In this season's issue you can read an exclusive interview with one of Vogue's most influential interior designers, Anouska Lancaster, pay a visit to Alex Echo in his studio and explore magical Icelandic landscapes with Richard Rowan.
From the
Editor Welcome to the SPRING 2017 issue of Fine Art Collector. In a period where we as communities and individuals adjust to recent global events and prepare for uncertainties in the coming year, we must look to the constants around us; the keystones of life and humanity that keep us anchored in even the most turbulent of times. Art is one such refuge in which we may all find solace and stability. Picasso viewed art as a form of catharsis: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. Edgar Degas alluded to the power of escapism that art offers to those who view it: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”. Similarly, Nietzsche recognised that art empowers society with a hotline to hope beyond our immediate circumstances: “We have art in order not to die of the truth”. In this issue, we aim to play our own small part in transporting you away from the everyday into a world of colour and creativity, through our own contribution to the world of art. We proudly present our Spring 2017 collection, filled with the very best contemporary art from artists both well-established and new to theWashington Green scene. Alongside lifestyle articles and behind the scenes exclusives, we hope you will enjoy a visual walk through the collection, and find a moment’s peace within these pages. So, Collectors, we encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy the very best that SPRING 2017 has to offer!
FineArtCollector ispublishedbyWashingtonGreenFineArtGroupLimitedanddistributedbyCastleGalleries. Email art@castlegalleries.com Website castlegalleies.com Alltheartfeatured inFineArtCollector isavailablethrough CastleGalleriesacrossGreatBritain.Visitourwebsiteatcastlegalleries.comtofindyournearestgallery.The imagescontained withinthis literatureareanartistic representationofthecollection.Tobestexperienceourart,we recommendyoucontact your localgallerytoarrangeaviewing.Prices illustratedthroughoutthismagazineare recommended retailprices.
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©2017WashingtonGreenFineArtGroupLimited.Printed InEngland
Editor: Daniela Lacey Contributors: Daniela Lacey, Michael Perry, Parveen Kauser, Monika Adamska Charlotte Brazier Creative Director: Ak Suggi Designers: Matt Johnson, Christy Guan Special Thanks: Anouska Lancaster
On The Cover Artist Temper
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 live posts from all of our exciting events!
Temper The man behind the (spray) mask 44
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CONTENTS
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Anouska One of Vogue’s ‘most influential interior designers’ talks exclusively to us!
Aurora Borealis Discover one of nature’s most elusive phenomena from the comfort of your own home
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The Studio Sessions Your chance to explore Alex Echo’s stunning studio
The Social Edit a quick look at some of our social media highlights so far
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Being Human A behind the scenes exclusive on how we produced one of our most challenging photo shoots to date!
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Sonic Boom! How we celebrated the 25th anniversary of this gaming legend Your World, Our Art The art of interior design – what’s hot for Spring/Summer 2017
Northern Light Shining a spotlight on Bob Barker’s 2017 collection, a year in the making 106
In Every Issue 1. From The Editor 40 The Studio Sessions 22,58 In The Frame Throughout Gallery pages
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HEAVENLY CREATURES Hamish Blakely
COMING SOON The master of modern figurative portraiture returns in 2017 with Heavenly Creatures, a body of classic and new artworks that juxtaposes grace and fragility against the strength and power within the female form, this collection celebrates subject, form and technique in Blakely’s inimitable style of romantic realism.
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Anouska Lancaster, award-winning interior designer and veritable darling of Instagram, invited us into her home to discuss all things creative.
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Her house, in leafy Berkshire is, as you would imagine, a wonderland of style and pizazz, wrapped up in enough personality to leave you in no doubt whatsoever of who this inspiring lady is at her core. Her house is warm, welcoming and full of joy. Far from being a temple to her vision, it is simply a beautifully crafted outward portrayal of everything she holds dear. We soon felt right at home, ensconced in her beautiful open plan kitchen, chatting over coffee, with Anouska’s lovable spaniel Otto popping in to receive his share of attention…
HOW DID YOU START AND HOW HAVE YOU CULTIVATED YOUR BRAND? I trained to be an artist, which was really what I always wanted to do since childhood. It was my first passion, but I reached a stage where I felt art couldn’t support me financially, so I did something completely different. I joined Virgin Atlantic, where I stayed for four years, which allowed me to travel the world. Then I got married, had my children, and my journey continued down a different career path to the one I had imagined. I designed a nightclub called Oxygen in Leicester Square, central London, for my then-husband. This was picked up by the press and generated a huge amount of coverage. After that, I was given free reign to do what I liked with a boutique club in Soho, which also then went on to win ‘Best London Club’ among other awards, which again was great PR for the venue. It was then that I began to realise I had a talent for interior design. I didn’t know that was the way my creativity would channel itself, but I soon started to feel it was the perfect way for me to express myself.
I initially set up my business in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2011 that I relaunched Noushka Design and put everything I had into it. I took the decision to move away from the nightclub industry and focus on residential work, and soon found I loved it. The more projects I took on, the more I felt I’d found my niche, and my business started to grow. My friends gave me my first few jobs, giving me the opportunity to show what I could do. In fact, I was first hired by a friend of mine who was a DJ, who made me a deal – I would interior design his beautiful apartment in Maida Vale for free, and he would give me
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business advice, as I really didn’t know what I was doing at that point. I didn’t even have a website, or business cards…nothing! That was a great assignment, I really loved doing it. I feel strongly that someone’s home should reflect their passions, their personalities, and because he was a DJ, this young, cool guy, I had to spend a bit of time with him to get a better insight into his lifestyle, his upbringing, to learn his story; I had to build a relationship with this person to enable me to curate a home that he would love. That’s where you can draw the links between interior design and art – whether you paint a piece for someone, or design a space for them, you want it to be a masterpiece that they enjoy for years to come. They have to be able to see themselves reflected in the space, and you have to use the surroundings to tell their story. So that was the birth of Noushka Design. From then on I worked for free, did anything I could to gain experience and get my work photographed to build my portfolio. When I’ve since been a guest speaker at shows and conferences, that’s always been my advice to people starting new businesses – you need to get out there and just do it. I was fortunate that there was interest in what I was doing, and my work began to be featured in magazines and online. As a result, I have amassed clients who are all so different, from young bachelors in the city, to families in the countryside and couples with weekend pied-à-terre in Cornwall; I just love the variety and creative spectrum this affords me. YOU WERE VOTED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL DESIGNERS BY VOGUE – WAS THAT A TURNING POINT IN YOUR CAREER? I’d say it’s been an added bonus, and a truly lovely one at that! It’s an honour to be recognised by an industry powerhouse like Vogue. Any accolade is always a joy, and
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brilliant for your business’s profile, all the more now that social media has such influence and reach. But I equate praise with trends; they’re both fleeting. For that reason, I don’t really follow trends, I try to keep myself inspired doing things I really enjoy and working with materials I love. The biggest compliment I can be paid is by a client who walks into the space I’ve designed for them, and they immediately relax and tell me they feel at home. That’s when I know I’ve done my job. WHEN YOU TAKE ON A PROJECT, HOW DOES ART FIT INTO YOUR BRIEF? Every environment I work on will be an amalgamation of my client’s lifestyle and passions, as translated through my vision. It’s simply not in me to roll out staid and safe show home style rooms. I don’t want the rooms I create to be ‘pleasant’; I want people to walk into them and say ‘wow’! I want them always to have talking points, I want my clients to be quizzed for years to come on where they sourced their furniture, accessories, the elements that transform a room. Again, it’s like being an artist…the worst thing you can say to an artist about their work is “that’s nice”. No artist wants the product of their work and creativity to be ‘nice’. They don’t want people to hang their art on a wall purely because it fits the space well, they want their art to evoke emotions, memories, or at least be a discussion point. Suffice to say, I’d rather be Marmite than vanilla!
When you meet a client for the first time, you don’t yet have a feel
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WE LOVE YOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT! IT ACTS AS A GREAT VIRTUAL SHOP WINDOW FOR WHAT YOU DO… It’s a wonderful way for me to get feedback on my work. I’m always so thrilled to get likes and lovely comments on the photos I post of spaces I’ve designed. By continuing what I’m doing, and reaching out to more people, I want to give people the confidence to try some of this for themselves. I want them to feel that if I can do it, they can do it. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they will go for a full-on black and white room full of flamingos, but it does mean pushing personal boundaries. followers to engage with me and get a sense of who I am beyond my career in interior design; I’m a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter. I also feel strongly that design carries through from the house you live in to the clothes you wear. In the same way that your home should make you feel safe and happy, your outfit should make you feel good about yourself and empower you in that way. Both should equally reflect your style and who you are as a person. I do sometimes post photos of myself, because I want my
for their style or their taste, but if they present me with a piece of art that they love, that is the easiest insight into their soul. That art tells me what they’re all about and what they love, what need that art fulfils for them. That one piece of art will tell me more than any mood board could ever do. Hence why, ideally, I like to source the art as a first step. Every room needs a focal point, and for me that should be art. I find it’s much better to build a room around the art than vice versa. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself searching for art based on the colours used in the composition or the size of the frame, without stopping to consider whether or not it really reflects you, your personality and your home. Art should never be chosen just on its ability to fill a space. If you haven’t got the budget for art, or it’s just not your thing, you could find a really striking wallpaper you love, or source a stunning clock. The only rule is that you need to love it. Don’t be blinkered purely by how something looks, you should always aim to create emotion and atmosphere within a room – and this will vary from room to room. For example, you might lean towards something that creates an air of calm in a bedroom, whereas you might want something a bit more funky and upbeat in a kitchen or family room. WHAT ARE YOUR GOLDEN RULES FOR HANGING ART? For me, it needs space to breathe. I would never crowd it or make it fight for space on the wall. Lighting is also crucial, and I’ve learned over the years that not lighting a piece properly strips it of its wow factor. I always try to take note of how pieces are lit in the gallery so I can ensure I do the art justice when I get it home. Dark rooms in particular will need good light sources to lift the colours in artworks.
touch to a room and therefore the last thing you need to buy, and I want to change this perception. Not only should it be top of your list before you begin decorating or remodelling, you should also be thinking how you’re going to light it. TALK US THROUGH YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE… First and foremost, my design ethos is that there are no rules. I love using supposedly clashing colours; I love making bold, brave choices and experimenting as I go. I use a lot of black and white offset with bright colours, I find that they complement each other so well. I give a great deal of thought to every single element within a room, and what it signifies or contributes to an overall design. When I was designing our house, my main priority was to create a home that felt fun, warm, safe and welcoming for my children and my husband; somewhere where we can come together and enjoy spending time. In my mind’s eye I saw it as a haven, filled with happy memories and a sense of freedom. Also, I wanted it to be a creative environment for my children, somewhere that would inspire them in turn, so we involved them in the renovation process to allow them to make an impact on their home.
To me, more is more!
The key is thinking ahead. People think that the art is the finishing
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Above: Chosen to reflect Anouska’s love of travel, this steamer trunk makes an ideal and unique coffee table.
YOUR MOTTO THAT “GOOD INTERIOR DESIGN SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL” SITS BEAUTIFULLY ALONGSIDE OUR OWN ETHOS OF ‘YOUR WORLD, OUR ART’ … HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR DESIGN WORK INCLUSIVE? When I first set up Noushka Design, I was conscious that interior design carried the stigma of only being available to the rich and famous. Actually, that perception is still there to this day, and it’s a boundary I really want to break down. I didn’t want what I do to be viewed as being on a pedestal, out of reach to all but the select few. I wanted to show people how to recycle, upcycle, to take what you have and give it a new lease of life. Not one of my interiors is brand new; whilst there might be a handful of new purchases, they will always be interspersed with
Right: Where Anouska had originally wanted a reclaimed vintage carousel horse to be suspended, but couldn’t due to weight restrictions, there are now boldly patterned parasols hanging down.
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items that have been upcycled or personalised by hand in some way. There will be bargain finds from charity shops, standout pieces from antique shops or flea markets — which I find to be treasure troves full of very affordable pieces — for your home. A combination of imagination and effort is the true currency required in building a showstopping room, money isn’t everything. WHO WOULD BE YOUR DREAM CLIENT? I’ve never been asked this question before, it’s a tricky one! It would probably be someone really girly, who’s as nuts about all things pink as I am, and would get on board with my flamingo obsession! I’d love to work with a really powerful woman like Beyoncé, someone who’s simultaneously strong and still feminine, someone with a good sense of self, but also creative enough to be open to experimenting with new ideas and pushing boundaries. But really, anyone who loves life and wears their heart on their sleeve would be ideal. People who embrace happiness have a positivity that’s infectious, and I just love to surround myself with people with that mindset.
Above: Flamingos are a recurrent theme in Anouska’s home, her love of them shown in myriad elements from painstakingly sourced wallpaper to bespoke Roman blinds.
noushkadesign.com noushka_design
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
CRAIG DAVI SON “Ideas come from everything and anything. Everywhere I look images and ideas are lining up to be used.”
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
ANDREW KINSMAN
“I love working and reworking until I'm happy with the detail, colour and contrast of light and dark. Seeing this come to life over time is the ultimate thrill of being an artist.”
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The first in his new series of painting, inspired by the café society of Paris ANDREW KINSMAN
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In October 2016, the Fifty Shades of Grey collection was launched at the home of BAFTA in London’s West End, with artist Raphael Mazzucco and author E.L.James joining our VIP guests.
Raphael Mazzucco and E.L.James happily posed for photos and signed collection catalogues for guests
Even the guests of honour couldn’t resist a selfie!
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I N T H E F R AM E
Artist, author and muse enjoyed seeing the collection unveiled
BAFTA’s iconic venue in the heart of Piccadilly was perfect for such a star-studded occasion
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“My cityscapes reflect the many moods of manmade landscapes; I find it exhilarating to express furious movement, artificial lights and the vibrancy of a busy city centre at night as well as the subtler moods of a misty dawn at the same venue.”
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Mesmerising, ethereal, elusive and arguably one of nature’s most impressive displays, the northern lights have proved a worthy subject for this latest body of work by Richard Rowan, Aurora Borealis . Photography by Gardar Olaf AU R
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O R A BO R E A L I S
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In the pursuit of perfection, Richard
Accompanied by a local photographer and filmmaker, he was able to explore locations far from the usual tourist trail, which entailed driving out into the wilds, walking in the darkness and waiting in the cold, sometimes until three in the morning, for the magic of the aurora to begin. Such measures were necessary; as with all natural phenomena, there are no guarantees or cast iron timetables to be followed. The winter months are usually the best time to see them, on clear and cloudless night skies, in rural areas of Nordic countries, with low light pollution. Sightings can vary in intensity and also duration, lasting anywhere between fleeting minutes to hours on occasion. The aurora is a huge source of tourism for Nordic countries; over 2.2 million tourists are expected to visit Iceland in 2017, with increasing numbers opting for a winter trip rather than during the traditional summer season. It is little wonder, therefore, that travelled to Iceland for the first time to witness this marvel for himself.
their governing bodies take ever-growing measures to protect one of their greatest natural assets. Since a 2010 study performed by researchers at Yale and Columbia on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) – which ranked countries on 25 metrics including water cleanliness, air quality and habitat safeguarding – Iceland has consistently featured in the top five of the world’s cleanest countries. As reported by Forbes following the publication of the study, Iceland has been described as “a world leader in addressing pollution control and natural resource management challenges.” These considerations have gained a place on the global political stage in recent years. Building on their previous meeting in 2013 in Stockholm, the U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit (comprised of the United States, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) issued a joint statement from the White House in 2016 addressing the need for a broad
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AURORA BOREALIS
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climate change strategy. Focusing on issues such as deforestation, renewable energy and emissions across key industry sectors, each constituent country committed to developing and implementing a plan aimed at slowing the current rate of global warming. Hopefully, such measures will preserve the beauty of the aurora borealis for future generations, that it may be enjoyed and admired for many years to come. Aside from their obvious importance, both as a wonder of the natural world and an integral factor in eco- tourism, the northern lights also hold a deep spiritual significance for many, and have done throughout history. Inuit legend says they are torches in the hands
of their ancestral spirits, lighting the way for the souls of the recently departed, to guide them to the hereafter. Their teachings allude to the lights acting as a conduit, through which they can converse with the generations who went before them. During the medieval period, occurrences of auroral displays were viewed less positively, and often seen as harbingers of war or famine. Most recently, late nineteenth and early twentieth century arctic explorers documented their feelings at witnessing the celestial pageantry of the aurora, their wonderment palpable through their journal entries.
Richard’s own experience of the northern lights was
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AURORA BOREALIS
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no less awe-inspiring. His exploration was rewarded by impossibly wide skies full of vivid colours, shooting rays, a magical glow, and a hypnotic dancing of light which, in his words, “almost appeared to be breathing”. Yet, through it all, he recalls that he was most moved by this seemingly frenetic activity in the sky juxtaposed against the complete silence of the landscape in which he found himself. His discipline and commitment to the project at hand took over, and the work began of doing justice to the majestic display he was fortunate enough to witness. The aurora is a notoriously difficult subject matter for photographers or artists to capture because of its sheer magnitude and the subtle variations of colour, but Richard’s personal artistic practice demands that he challenge
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himself by undertaking difficult work and forging new techniques. His precise and painstaking ‘back to front’ method of applying oils on glass, working from the foreground backwards, lends itself beautifully to the subject matter. Each layer of paint required up to two weeks to dry before Richard was able to add in the aurora detail as the final element, meaning that — just like managing to catch sight of the northern lights themselves — timing truly is everything.
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AURORA BOREALIS
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
JOHN D WI LSON
“Picasso once said that he spent his life trying to paint like a child. This inspired me to mix children’s art with the carefully-planned paintings of the adult artist.”
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The Studi
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ALEX ECHO In the Autumn 2016 issue of Fine Art Collector, we asked you to let us know whose studio you’d like us to feature in this edition. Well, you spoke and we listened… So take a look at these behind the scenes shots taken at Alex’s creative hub in Woking for a glimpse of the man himself at work, and also a sneaky peek [SPOILER ALERT] at some prototypes he’s currently working on for a big project later this year. We simply can’t say any more, you’ll just have to use your IMAGINE-ation! Watch this space… FINE ART COLLECTOR SPRING 2017 43
I N T H E GA L L E RY
JEFF ROWLAND
“I like to let the viewer make up their own mind about what is happening with the characters in the composition.”
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FINE ART COLLECTOR SPRING 2017 45
[ 15YEARS ANNIVERSARY ]
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TEMPER//
Late last year, we had the privilege of visiting Temper at his studio for an advanced viewing of his latest collection TIME:LESS and to hear what lies in store for him in the coming year.
Our expedition took us to an industrial estate on the outskirts of Wolverhampton; an unassuming location for an artist of Temper’s calibre and international renown, and yet arguably fitting for a man so juxtaposed by his honesty and complexity. Stepping from a cold, grey wintery day into his studio reminded us of the early scenes from The Wizard of Oz , where Dorothy and Toto find themselves in Oz and the film famously segued from black and white to full glorious colour. Glancing around the room, we felt we were taken on a visual journey through the inner workings of Temper’s mind, with sketches, doodles and paintings as far as the eye could see. Note: this is a man who never sits still. This is a man who draws and paints to rest, sleep is merely something he knows he has to do in between creative outbursts. Picking up on The Wizard of Oz theme once more, it is fair to say that Temper does not travel the yellow brick road of his artistic career alone. As Dorothy leaned on her companions during her own personal odyssey, Temper also takes a few others with him along the way. First and foremost, of course, is the man behind the name. Artist Arron Bird first created his Temper alter ego to grant himself an alternative vein
of expression. Arron is completely different to Temper. He loves architecture, history, mythology. Temper is more nostalgic, he has absorbed every facet of popular culture over the years, and grew up in an environment dominated by black culture. “I can’t stand in front of a canvas and paint with a spray can as Arron Bird… The way I work with spray paint has nothing to do with Arron Bird.” In short, Arron gets out of the car and walks into the studio, at which point he passes the baton
to Temper. The training, discipline and dedication of learning how to use spray paint is solely down to Temper. Strangely, Arron and Temper have only just started communicating with each other. Recent pencil sketches are co- signed Arron Bird and Temper, in a nod to the two parts of his persona working collaboratively for the first time. But we can’t reveal too much about that just yet…you’ll have to watch this space! There has always been collision and conflict between Arron and Temper. The irony is that Temper painted the collection most
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TEMPER
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personal to Arron – The Good Die Young . Psychologically-speaking, this is probably because Arron would not have been able to do it for himself; he needed that distance of invoking Temper to do it for him. But these two characters need each other, help each other. Arron Bird is an introvert, and would prefer to stand in a corner and go unnoticed. Temper can easily stand in front of 2,000 people at an event, he can stand in front of a camera and be filmed talking. Temper was the vehicle that got Arron Bird out of a lifestyle that
would have been damaging in the longer term. He didn’t benefit from a great education, and as such he feels he wasn’t set up to leave school and walk into a promising career. Temper was his second, and last chance, to pursue the life he wanted for himself and his family. The man himself sees a certain humour in the arrangement he has with his alter egos: “Ironically, I have to put my Temper mask on so that I can do what I do without the use of masking or stencils.”
A third contributor has also recently emerged; Mr Seymour – but that’s a future branch for him to explore in good time. We’re told that this third character is: “…a bit more hardcore than Arron or Temper. He’s a bit more street, a hangover from the days before Temper became a legal artist.” He is without the guidelines or responsibilities that come with being a known artist, so he can be more adventurous and less orthodox with his ideas.
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1.SouthernGatesToHeaven 2.StandUpForRichard 3.NineMiles 4.Che 5.ABlackstarShining 6.Classic
7.Frank’sSmile 8.ARedTricycle 9.Gregagh’sBoy 10.WildGenius 11.Peace 12.GeminiMist 13.Pablo 14.Win 15.MoAmbition
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Fifteen years ago, Temper first released his ground-breaking collection The Good Die Young to the art world, generating unprecedented acclaim for artwork that touched the heart of all who viewed it. Fifteen years later, he has marked this anniversary by making available a further fifteen original artworks that continue the concept of commemorative portraiture to celebrate the lives of people taken too soon. This collection of fifteen signed limited editions was launched in February 2017, and is available to buy online and in your local gallery. From the depths of loss and adversity, Temper channelled personal bereavement into a collection of work to which everyone could relate, by marking the passing of cultural icons who touched generations. Lost for the words to exorcise his grief, he painted through the pain and now supports a charitable trust that uses art therapy to help children process and recover from bereavement, recognising that, for him, The Good Die Young was exactly that. Never could he have foreseen that it would later be picked up by a commercial art gallery and achieve global reach, both because it pioneered a new concept of fine art and because the raw emotion within the compositions was universally relatable. As he says: “It changed everything.” Proud of his roots, he is quick to credit the city of Wolverhampton’s motto “Out of darkness cometh light” – a phrase that he has tattooed on his arm – as one that he carries within him to this day as a mantra. Whilst celebrity portraiture is now a firm fixture on many artists’ CVs, the concept of amalgamating fine art and graffiti in a body of commemorative work had never been seen before The Good Die Young . All the more credible for its authenticity, unabashed sincerity and lack of contrivance, it was the most natural way for Temper to heal himself and bring some purpose back into his days. Whilst TIME:LESS may well be the final chapter in this concept, it serves as a sensitive homage to The Good Die Young , and shows Temper in an epoch of change and evolution, no more a bystander in his own life but the master of it. Age, experience and hindsight have gifted him with a sense of acceptance that is driving fresh creative output and heralds the dawn of a new age in his career. For this drive, he has another city motto to cite, this one for Birmingham which is simply “Forward”, and we in turn look forward to being taken along on that journey.
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Allboxedcanvaseditionsof50 2,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 Framedsize32"x45"
5,6,7,8Framedsize37"x45" 1,3,4Framedsize45"x37" Framed£995
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
PETER & JAYNE SMITH
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“Our aim has always been to make people happy. We simply take a gentle childhood combine it with what makes us smile and paint it. If a smile is returned or a memory stirred then we have done our job.”
� YouBakeMeLoveYou Canvaseditionof150 ImageSize12"x24" FramedSize19"x31" £275
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� RollingScones
Sculptureeditionof195 Height 16¾" £295
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� TheHeartfulDodger Canvaseditionof150 ImageSize18"x18" FramedSize25"x25" £275 � WhenIt'sScone, It'sScone Canvaseditionof150 ImageSize24"x12" FramedSize31"x19" £275 � YouAreTheBiscuit ToMyTea Canvaseditionof150 ImageSize24"x19½" FramedSize31"x26½" £350
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
NIGEL MASON “My work depicts moments in time. Incidents, usually, between people that speak of human behaviour and relationships.”
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� SweetShop
Gicléeeditionof195 ImageSize8"x8" FramedSize21"x22" £295 Gicléeeditionof195 ImageSize8"x8" FramedSize21"x22" £295 Gicléeeditionof195 ImageSize8"x8" FramedSize21"x22" £295 Gicléeeditionof195 ImageSize8"x8" FramedSize21"x22" £295
� Cosychat
� Couples
� FondFarewell
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Social
EDIT
Interesting piece in the #Birmingham Mail today on the new amazing #TIMELESS collection by #Temper
We’re so proud of artist Nic Joly who has raised a whopping £60,000 for The Royal British Legion through sales of his commemorative piece, Never Forgotten #NeverForgotten #NicJoly
@NicJolyUnderfoot
#sneakpeak #behindthescenes when @erikaljames signed @RaphaelMazzucco #FiftyShadesOfGrey limited edition prints
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BREAKING 2016 #NobelPrize in Literature to Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”
@NobelPrize
@GrosvenorMed
This Manhattan Moments by @paulkenton is looking fabulous in its new home
We’re thrilled to introduce digital artist Natalie Shau. Her captivating debut collection with Washington Green Fine Art explores precious gemstones through portraiture.
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DANGER TREE EXHIBITS IN LIVERPOOL
Following the success of their groundbreaking augmented reality exhibition The Danger Tree in Greenwich last summer, the augmented reality art installation moved to Liverpool in November 2016 to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the end of The Battle of the Somme. Over 8,000 visitors came through the doors during its four-week run to experience this highly emotive, poignant and interactive visual arts narrative for themselves. Don’t worry if you missed it – The Danger Tree is set to tour again in 2017, in new locations with new artwork. Contact your preferred gallery to register your interest in this collection.
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SIMON WILKINSON NEWMEDIA ARTIST
Simon Wilkinson expertly fuses his two passions in life: art and 3D animation. His provocative pieces analyse, dissect and reassemble the emotions and experiences that make us human.
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
KE ITH MAIDEN “My work is very raw; I am not after perfection or realism.”
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ProperGander Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize20"x26" FramedSize 27"x33" £595
Equilibrium Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize20"x26" FramedSize 27"x33" £595
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Ronnie and Reggie | Caroline Shotton
Contemporary art from the country’s finest artistic talent, chosen by Castle Galleries for you.
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
NIC JOLY “My fascination with creating small sculpture inspired by the theatre of life has grown into an absolute obsession for me, no area of life is safe!”
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OnceUponATime WallSculpture Editionof90 FramedSize27"x27" £1,750
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N IC JOLY
LondonCalling WallSculpture Editionof91 FramedSize49"x 23" £2,950
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Being Human is the latest collection of wall mounted sculptures from innovative British sculptor, Nic Joly. Being Human
Being Human is an intelligent and sensitive exercise in social commentary contained within a collection of wall mounted sculptures from innovative British sculptor, Nic Joly. Tackling the intangible social restraints that we impose on ourselves and each other, Nic Joly brings to life paradoxical characters and scenes. Small in scale but larger than life, they are simultaneously satirical and truthful in nature. Keen collectors of Joly’s work will know that there is a little part of Nic in every single character and scene that he meticulously creates, often accompanied by strains of autobiographical truth contained within the caption or concept of each piece. The
question of Being Human will always be a deeply personal one, but we all share common ground – it’s this commonality that remains a key driver for Nic, who urges that “we must be able to laugh at ourselves, we simply mustn’t take ourselves too seriously.” With this in mind, we invited Nic to the creative hub that is the Washington Green Marketing & Design department to play a starring role in producing a promotional concept with a humanistic approach as innovative as its creator. We decided that we wanted to put Nic at the centre of his Being Human campaign, and what better way to do this than a contemporary self-portrait of Nic for all to see?
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At the heart of this collection lies the theme of perception; understanding how we perceive others and worrying about how we ourselves are perceived. For many this self-awareness is an everyday struggle and yet, ironically, it's often the case that we need not look beyond the tip of our own nose for a muse worth studying. So we had our muse, but it needed a twist, a satirical element that would entice the viewer to find escapism in what they were seeing and ultimately make them smile. This wasn’t brash self-promotion at play, this was collaborative thinking between our creative team and the artist, embracing the brief without taking ourselves too seriously. Above all else, our aim was to mirror Nic’s own approach; we wanted our audience to laugh along with us. It wasn’t long before Nic’s miniature characters were invited to the party and we were assembling our very own diorama through the viewfinder in homage to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. With the combination of a steady hand, a great deal of patience and perhaps a little bit of superglue, our vision was brought to life. Nic, simply by being human, soon found himself immersed in what could easily be one of his own scenes. Leading by example, Joly has created an open dialogue where shame has no place. He asserts that “the confidence to bare our souls comes with age and experience, and the wisdom that we ought to wear our emotional scars with pride,
as they represent challenges we’ve overcome not moments of failure.” His own inimitable style of tackling social commentary through the medium of observational art takes the sting out of the message it delivers. Despite the often introspective subject matter, we are left feeling renewed by the warmth and humour in the art, safe in the knowledge that Joly not only accepts our faults and flaws, he celebrates them. So next time you are lucky enough to see Nic appear at one of our galleries, look a little closer and then ask him how long it took to remove the superglue from his face…
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
DAVID REES
“It is so important when painting to not be afraid to make mistakes. I give myself free rein to be brave with how I paint, the more conservative I am the worse the final product is.”
SmokeAndThunder BoxedCanvas Editionof150 ImageSize42"x36" £795
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DAVID REES
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� Pride
� SnowLeopard Boxedcanvas Editionof150
Boxedcanvas Editionof150 ImageSize38"x38" £750
ImageSize38"x38" £750
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# S ON I C 2 5
In 2016, SEGA® Europe Limited secured an international slate of new licensing partners to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog™. This included a collaboration with Washington Green to create a new collection of original and limited edition art to mark this milestone…
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The ‘Sonic 25’ collection saw artists from across multiple genres reimagine Sonic the Hedgehog in each of their own inimitable styles. The collection traverses multiple mediums; from a fusion of neon and aluminium, to sculptures, oils and more… all in keeping with the many faces and iterations of Sonic over the years. Sonic the Hedgehog first appeared as a video game character in June 1991, and instantly became an icon for a generation of gamers…including many of our participating artists! Dan Lane, Paul Kenton, Frédéric Daty, Louis Sidoli, Stuart McAlpine Miller, Robert Oxley, Craig Davison, Keith Maiden, and Nic Joly were all thrilled to be part of the project, and their contributions to the collection have won them a legion of new collectors since its launch in December 2016. Jason Rice, Director of Brand Licensing, at SEGA Europe Limited, said: “This collaboration is a fitting finale to our year-long celebration of Sonic’s 25th Anniversary. We wanted to create something truly unique to give fans and collectors the chance to view Sonic in a way never seen before. These incredibly talented artists along with the whole team at Washington Green have been a joy to work with. There is huge excitement and anticipation here at Sega at the prospect of revealing these stunning pieces of work to the world. We couldn’t be more proud!” Not only did this collection draw huge public interest and press coverage, it also won us a Guinness World Record for the largest fine art exhibition dedicated to a single videogame character! Proving that Sonic the Hedgehog, at the ripe old age of 25, is indeed Still Unstoppable.
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� BornToRun CraigDavison
� WatchOut PaulKenton
� ThisIsHowIRoll KeithMaiden
Gicléeeditionof250 ImageSize16"x10¾” FramedSize21"x28" £250 Canvaseditionof125 ImageSize16"x24" FramedSize22"x30" £425
Gicléeeditionof250 ImageSize17½"x10½” FramedSize21"x28" £250 BoxedCanvasedition of125 ImageSize27"x36" £795
Gicléeeditionof250 ImageSize15¾"x10¾” FramedSize21"x28" £250 Canvaseditionof125 ImageSize20"x24" FramedSize27"x32" £550
� SpeedofSound RobertOxley
Gicléeeditionof250 ImageSize10"x18” FramedSize21"x28" £250 BoxedCanvaseditionof125 ImageSize44"x22" £850
STILL UNSTOPPABLE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY PORTFOLIO
4 x Giclée on Paper £495.00 Set of 4 Framed Giclée on Paper Framed Size 21" x 28” £950.00
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� Sonic
RobertOxley BoxedCanvaseditionof125 ImageSize36"x36" £995
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� NotTheBossOfMe CraigDavison Canvaseditionof125 ImageSize17"x28" FramedSize23"x34" £550
� EyesOnThePrize CraigDavison
Canvaseditionof125 ImageSize12"x30" FramedSize18"x36" £450
� Shadow'sHand KeithMaiden
Canvaseditionof125 ImageSize19"x24" FramedSize26"x32" £535
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
CARLY ASHDOWN “Art expresses something that cannot be shared in any other way; it allows a deeper context from which to view life.”
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TheTide Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize28"x21" FramedSize34"x27" £550
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CARLY ASHDOWN
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TheDiscovery Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize24"x24" FramedSize30"x30" £550
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
HAMI SH BLAKELY “There is something primal and mystical about creating the illusion of a convincing vision on a once bare stretch of canvas”
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TheWorldStandsStill Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize32½"x28" FramedSize39½"x35" £695
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
CAROL INE SHOTTON “I've always created work that stems from personal experience, yet allows others to add their own narrative.”
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� Ronnie&Reggie Boxedcanvas Editionof95 ImageSize36"x36" £695 � Well,Here'sAnother FineMessYou've GotMeInto Boxedcanvas Editionof95 ImageSize43½"x36" £795
� Oliver
Boxedcanvas Editionof95 ImageSize36"x36" £695
� EmilyMoo
Boxedcanvas Editionof95 ImageSize36"x36" £695
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
PAUL CORF I ELD “The ideas and inspiration are there all of the time and it’s something I no longer need to go in search of.”
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� Summer'sEnd
� EmeraldMist
Canvaseditionof195 ImageSize24"x12" FramedSize30"x18" £325
Canvaseditionof195 ImageSize24"x12" FramedSize30"x18" £325
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I N T H E F R AM E
LORENZO QUINN In November 2016, Birmingham’s most prestigious luxury retail destination, the Mailbox, underwent a monumental metallic makeover to celebrate the artistry of international sculptor, Lorenzo Quinn.
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A combination of photographic wall vinyls and a workbench holding elements and tools shipped over for the event, gave guests a feel for Lorenzo’s foundry located just outside Barcelona, Spain [above right]
TEAM EFFORTS
The teams from Castle Fine Art and Malmaison joined forces to ensure that guests enjoyed an evening befitting the occasion.
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I N T H E GA L L E RY
ROB HEFFERAN
“As an artist it’s important that I keep pushing ideas and trying new things, always striving in my pursuit for that perfect painting.”
Love Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize19½"x28" FramedSize25"x34" £495
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� HeartfeltTerror Gicléeeditionof95 ImageSize18"x22"
FramedSize321"x37" £595
� TheFireWithin
Gicléeeditionof95 ImageSize18"x22" FramedSize321"x37" £595
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ROB HEFFERAN
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� LastOrders
� Desire
Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize16"x24" FramedSize21"x30" £395
Canvaseditionof95 ImageSize19½"x28" FramedSize25"x34" £495
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YOURWORLD, OURART INTERIOR DESIGN FEATURE
Give your art the surroundings it deserves with these key trends for Spring/Summer 2017…
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Bring the outside in…
No doubt influenced by Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2017, ‘Greenery’, we’re all going to be green with envy at the latest trend for this spring. We’re seeing greenery in exotic patterns, forest prints, seagrass, and more. With tones ranging from acid green through to emerald and deep fern, your choices are limitless. Climbing plants and vines will add to the overall feel of your room, whether you’re going for a taste of the tropics or a genteel English garden feel, they’re a great addition to any space.
The style pendulum has yet to swing away from the glamour of the roaring twenties, and we’re still loving the design accents from that era. If you have yet to embrace Art Deco, it’s not too late – from mirrored surfaces to metallic inlays, more is indeed more this season. Incorporate a touch of luxury with highly polished wood, marble, copper, faux fur and elaborate glassware. But fear not, if your budget is more ‘downtown’ than ‘Downton Abbey’, this look is still eminently achievable – why not go for a marble-effect wallpaper, treat your room to some statement copper accessories or a mirror-edged frame?
ADD A TOUCH OF
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