Dr Sketchy Nottingham

"Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School is where cabaret meets life drawing."

Held every other month in Escucha, Nottingham.

April 17th 2010 - Saints and Sinners

Zara Ann

February 20th 2010 - Bettie Page TributeAnna Fur Laxis & Fanny Devine
December 5th 2009 - Winter WarmersMissy Malone

Received & Painted, 2010

Each 5 x 7 inches, oil on canvas/canvas board.

Taking my previous work as a starting point, I asked people to send me photos of their treasured items. I reproduced the images in paint, as close to the original as possible, and on a scale very similar to that of a photograph.

Untitled (an ongoing series of objects), 2009

Each 16 x 20 inch wooden box frame, including an acrylic on canvas painting and a 6 x 4 inch postcard.

I sent emails, posted on Facebook, and distributed flyers to invite the public to send me an image of their most prized possession. Alongside the image, they were asked to hand write me a postcard which gave details of what the item was. They could be as informative, or as vague as they wanted, and it was up to them as to whether they revealed their name or not. I then painted each object on a plain background, excluding original contexts, and displayed both the painting and postcard in a box frame.

This work was exhibited in Collector-Mania at The Art Organisation, Nottingham.

Number 1.
'Dear Lucie. I have sent you a picture of a ceramic, black cat bookend with one eye. It was made in Taiwan. It was left behind in a house that my grandparents moved into in Wells, in Somerset and I was allowed to keep it. I have kept it for at least ten years. Vee. x'

Number 2.
'My most treasured object is a brass figure of a ballerina. It was my Great Grandmothers, and she gave it to me before she died as she knew I liked it, and it reminded her of me when I used to do ballet when I was younger.'

Number 3.
'This is a candlestick which belonged to my Grandmother in Belgium. It is over 60 years old to my knowledge. From Nickie'

Number 4.
'This is my amazing Dandy Comic collection ranging between the years of 1993 to 2001! I hope you like it. Jamie Martin'

Number 5.
'This is a seal which is part of a watch chain. I found it in Ogwen Bank River. I saw something shiny and picked it up, it must've been lost on the river bed for years. The chain reminds me of the hills and mountains where I grew up and takes me back to my childhood whenever I look at it.'

Pet & Owner Portraits, 2007/08

Various sizes, acrylic on canvas.

I advertised an opportunity for people to have a pet and owner portrait painted for free. The people who responded gave me a photo to work from, told me what size they wanted their painting, what colour, etc. I worked to their specific requirements, then once the pieces were exhibited within university, I posted them to their respective owners.

A couple of images leading up to the work:

10 inch diameter, acrylic on canvas

16 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas

Her mother knew she was beautiful on the inside, 2007

Each 3ft x 5ft, acrylic and oil on canvas.

Work made during the foundation course, and exhibited in the end of year show. The red one was sold on the opening night.

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas board.