silkscreen Edition of 95
Image size 107cm x 117cm Framed Size 114cm x 125cm £9,950 Framed
Read more about Richard Hambleton on our blog.
Beside The Lake, Beneath The Trees (top) Hand-Embellished Box Canvas Edition of 95 Image size 122cm x 91cm Framed Size 132cm x 102cm £1,950 Framed
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ÉKSTASIS Emma - Leone Palmer
Exuding vibrancy and femininity, Emma-Leone Palmer's brand new ÉKSTASIS collection is unabashed and unapologetic, exploring our sense of self and the way we express who we really are through movement and light. Titled after the Greek word for 'ecstasy', the collection, which was born out of the boredom of lockdown, explores the
synergy of art, music and light. With rhythm pulsing through her veins, she has pushed the possibilities of oil paint to combine the canonical painting modes of the Renaissance with the hyper-neon colours of the 21st century. In February, the artist took over our gallery in St Christopher’s Place, London, for a solo exhibition of her work. A striking
display of her original artworks were a hit with our collectors, with our Art Consultant, Harriett telling us: “The feedback we’ve been getting is fantastic. We’re hearing lots of words like ‘striking’, ‘beautiful’, ‘powerful’ and ‘different’ – it’s all been really positive.”.
Aria Hand-Varnished Canvas on Board Edition of 95
Image size 64cm x 76cm Framed Size 84cm x 94cm £695 Framed
Arpeggio (opposite) Hand-Varnished Canvas on Board Edition of 95
Image size 64cm x 77cm Framed Size 84cm x 97cm £695 Framed
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Sonata (right) Original Oil on Canvas
Image size 120cm x 120cm Framed Size 129cm x 129cm £8,950 Framed
Vivace (opposite) Original Oil on Canvas
Image size 120cm x 120cm Framed Size 129cm x 129cm £8,950 Framed
Ékstasis Set of Two - Aria & Arpeggio (below) £1,250 Framed
"I am alive, and I want to paint paintings that make me feel alive."
- EMMA-LEONE PALMER
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Who is James McQueen? As elusive as a rare first edition book, James operates under a fictitious name so his art can take centre stage. An avid collector, he can often be found amongst the dusty shelves and secret backrooms of old bookshops in New York and London. Aside from his creative background in woodwork and photography, not much has been divulged about the British artist, whose work is owned by celebrities including the TV presenter Phillip Schofield. James explains: "I’ve chosen to stay behind the mask because my art has enough to say for itself. I want people to see past me and just see my art." About the Collection James' artworks echo the vintage style of classic book covers. Blowing up an object that you can hold in the palm of your hand into something that you can hang on your wall has been a lifelong fascination for the artist, who credits his grandfather for his passion for books. Viewed up close, his large-scale works have an effect not dissimilar to the giant playing cards in Lewis Carroll’s 1895 novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland . For his limited edition prints, the supercharged Pop Art colours were replicated in exquisite detail by our specialist atelier team, who captured the worn texture of James’ original paintings through the fine art silkscreen process.
INTRODUCING
James McQueen
Uniting book lovers, art collectors and ardent readers, the sell- out debut Non Fiction collection from our newest artist, James McQueen, was a huge hit with our collectors. The infamously private artist recreates the nostalgia of classic book covers through his mixed media artworks, with the subversive titles and graffiti elements giving his Pop Art-inspired paintings a contemporary aesthetic.
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“I’ve chosen to stay behind the mask because my art has enough to say for itself. I want people to see past me and just see my art.”
Inside James’ Studio
We’ll be revealing more from James McQueen later this year. Make sure you’re subscribed to our emails to be the first to know about new launches, or contact us to find out more about original art opportunities.
“When creating one of my pieces, it’s not just about painting, it’s about layering the canvas with different colours. Simply painting a book on a canvas was easy, but it was too clean-looking and didn’t tell me anything. “By removing the paint, I am recreating the feeling of old books from a vintage bookshop. The exposure of these layers represents the history and journey of the artwork, just as a used book will have its own story. “Sanding is an important part of my artistic process. I move the sander at different angles, especially near the edges, where a book would see wear and tear. All of these beautiful colours pop out like the words in the book.”
Be Careful What YouWish For Original Mixed Media on Canvas Image Size 102cm x 153cm Framed Size 114cm x 164cm Price on Application
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Nic Joly
Never shying away from facing life’s truths head on, Nic Joly recently brought us two new collections intended to provoke introspection, by challenging us to embrace our inner most thoughts and feelings, and recognise objectively how we navigate life's twists and turns. Nic’s autumn releases featured ‘Honesty’, a sincere look at one outcome of the recent pandemic and how it affected our collective mental health, stating: “People have really started to talk about their mental health; the stigma attached to mental health is finally fading. We are all fragile and now it is time to embrace that fact and talk honestly about it.”. In turn, ‘Out, Out’ encourages a more reaching view of what is yet to come. Nic explains the reaction he would like this work to promote: “Look to the next year with hope, happiness, positivity and a love of life... Smile, look to the good times and celebrate life.”. Fast forward to this spring, and we see Nic examining the meaning of love; not the love portrayed in stories, books and films but deep, true, sincere love between friends, family or partners. His lesson to us here, through ‘You Just Are’ and ‘Honest Love’, is that openness and communication are the cornerstones of growing and nurturing love, which is the most precious of all commodities.
You Just Are Handmade Studio Edition Wall Sculpture Edition of 190 Framed Size 50cm x 50cm £995 Framed
Honest Love Handmade Studio Edition Wall Sculpture Edition of 190 Framed Size 62cm x 62cm £2,250 Framed
You Just Are / Honest Love Set of Two £2,850 Framed
Honesty ( opposide right) Handmade Studio Edition Wall Sculpture Edition of 365 Framed Size 49cm x 49cm £1,250 Framed
Out Out - Red / Silver / Blue / Green / Orange / Purple or Variation (opposite left) Handmade Studio Edition Wall Sculpture Edition of 365 Framed Size 61cm x 61cm £2,500 Framed
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NFTS VERSUS 'REAL ART'
While the complexity and kitsch style of NFTs is part of their appeal, it can make them more open to judgement, with one critic describing the phenomenon as 'digital garbage' and 'the Emperor's virtual clothes'. The perceived dumbing down of art may be touted by traditionalists, but as The Art Newspaper stated in July 2021: ‘NFTs do not spell the end of IRL [in real life] art, they are simply a new chapter.’ Many NFTs incorporate elements from classical art movements, including the focus on technology seen in 20th-century Futurism in Italy, and the repeated imagery of Pop Art in New York in the1960s. Artists have created NFTs inspired by Banksy, Leonardo da Vinci and Picasso, while Will Gompertz, director of Tate Gallery, likens Beeple's work to the fantastical paintings of Hieronymus Bosch in the 15th century. Noted works are also being transformed into NFTs; in May 2021, Christie's launched Andy Warhol: Machine Made, a collection of five NFTs of digital works created in the 1980s. NFTs are central to the crypto art movement, which is being propelled by projects such as Larva Labs and the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Artists are discovering new forms of art, including digital sculptures, animations, optical illusions, visual translations of data structures and autoglyphs. The latter, which refers to imagery on the Ethereum blockchain that is generated by an algorithm, have been described as 'tantalisingly beautiful' by Sotheby's, who praised the 'blockchain-based artistic purity' that is 'generative minimalism for the NFT age.'
IMPACT ON THE ART MARKET
The origins of the crypto art market date back to 2014, when the New York-based digital artist Kevin McCoy minted his 'Quantum' artwork – a pulsating fluorescent octagon – to create the first-ever NFT alongside tech entrepreneur Anil Dash. The art world took notice, and since then, digital artists including Beeple, Pak, Hackatao and Fewocious have made their name in this fast-moving sector. During the first six months of 2021, sales of NFTs rose by more than $2.5 billion, while Pak's NFT artwork, 'Merge' sold for a record-breaking $91.8 million in December that year. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for NFTs, with art galleries and museums turning to augmented and virtual reality to adapt to a new, digital-first climate. In June 2021, Sotheby’s, one of the world’s most prestigious fine art auction houses, opened its flagship metaverse gallery – a digital replica of its headquarters on London’s New Bond Street – in the Voltaire Art District in Decentraland, a virtual reality platform that is powered by the Ethereum blockchain. Its co-head of digital art sales, Michael Bouhanna, described the platform as ‘the next frontier of digital art’. Accessible to anyone with an internet connection, NFTs are breaking down artistic barriers. Teenagers are becoming blue-chip artists (those whose art's worth is expected to increase regardless of the economy), while the BrasilNFT Artes Originárias gallery was launched as the first NFT platform aimed at indigenous artists, drawing much-needed attention to marginalised communities. Lively debate on social media platforms such as Twitter through hashtags like #NFTart and #Cryptoart is sparking further innovation.
What are NFTs and how are they changing the art world?
One of the biggest buzzwords of 2021, NFTs have been touted as a new dimension for creative expression and digital ownership, allowing artists and brands to share their work like never before. With Christie's and Sotheby's embracing the crypto art phenomenon, and record-breaking sales of up to $91.8 million, we explore the latest movement to spearhead the future of contemporary art.
of data that cannot be modified without altering all subsequent blocks. This means they are not interchangeable (fungible), and the token therefore represents ownership of the asset. Pretty much anything digital can be an NFT. In February 2021, the American comic illustrator and pixel artist Chris Torres sold 'Nyan Cat', a viral meme of a Pop Tart-bodied cat zooming through space, for around $580,000. The next month, Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey sold his first tweet – ‘ just setting up my twttr’ – for over $2.9 million. Other NFTs have included the original lines of source code for the World Wide Web, a burnt Banksy print, and the globally-shared 'Charlie Bit My Finger' YouTube video. NFTs are bought and sold on NFT marketplaces like Open Sea, Rarible and Nifty Gateway, which function as digital auction houses or sales platforms, where buyers can bid or select a 'buy now' option, and pay via cryptocurrency (a secure virtual currency).
WHAT IS AN NFT?
An NFT (non-fungible token) is a unique digital label or a certificate of authenticity than can be attached to assets (digital or physical) to give them undeniable provenance. JPEG image files, MP3 audio files or MP4 video files can all be stored on a digital ledger called a blockchain. These files are tokenised, whereby data is transformed into a random string of code. The records (blocks) contain a timestamp and details of the previous block, forming a chain
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INVESTING IN NFTS
Google searches for NFTs hit a new record in 2021, with art collectors excited by the potential return on investment. Celebrities jumping on the crypto craze include the musicians Jay-Z, Elton John, Eminem and Snoop Dogg; fashion designer Paul Smith; Hollywood actor William Shatner; Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk; and the British artist Damien Hirst. Major brands such as Gucci, Visa, Nike and Coca-Cola are also investing in NFTs. The luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has created an entire video game, Louis: The Game, in which players complete challenges to find NFTs, while Adidas has partnered with the NFT project Bored Ape Yacht Club. In a December 2021 tweet that has now been liked more than 18K times, Adidas stated: ‘It’s time to enter a world of limitless possibilities.’
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE METAVERSE?
Once the understanding forms that an NFT is not the image, rather it is the technology behind the image, it opens up a whole world of possibilities. NFTs are just one part of the rapidly expanding metaverse, a hyper-real alternative world that combines virtual and physical reality. Tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook are already on board, with the social platform rebranding itself as Meta in October 2021. Art will be at the forefront of this seismic change, as indicated by Meta's first promotional video, which reimagines the French painter Henri Rosseau's 1908 artwork, 'Fight Between a Tiger and a Buffalo'. New technology will transform the way we enjoy culture and experience everyday services. Alice, an intelligent NFT (iNFT), exists on the Ethereum blockchain and has the ability to self-learn and converse with her collectors. The Austrian postal service, Österreichische Post AG, has already adopted blockchain postal stamps, and the Berlin-based Look Labs has created a digital fragrance using the molecular wavelengths of a real perfume. Even food recipes, stand-up comedy sets and television streaming will be influenced by NFTs in the months to come. We can't wait to see what's next! Castle Fine Art is proud to be working alongide Utopian Lab to connect our loyal collectors with the art and artists they love in ways that has simply not been possible before, whilst supporting and facilitating our artists moving into the exciting world of enviormentally friendly NFTs. More on this is our next issue!
NFTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The Italian crypto art duo Hackatao use their work to express concerns about the environment, including their highest-selling artwork, 'Flood', which features a female figure submerged in water as a call to action to combat climate change. Digital artists worldwide are thinking up new ways to offset the increased greenhouse gases generated by the computing power needed to create NFTs and fuel blockchain technology. Castle Fine Art takes it’s environmental commitments seriously and, as such, has taken great care to research a cryptographic platform that is not only one of the most secure and scalable in the world but is also environmentally friendly and in partnership with Utopain Lab will be minting NFTs on the Hedera Hashgraph platform.
Sir Billy Connolly 2022 IS SET TO BE A BIG YEAR FOR THE BIG Y IN
Back on the 17 March 2012, Castle Fine Art was preparing to unveil a collection of six thought- provoking fine art pen and ink drawings from BAFTA nominated actor, comedian, musician and presenter, Sir Billy Connolly, CBE. This would be the first time that Connolly’s art had ever been published and presented to the public, since he began sketching for pleasure in 2007. Born On A Rainy Day was an instant hit.
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Fast forward a decade and we’ve witnessed a gradual transition from his original monochrome style to the vibrant, colourful compositions collectors worldwide enjoy today. The evolution of Billy's fine art collection has evolved organically and joyfully, incorporating new approaches and colourways with every collection that passes. Billy explains: ‘I was looking at the drawings and sometimes they were crying out for colour and I didn’t know why. It was a kind of question. So I put it off for ages and then started to dribble a little colour in. It ended up different from the way it started out – it had a totally different attitude to it.
I didn’t realise it would do so much to bring the characters to life. It’s ridiculous that I should think that – of course it does, colour has that effect on things. But the degree of it took me by surprise.’ There is much to celebrate this year: not only does 2022 mark the 10th anniversary since the first instalment of Born On A Rainy Day was launched, the award-winning comedian will also be celebrating his 80th birthday this November. To celebrate Billy's landmark year, we'll be sharing lots of exciting new collections over the coming months, including brand- new limited edition graphics, sculptures, and Billy's first-ever fine art book.
We look forward to updating you regularly over the coming months with these highly anticipated releases, in addition to sharing exclusive behind- the-scenes content and an announcement about the return of our private events later in the year. Join our mailing list or register your interest with your local gallery to ensure that you are the first to hear receive our news and updates.
GoZunder Fish Double Hit Flatbed Giclée Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm | Edition of 295 Image size 77cm x 57cm | Framed Size 85cm x 65cm £1,250 Framed
Purple People Eater Double Hit Flatbed Giclée Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm | Edition of 295 Image size 77cm x 57cm | Framed Size 85cm x 65cm £1,250 Framed
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Direction (right) Double Hit Flatbed Giclée Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm | Edition of 295 Image size 77cm x 57cm | Framed Size 85cm x 65cm £1,250 Framed Gironkey (left) Double Hit Flatbed Giclée Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm | Edition of 295 Image size 57cm x 77cm | Framed Size 65cm x 85cm £1,250 Framed
Face Off (opposite right) Double Hit Flatbed Giclée Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm | Edition of 295 Image size 57cm x 77cm | Framed Size 65cm x 85cm £1,250 Framed Yo-Yo Man (opposide left) Double Hit Flatbed Giclée Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm | Edition of 295 Image size 57cm x 77cm | Framed Size 65cm x 85cm £1,250 Framed
Wading Bird (above) Polished Stainless Steel with Black Granite Base | Edition of 195 Height 42cm x Width 20cm x Depth 25cm £5,950
Blue Angel (top left) Polished Stainless Steel with Black Granite Base | Edition of 195 Height 46cm x Width 23cm x Depth 33cm £5,950
Born On A Rainy Day Portfolio 2022 (6 Editions) £6,750 Framed
Blue Angel &Wading Bird Set of 2 Sculptures £10,750
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Beyond our walls With our ever-expanding portfolio of partnerships, we are proud to have collaborated with some of the most reputable restaurants and hotel groups such as Moor Hall, Park Row London and Midsummer House.
Shared brand values and an emphasis on the experiential are at the heart of these partnerships. We know that viewing art in our galleries is about much more than hanging pretty pictures on walls; it’s going that extra mile to bring the stories behind the art to life for our visitors. That’s why we take pride in only working with the very best of the best; each of our affiliates place the same worth on creating memorable moments for their guests, believing that dining in a restaurant or staying at a hotel should be a multi-sensory experience
Everything their guests see, touch, feel, drink and eat from the moment they arrive to the moment they depart is carefully considered, and this is where we come in. The art that is curated specifically for that restaurant or hotel space is designed to complement the vision that each venue has for its overall look and feel.
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Moor Hall September 2021 marked the beginning of an exciting new partnership between the award-winning restaurant Moor Hall and Castle Fine Art. After being invited to curate a bespoke display of artwork within their beautiful Grade II* listed property, our team at Castle Fine Art in Liverpool set to work. Opting for bold, contemporary pieces to offset the traditional grandeur of the building, Chef Patron Mark Birchall and his team worked collaboratively with the art consultants from our gallery to define the aesthetic most suited to Moor Hall. From striking wall sculptures by Frédéric Daty to iconic graphics by Bob Dylan and stunning abstract work by Alex Echo, the display is truly bespoke to the identity of the restaurant, which is set within a lush five-acre landscape in Aughton, West Lancashire.
Midsummer House Situated along the leafy bank of the River Cam in Cambridge, the two Michelin-starred restaurant Midsummer House is famed for its innovative cuisine, which includes suckling pig loin and guava sorbet, as part of its renowned contemporary British dining offering of the highest quality. Its chef patron, Daniel Clifford, has worked closely with the team at our Cambridge gallery to curate the stunning display of our art in the restaurant, opting to showcase artworks by Scarlett Raven, Bob Dylan, Raphael Mazzucco, Lorenzo Quinn and Domingo Zapata.
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Park Row London Richard Hambleton’s Shadowman collection made an impact within London’s hottest new venue, which was designed to transport guests to the world of Gotham City inside the world’s first-ever DC Comics inspired restaurant.
pot of some of the finest creative minds and storytellers from the world of food, film and magic.
Their company’s vision is to bring curiosity and wonderment to the dining experience in a way never seen before, building an international portfolio of immersive food concepts around iconic brands, stories and characters, in which our art now plays a part.
Park Row, which opened in August 2021, is part of the Wonderland Restaurant group; a rich melting
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Roxy Winterburn Explore your wild side with the upcoming Tsavo series from Roxy Winterburn. Named after one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya, the animal- themed collection takes inspiration from Roxy’s childhood memories of Africa and features two adorable meerkats, plus a giraffe, pangolin and warthog.
Roxy says: “I was seven years old when I first visited Tsavo National Park, and it’s honestly still my favourite trip I’ve ever been on. I have made some incredible memories in that magical place, which will be with me for a lifetime. Growing up, my favourite Disney film was The Lion King , so as a young child being in Africa and seeing many of the animals that I loved to watch in their natural habitat was enthralling.” “I remember visiting a zoo with my dad as a small child and seeing a baby giraffe tucked around itself, fast asleep. At the time I found it fascinating but questioned whether that was a comfortable way to sleep!”
Castle Fine Art will be donating a ‘Pickles’ sculpture to Fauna & Flora International, the world’s oldest international wildlife conservation
organisation, to help raise money to save pangolins from the illegal wildlife trade.
Roxy adds: “The poaching of wild animals in Africa is something that truly breaks my heart. The pangolin is the most trafficked mammal on the planet, and they are endangered. I hope that Pickles helps to raise awareness of the hardships these cute little animals face and raises some money for their cause.”
Set of 4 Sculptures £13,950
Honey (opposite top) Bronze Sculpture | Edition of 25 Sculpture Size Height 22cm x Width 18cm £3,750
Pickles (opposite bottom right) Bronze Sculpture | Edition of 25 Sculpture Size Height 22cm x Width 18cm £3,750 Aurora (opposite bottom left) Bronze Sculpture | Edition of 25 Sculpture Size Height 20cm x Width 23cm £3,750
M&M (opposite bottom centre) Bronze Sculpture | Edition of 25 Sculpture Size Height 27cm x Width 14cm each £3,950
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Gamechangers RUTH ORKIN | THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CAMERA
Just over 100 years ago, in September 2021, a baby girl was born in Boston Massachusetts. That little girl would grow up to be a pioneering female photographer, who would later pave the way for women to join her in her craft. In this second instalment of our new editorial series, we celebrate the life and career of Ruth Orkin (1921-1985).
R elaxing off set during the filming of The Misfits, 1960 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 99 Image size 51cm x 41cm £3,250
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S tudio Ball, the first time Eve ever photographed Marilyn, 1951 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 99 Image size 41cm x 41cm £7,500
C hatting on the set of The Misfits, 1960 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 99 Image size 41cm x 51cm £3,250
M arilyn and Friend - The Misfits, 1960 Silver Gelatin Print | Edition of 495
HER FIRST CAMERA
as a single woman, to life living on a kibbutz, all of which she faithfully documented with her trust camera. Suitably inspired, Ruth then travelled to Italy, spending time in Rome, Venice and Florence. It was when staying at Hotel Berchielli in Florence that Ruth met Ninalee Craig, who then called herself Jinx Allen, and the meeting gave rise to what became the most recognisable photo of her career. ‘American Girl in Italy, Florence, 1951’ captures Ninalee strolling through Piazza della Repubblica, flanked by men openly staring inquisitively and lustfully at her passing figure. The image originally formed part of a series titled Don’t Be Afraid to Travel Alone , which was later published by Cosmopolitan magazine. When interviewed by The Guardian in 2015 about being the subject of such a famous photo, Ninalee commented: ‘I wouldn’t say the picture has changed my life but I’ve had so much amusement from it over the years. And more free meals at Italian restaurants than you’ll ever know.’
the advertisements promising film-making experience. Again, she would find herself disappointed and disillusioned as this too proved futile. She was later quoted as saying: ‘That’s when I decided to become a photojournalist. There wasn’t any union to keep out women.’
Image size 31cm x 46cm Framed Size 55cm 71cm £350
At 10 years old, Ruth got her wish and was bought her first-ever camera. Costing only $0.39, it was a UniveX model, manufactured by the Universal Camera Corporation in the United States. Ruth’s first experimental foray into photography focussed on capturing that which she knew; and soon her friends and schoolteachers would find themselves the subject of her compositions. However, Ruth was acutely aware that the world held much more to see and capture with her camera so in 1939, at the age of only 17, she travelled across the United States on her bicycle – from Los Angeles to New York – to attend the World’s Fair, taking photos as she went to document the journey. This intrepid undertaking was to become a hallmark of her career, and would eventually result in the image for which she is most famous to date. More on that later.
NEW YORK
In 1943, Ruth made the move to New York, where she would initially work as a nightclub photographer and studio photographer shooting baby portraits in order to make the money she needed to pay her bills and buy her desired professional grade camera. Soon establishing a name for herself on the circuit, Ruth began to take freelance commissions from major publications, her very first assignment being for The New York Times , to shoot none other than Leonard Bernstein. Other notable musicians of the time – such as Aaron Copland and Isaac Stern - were also soon the subject of her photography, as she captured them during rehearsal for the prestigious Tanglewood festival.
between us...Marilyn was very important in my career. I think I was helpful in hers.’ Castle Fine Art is privileged to carry a selection of Eve Arnold photography within our portfolio. Available as both silver gelatins reproduced from her original negatives and limited edition giclee prints, these images provide a candid glimpse behind the scenes of the career of one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading ladies.
America, in 1959 and won the 1st Annual Manhattan Cultural Award, Photography in 1980. Her work has been the focus of solo exhibitions all across the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Russia and Italy, and continues to feature in group exhibitions to this day alongside fellow luminaries in her field, and with an equally diverse international footprint. She continues to be cited in academia, and her legacy lives on as a source of inspiration for the women who have followed her into an industry she helped to define and shape.
scene only a few years later, taking up photography in New York City in 1946. She went on to become one of the world's most revered photographers for her snapshots of Hollywood's rich and famous, making her name as Life magazine’s star photojournalist capturing public figures such as Senator Joseph McCarthy and General Eisenhower during unguarded moments. However, Eve forged her most famous bond with screen siren Marilyn Monroe, at a time when both women were relatively unknown in their chosen careers. This united them, and the two had a special affinity, as Eve described: ‘She was going places, but she hadn't arrived,’ she recalled. ‘It became a bond
NEXT STEPS
GLOBETROTTER
Ruth enrolled at LA City College in 1940 to study photojournalism, before joining MGM Studios the following year as their first ever female messenger, in the hope that it would open doors for her into the world of cinematography. Swiftly realising that opportunities were less then plentiful for women in the industry, she took the bold step of joining the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, having seen
LEGACY
By 1951, Ruth had succeeded in establishing herself as a leading name in an industry otherwise dominated by men. It was at this time that she was given an assignment by Life magazine to travel to Israel with the Israeli Philharmonic orchestra, which afforded her a plethora of new experiences. From travelling internationally
From the early days of firmly shut doors, seemingly impenetrable barriers and endless obstacles, Ruth Orkin is an example of perseverance and courage triumphing over adversity. She was voted one of the Top Ten Women Photographers in the U.S., Professional Photographers of
Contact your local gallery or visit our website to view the full collection.
EVE ARNOLD
A contemporary of Ruth Orkin’s, Eve Arnold emerged onto the
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EPISODE II Nigel Humphries
Adding to his intergalactic collection A New Hope , Nigel Humphries has continued his adventure into the Star Wars universe. With beloved characters both new and old taking centre stage in his latest release Episode II , Nigel has chosen to illustrate some of our most cherished interplanetary explorers such as Boba Fett, the Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi, further exploring the nostalgia of childhood. Showcasing new colour compositions, original layouts, different available sizes and even two presentation options - boxed canvas or framed canvas on board - Nigel’s latest series complements a range of interior styles and suits a variety of spaces. Nigel says: “I am excited to be able to launch a second print release so that I could include some of the characters that originally only played a small part but have gone on to be main characters, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi & Boba Fett.”.
Size Matters Not (below left) Boxed Canvas | Edition of 195 Image size 76cm x 76cm £595
Hand Varnished Giclée on Canvas | Edition of 495 Image size 36cm x 36cm Framed Size 53cm x 53cm £295
Boba Fett (below) Boxed Canvas | Edition of 195 Image size 76cm x 76cm £595
Hand Varnished Giclée on Canvas | Edition of 495 Image size 36cm x 36cm Framed Size 53cm x 53cm £295
Obi-Wan (opposite) Boxed Canvas | Edition of 195 Image size 76cm x 76cm £595
Hand Varnished Giclée on Canvas | Edition of 495 Image size 36cm x 36cm Framed Size 53cm x 53cm £295
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Imperial Army (above) Boxed Canvas | Edition of 195 Image size 122cm x 61cm £750
Hand Varnished Giclée on Canvas | Edition of 495 Image size 71cm x 36cm Framed Size 90cm x 53cm £375
This Is The Way (opposite) Boxed Canvas | Edition of 195 Image size 76cm x 76cm £595
Hand Varnished Giclée on Canvas | Edition of 495 Image size 36cm x 36cm Framed Size 53cm x 53cm £295
Episode II Collection of Five - Boxed Canvas £2,850
Episode II Collection of Five - Hand Varnished Giclée on Canvas £1,350
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Live-action versions of Disney’s legendary animated films have taken over Hollywood, with actress Emma Stone embodying every dalmatian’s nemesis in Cruella, and new adaptations of Pinocchio and The Little Mermaid set for release in 2022 and 2023 respectively. While these blockbusters breathe new life into best-loved characters, nothing quite compares to their original animation art – as you’ll see from our exclusive selection. “Making cartoons means very hard work at every step of the way but creating a successful cartoon character is the hardest work of all.”
- JOSEPH BARBERA, AMERICAN ANIMATOR
Cruella De Vil
Released in 1961, One Hundred and One Dalmatians quickly became a box office success, not least because of the enjoyably repulsive character of Cruella de Vil. Amongst what The New York Times called a 'frame of warm family love, human and canine', the sinister London heiress delighted and thrilled viewers in her ruthless pursuit of the dalmatians' fur, symbolising the greed and vanity that are the hallmarks of every good Disney villain. Marc Davis, the animation artist who brought Cruella to life from Dodie Smith's original 1956 novel, experimented with different hair styles and fur coats for the eccentric villainess, before settling on the fabulous aesthetic we know and love today. Using the character actress Mary Wickes as a live action reference, he captured Cruella's frenetic energy (and driving skills!) through sketchy lines and strong angles, particularly in her high cheekbones and model- thin limbs.
Art of animation Curated in collaboration with some of the world’s leading art experts, The Art of Animation takes our collectors back in time to the bustling studios of Walt Disney and Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. Showcasing original and limited edition art from the archives of our favourite films and cartoons, the touring exhibition will be on display at selected Castle Fine Art galleries nationwide in 2022.
Cruella De Vil Original Production Cel Image size 33cm x 28cm Framed Size 59cm x 54cm £2,995
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Pinocchio Based on the Italian author Carlo Collodi’s 1883 children’s novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio , the 1940 animated musical fantasy adaptation follows the escapades of a wooden puppet with the dream of becoming a real boy. The film broke new ground in effects animation, with the musical score winning Walt Disney Animation Studios two Academy Awards. In an interview with Coloradan Magazine , Willis Pyle, one of the film’s main animators, said: “The character had to act – raise its eyebrows, turn and jump and react to other characters. And the way you could do it was by looking at yourself in a mirror to see what that expression looked like.”
Captain Hook The evil Captain Hook, a bloodthirsty pirate and commandeer of The Jolly Roger, is one of the most popular love-to-hate Disney villains. As the main antagonist of Peter Pan (1953), the sinister character controls the shores of Neverland, a fictional island created by the Scottish author J.M. Barrie, where Peter Pan, the Lost Boys and Tinker Bell live. It is rumoured that Captain Hook’s appearance – which includes a hooked nose, jutting chin, long black hair, and lefthand hook – is based on both King Charles II and the character’s famed animator, Frank Thomas. The adaptation was Disney’s 14th animated feature film, and as with previous titles, a live-action version was filmed to help animators to capture the movements of the characters.
Scooby-Doo The instantly recognisable form of our favourite crime-solving pooch was created by the Japanese- American animator Iwao Takamoto. Making his first appearance in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! in 1969, Scooby-Doo (full name Scoobert) tackled ghosts, ghouls and more during his spooky adventures with the Mystery Inc. gang. When drawing Scooby-Doo, Takamoto based the character on a Great Dane. He told the Cartoon Network: “There was a lady that bred Great Danes at Hanna-Barbera. She showed me some pictures and talked about the important points of a Great Dane – like a straight back, straight legs, small chin and such. I decided to go the opposite and give him a humpback, bowed legs, big chin and such. Even his colour is wrong.” “This amazing collection of Hanna-Barbera art will never be created the same way again.”
As multiple artists were involved in the production of an animation film, model sheets were used to help maintain continuity in characters
Pinocchio Continuity Model Sheet 7 Original Production Cel Image Size 30cm x 28cm Framed size 57cm x 56cm £695
Captain Hook (above) Captain Hook Original Production Cel on Original Production Background
Image Size 32cm x 27cm Framed size 57cm x 55cm £14,995
Classic Scooby-Doo Hand-painted limited edition cel on painted background.
Image Size 27cm x 32cm Framed size 51cm x 57cm £1,495
- RUTH CLAMPETT, CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF CLAMPETT STUDIO COLLECTIONS
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GRASS ROOTS
ARIEL
The underwater kingdom of Atlantica demanded the most special effects animation since Fantasia in 1940. It is estimated that over one million bubbles were drawn, since they had to be redrawn with each new animation cel. To create authentic physical comedy – including Ariel blowing her hair out of her eyes – Disney worked with the improvisational comedy actress Sherri Lynn Stoner.
As the last Disney film to use the traditional animation method of hand-painted cels, The Little Mermaid (1989) marked the start of the ‘Disney Renaissance’, which saw the studio return to the forefront of Hollywood cinema. It was Disney’s first animated fairy tale since 1959’s Sleeping Beauty , and became almost as famous for its reggae and calypso soundtrack as the unforgettable characters of Ariel, Flounder, Ursula and Sebastian.
COMING SOON
“I don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.”
Ariel and Flounder Original Production Cel Image Size 31cm x 22cm Framed size 52cm x 44cm £2,650
- ARIEL, THE LITTLE MERMAID
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Art: making a house a home
In February 2022, Castle Fine Art announced the company’s latest partnership with national home staging company, Lemon & Lime Interiors, born from the home stager’s conviction that statement pieces of art can make a home stand out in the hot property market. Marking the occasion with a launch event at our gallery in Mailbox, Birmingham, Elaine Penhaul, founder of Lemon and Lime Interiors, told guests from the Midlands property sector: “We’re delighted to kick start this exciting and unique partnership with Castle Fine Art, which will enable us to incorporate fine art when staging our clients’ properties to enhance saleability. “Through investing in quality pieces, sellers can create a focal point at viewings that can resonate with prospective buyers at the upper end of the market - helping them to realise a home’s potential. “Staging a home using the furnishings that appeal to the target market, along with a small investment, can increase the offer value it attracts by up to 15%.”
And she added: “This new partnership with Castle Fine Art highlights our motivation to provide an outstanding staging service to estate agents, developers and vendors.” Amy Harrison, Brand Influencer & Relationship Manager at Castle Fine Art added: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with leading home staging firm Lemon and Lime Interiors, as we look to increase the visibility of our curated artwork in the property market. “We’re excited to see how Elaine and her team will integrate our pieces into their amazing property transformations.” With much more collaborative activity planned for the coming months, if interior styling and property trends are your passion, please sign up to our mailing list and subscribe to our YouTube channel to ensure you are the first to receive all news and updates about this project.
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