Meet The Artist – Victoria Coleman

Happy New Year to everyone, we hope you’re settling in well and had a good start to 2019! We are continuing with our ‘Meet The Artist‘ articles this year. This week we have the talented Victoria Coleman answering some questions for us. How adorable are the dogs?!

When did you first discover your passion for art and painting?

Like most artists I loved loved painting and creating things from an early age and I was fortunate that my parents encouraged this, they even let me paint on the walls of bedroom!

Where do you get your inspiration from and what inspires you?

All sorts of things inspire me, a gallery could come up with a theme or someone could commission me to paint their dog with a great idea, I’m constantly looking for new ideas on social media and the internet or even my own dogs can inspire a collection!

How would you describe your style?

My style is a mix between realistic and illustrative, I used to paint Disney characters and I think that has influenced my style quite a bit.

What makes you different from other artists?

I use Bristol paints which is a water based paint used by scenic artists, I work in layers building up the detail, I also used an air brush to give my work depth.

What do you think is unique selling point?

Humour, just like people animals especially dogs have a sense of humour so I like to inject that into my work occasionally, I like to think my paintings will lift your spirits and make you smile.

What is the most challenging thing for you when it comes to chosen medium?

It’s not so much the medium but more the subject which I find most challenging. I do a lot of portraits so especially when I’m working on a commission it’s vital I capture the likeness and spirit of the subject which sometimes can be very difficult.

What would be your career dream? What project would you love to be able to complete one day?

To have a workshop in the garden, currently I work in the kitchen which can be very frustrating sometimes, I want to be able to spread out and have lots of projects on the go all around me! Ultimately I’d like to paint my own dogs but I never seem to have time, I’m also a little afraid I won’t do them justice!

Did you have another career prior to this? If so, what was it?

A prop maker, it was a great job, I worked in all sorts of fields from costume props for Star Wars and Gladiator to painting Disney sculptures for their flagship stores.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10-15 years’ time?

Still alive! Both my parents died in their 50’s and I’m going to be 50 next year so if I’m still around in 10-15 years’ time I hope I’ll still be creating….in my garden workshop!

What is your typical day like?

I get up at 6am and check my emails and do a bit of social media marketing while having a cup of tea, I also take a moment to watch YouTube videos of other artists and business owners and try to pick up tips on how to expand my knowledge, then I take my dogs for a walk.

After everyone’s had breakfast I’ll get on with either wrapping any bought work or listing work online in my shops or photographing work to be listed. Then I need to get on with whatever artwork I have on the go, I like to be painting/ sculpting by 11 o’clock at the latest.

I love listening to crime thriller audio books when I work, the narrator Jeff Harding really gets me in the mood to paint!

After lunch I’ll carry on painting or sculpting till tea time, my lovely neighbour takes my dogs for their afternoon stroll which really helps me focus and get in the zone..

We’ve recently adopted a kitten so there’s a queue for dinner around 6pm so I’ll feed the dogs and cat then do a little more work until about 7-7.30. Then I’ll have my dinner, I might do a bit more marketing in the evening if I get a chance.

What do you love the most about your job and what do you hate the most?

I’m happiest when I’m creating, I love the processes and the freedom to paint whatever I want and I hate never having enough time, being a small business owner means having to do everything yourself so I’m constantly having to learn new things which takes up a lot of time.

How do you relax after a long day?

In the evening I like to sit on the floor with a glass of wine and watch Midsummer Murders or Vera or Netflix while playing with the dogs…..lovely!

Well, we certainly believe Victoria’s paintings lift our spirits and make us smile! To view more of Victoria’s work you can visit her website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter accounts.

Meet the Artist – Tat Effby

In our most recent blog article series, Meet the Artist, we have spoken to hilarious cartoonist and illustrator; Tat Effby. She had us in stitches with some of her responses!

When did you first discover your passion for art and drawing?

I’ve always been a doodler but I didn’t fully commit to being a cartoonist and illustrator until about 5 years ago.

Where do you get your inspiration from and what inspires you?

Inspiration for my cartoons comes from anything, anywhere and anyone – so just be careful what you say when I’m in ear shot because you might find yourself immortalised in a badly drawn joke.

How would you describe your style?

Inconsistent but amusingly so.

What makes you different from other watercolour artists?

I’m not as good as them.

What is the most challenging thing for you when it comes to painting?

I’ve been known to spend a whole afternoon drawing a hand. And I find cats to be indescribably difficult to capture to my satisfaction.

What would be your career dream? What project would you love to be able to do/complete?

I’m doing my dream job as a cartoonist and illustrator so I just want to keep on going, keep improving and keep trying to be funny.

Did you have another career prior to this? If so, what was it?

I was an Advertising Copywriter and I came up with ideas and headlines for advertising campaigns, our office was kinda like Mad Men but with a West Midlands accent. It’s one of the most fun jobs you can have even if you weren’t allowed to do puns. But I’ve been making up for that over the last few years.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10-15 years’ time?

In 10-15 years time I’d love to see myself in the mirror, wrinkle-free, but I doubt that’s going to happen.

What is your typical day like?

Lots of coffee, a run, then lots more coffee at my desk drawing. Most days are this pattern, unless I’m picking up prints from The Artists’ Print Room, in which case I get to have a lovely jaunt to countryside.

What do you love the most about your job and what do you hate the most?

I love working from home, working for myself, getting paid to draw daft things and laughing at my own jokes. I hate hands, but I can always put them in pockets if they’re proving too difficult to draw.

How do you relax after a long day?

I like to bake a cake and eat a lot, if not all, of it.

You can find out more about Tat and her work on the following;

Instagram : @tat_effby

Twitter: @tat_effby

Twitter: @RTBinshrewsbury

Facebook: @aloadoftat

Facebook: @roundthebendinshrewsbury

Website: tat-effby.com

Meet the Artist – Kathy Little

In our latest Meet the Artist blog article, we speak to Kathy Little. Kathy graduated from the Royal College of Art and her paintings reflect a continued interest in capturing and expressing the innate qualities in the landscape.

When did you first discover your passion for art and painting?

When I completed a three year degree in Fine Art followed by a three year post graduate course.

Where do you get your inspiration from and what inspires you?

I am inspired by both natural and manmade landscapes and I am interested in how they alter and reshape over the passing of time,

How would you describe your style?

I am influenced by a colour combination, a surface texture or an unusual composition or shape and make mixed media abstract paintings to reflect this interest. I use a process of layering and subtracting to invent new compositions and I do not have a fixed image in mind when I start but prefer to let the imagery develop in an intuitive and experimental way.

What makes you different from other artists?

Vibrant colours combined with neutral tones, a mix of mediums and an individual and personal visual mark making language.

What is the most challenging thing for you when it comes to painting?

For every one painting that I’m happy with, there are probably four that I’m not . Im rarely happy with a piece, so I keep working until I feel it’s done.

What would be your career dream? What project would you love to be able to do or complete?

Collaborating with outside agencies.

Did you have another career prior to this? If so, what was it?

Teaching in art schools.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10-15 years’ time?

Continuing to paint and exhibit my work.

What is your typical day like?

I like to start the day early and don’t have far to travel as I work from my studio in the garden. I have radio 4 on continually for company. Day to day tasks include keeping my website updated, emailing, keeping up to date with the contemporary art world and reading blogs and art and design magazines.

What do you love the most about your job and what do you hate the most?

I enjoy the challenge of constantly moving forward with my painting and sharing this experience with other like minded individuals.

How do you relax after a long day?

Cooking and sharing a meal with family and friends.

You can view more of Kathy’s work on her website or on Instagram.

You can purchase Kathy’s Prints and Originals from her Etsy shop.

Meet the Artist – Live Sketcher, Cherie Jerrard

Following on from our recent blog article featuring Richard Smythe, in our latest, Meet the Artist blog post, we have spoken to Cherie Jerrard. Cherie is a live sketcher and some may say, the ultimate people watcher!

Starting out Cherie had a career in fashion, having studied in the industry for 20 years, including a nine year career as a fashion designer and illustrator. Having grown up in the 80’s Cherie became entranced by fashion icons and the onslaught of idealistic graphic imagery. Later on having relocated from London to the beautiful town of Shrewsbury, she undertook a Masters in Illustration at Manchester School of Art.

During this time, Cherie slowly woke up and looked around to discover people are so much more imaginative and imperfect. Real everyday people are far more worthy of capturing in an illustration than someone who has been constructed by a team of people which she had previously experienced in the fashion industry.

soho coffee third edition - The Artists Print Room — ©Cherie Jerrard – Soho Coffee

Whilst studying for her Masters degree, Cherie entered a competition by Moleskine; the stationery brand. This competition was based on reportage style illustrations and she was fortunate to getting into the final round. At this point, Cherie realised and believed there could be something more to sketching. Further on, Cherie was sponsored by the German pen brand, Lamy and publishes a newspaper known as ‘Everyday Reportage’.

The majority of Cherie’s work is now undertaken on location and in the moment, ensuring her sketches are honest and simple. Often her work happens whilst sitting in coffee shops, enjoying the ‘cafe culture’ and incorporating a wide range of individuals as subjects. In addition to this, these scenarios are perfect for observing peoples natural behaviour and provide an ‘honest, authentic, context to the drawings’.

Saturday Afternoon - The Artists Print Room — ©Cherie Jerrard – Saturday Afternoon

Cherie describes her art as ‘an antidote to celebrity culture overload. The illustrations are observations of our times. My focus is to capture what it was like to come together with an unscripted group of people in any given venue and time. Something about the the actors and the stage of everyday life makes me want to document the moment. It’s the closest I can get to pausing time. Who needs celebrities we are all amazing originals.’

We love Cherie’s quirky, contemporary and endearing illustrations and you can view more of her work on her website. Alternatively, keep up to date with Cherie through her Instagram and Twitter accounts. Cherie’s work can be purchased through Cherie did this.

Cherie Jerard_andina - The Artists Print Room — ©Cherie Jerrard – Andina

Meet the Artist – An Interview with Richard Smythe

In our latest blog article featuring our clients, we’ve spoken to freelance illustrator, Richard Smythe. We love Richard’s adorable drawings, in particular his dancing squirrels (which you can view on his website!)

When did you first discover your passion for illustration?

From a very young age I enjoyed to draw and create things. Eventually I realised art and design came more naturally to me than other subjects at school. I remember first being commended on a drawing I did at primary school. Probably the only time I was ever praised for school work, however!

Where do you get your inspiration from and what inspires you?

Inspiration for my illustration work comes from many sources. Usually just everyday life. Whenever I see something funny or an unusual circumstance.

How would you describe your style?

richardsmythe_dogandcatadventure — ©Richard Smythe – Dog & Cat Adventures

Quite loose and naive, but representational enough for young children to understand and recognise.

What makes you different from other illustrators?

It’s hard to say but it’s probably more down to how I interpret the subject matter in the author’s manuscript. Each illustrator comes at a project differently based on their own experiences I think.

What is the most challenging thing for you when it comes to illustrating picture books?

Meeting a deadline. I normally schedule my time on a project before I start, but other things beyond my control get in the way which inevitably delay the project. If the picture book requires me to draw something unusual or complicated then this requires extra study or experimenting, which all has to be done under the time constraints of the deadline.

What would be your career dream? What project would you love to be able to do/complete?

richardsmythe_watersong — ©Richard Smythe – Water Song

I honestly don’t know. I really just love what I am fortunate enough to be doing now, which is illustrating picture books for kids. I suppose it would be nice to work on some of my own stories at some stage as I always have lots of ideas.

Did you have another career prior to this? If so, what was it?

I had a lot of other nondescript jobs to make ends meet before I was able to make a living as an illustrator. I worked with young adults with physical and mental disabilities for the longest time though.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10-15 years’ time?

mouse_cup_richardsmythe — ©Richard Smythe – Mouse Cup

To carry on with what I’m doing and perhaps to have had a few more awards under my belt would be lovely.

What is your typical day like?

Very long. I get up around 6am and finish up about 6pm. I split my time between client work and personal development. As well as exercise and dog walking!

What do you love the most about your job and what do you hate the most?

richardsmythe_foxbytheriver — ©Richard Smythe – Fox By The River

I think the most enjoyable part is creating something out of nothing. The opportunity to interpret an author’s story is a great privilege to me. Picture books (if they’re good ones) can be passed down from generation to generation of kids, being cherished and loved forever. That’s a great thing to be part of. I suppose the main thing I dislike is not being paid on time, which can happen unfortunately.

How do you relax after a long day?

I like to read and do exercise, and just hang about with my family.

You can find out more about Richard’s work on his website or through his social media accounts; Instagram and Twitter.

Meet the Artist – An Interview with Helen Parry

In our second blog article on Meet the Artist, we’ve spoken to watercolour artist, Helen Parry and found out some fascinating information on her painting technique and what has inspired Helen over the years and what a typical day looks like…

When did you first discover your passion for art and painting?

I think it is something I’ve always been able to do. When I was small, I think it was the reaction of others to anything I created, that made me realise I could do something others couldn’t. At junior school whenever we did art, the other children liked my work and asked me to paint one for them to take home. They would ask me to draw all sorts of things, sometimes I think just to see if I could do it. I think they spurred me on and as I went to senior school I realised I was the only one who was aware of drawing the reflections in objects and that objects had shade to create form.

Furthermore, someone gave me a book when I was young on how to mix colours. I couldn’t understand how people didn’t instinctively know how to mix colours. Again this made me realise I had a natural ability.

I think it was realising how observant I was, that I developed a need to share this with others, who seemed to miss all the detail.

Where do you get your inspiration from and what inspires you?

Nature is very inspiring, but I’m so observant that anything can trigger an idea. Also when you work full-time at painting, there isn’t time to wait for inspiration you just have to get on and paint.

I think that’s when I know someone is serious about art. They don’t wait for inspiration to strike, they get on with painting, trusting their creativity to shine through in the end.

How would you describe your style?

Highly technical watercolours with fine detail brushwork. They are close to being realistic, but I don’t want my paintings to look like photographs, so there is a softness to the brushwork.

What makes you different from other watercolour artists?

Helen Parry_Stokesay Castle GateHouse — © Helen Parry – Stokesay Castle

Firstly my paintings are not loose washes of watercolour. My watercolours have more layers of paint and fine detail brushwork too. I don’t use ready mixed watercolours. I mix all my colours from three colours a blue, a yellow and a red. I don’t use masking fluid, so all areas that are to remain white have to be carefully painted around. Also I don’t use a white paint, so all fine white hairs on leaves, flowers and even animals have to be carefully painted around. So the paper is the white, left unpainted.

Also I paint layers upon layers of watercolour, which can be difficult, because with each new layer, the under layer could wash off. It’s a balancing act.

Also I mix colours on the paper rather than in a palette, especially for portraits. I like to paint the darker undertones to a face first, which is the opposite of how you normally use watercolours (should be from light to dark).

My technique is known as pure watercolour, but I go further by not using masking fluid and mixing my own colours from three colours.

What is the most challenging thing for you when it comes to painting?

Not to try to be a perfectionist and to know when to let a painting go. It can be hard letting go of some of the detail too.

What would be your career dream?

To sell more paintings and not have to do all the promotion of my work, but have more time to paint. For my paintings to inspire people to look more closely at nature and see the wonderful detail, they overlook.

What project would you love to be able to do/complete?

I have several ideas I’d like to complete, from large scale paintings to writing stories with illustrations.

What were you doing previously to this?

I was the financial director of an engineering company I started with my husband.

What inspired you to go full time as an artist?

Helen Parry_Barn Owl — © Helen Parry – Barn Owl

When you run your own business it takes every hour of your life. We ran an engineering company with a 24/7 breakdown service for many years. You don’t have time for hobbies or holidays. So as time went on, I missed being able to draw or paint or write. I missed being creative.

I saw an opportunity to help with running an after school art club at my children’s primary school. It turned out they needed someone to run it, so I went in at the deep end, finishing early at work once a week to run the art club. I ran it for two-years and it was an absolute pleasure working with the children. We created some really big projects in the school and halfway through the first year we had nearly every child at the school attending. It seemed they enjoyed it just as much as me.

It made me realise how much I’d missed painting and creating and I decided that I would pursue it as a career. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but it was something I had to do to realise my own full potential.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10-15 years time?

I would like to have achieved more paintings, bigger projects and finally have a couple of books published. I would like to be spending more time in the hills with my backpack, painting and sketching and maybe doing talks about these painting adventures.

What is your typical day like?

An early morning run helps the start of my day. I run four mornings a week. It gets my mind focused for the day ahead and I always feel better for having time to myself, that no one can interrupt.

Then I start by going through emails and enquiries. I work seven days a week, so I still do this on a weekend. Next I check social media and respond to enquiries or comments. I’ll do this several times throughout the day. Then I’ll check or order art materials I need or running low on. There is a lot of paper work to sort and paintings have to be photographed and updated onto the website too.

Helen Parry_Stag in Winter — ©Helen Parry – Stag in Winter

There are days when I will be out early on the hills sketching and painting composition ideas. I don’t spend a whole day out as time is precious. I tend to keep moving and sketching quickly. I will take a camera as well in case I see wildlife, they tend not to hang around long enough for me to draw.

I also have to find time in the day to do research on certain projects and identifying plants and flowers. Then I also need time for drawing out ideas for painting compositions too. I try to spend some time at the weekend writing blogs for my website as well.

The rest of my time or day is spent painting. Commission paintings take priority over other paintings, but I can have several paintings on easels at the same time. I can easily spend 8 or 9 hours a day painting, with a short break for lunch and a break for a late dinner. If I’m trying to finish a painting I will return to it, after dinner, so it could end up being a very late night. Regardless of a late night, I’m up early the next morning.

What do you love the most about your job and what do you hate the most?

I love the fact I get to be creative and make my ideas a reality. I hate having to spend time promoting and doing the paperwork.

How do you relax after a long day?

I might sit and watch a tv show on Netflix or Amazon. I don’t have time for terrestrial television. On lighter nights through the summer, I might go for a wander up the lane or sit in the garden and watch the last rays of the sun go down.

You can keep up to date with Helen Parry’s incredible work through her social media accounts; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

To purchase any of Helen’s work, please visit her website.

Meet the Artist – An Interview with Nicky Thompson

We’ve decided to ask some of our clients a few questions, we love learning more about what and how artists are inspired. Here in our first blog post, we’ve spoken to artist Nicky Thompson.

Nicky Thompson - The Artists Print Room — Nicky Thompson

When did you first discover your passion for art and painting/drawing/photography?

By drawing with my mum as a child, my early works were mostly bad copies of Roy of The Rovers comics.

Where do you get your inspiration from and what inspires you?

Nature and the work of artists and illustrators I greatly admire. I especially like Singer Sargent, Barbara Hepworth, Peter Firmin, Charles Tunnicliffe, Frank Henry Mason and Ken Paine.

How would you describe your style?

I have a few styles (being mostly a commercial illustrator)…I am probably best known for my 1930’s inspired travel posters, although I love portraits (pastel/charcoal) and botanical work.

What makes you different from other artists?

Virgin Visual, Nicky Thompson - The Artists Print Room — Virgin Trains, Nicky Thompson

I tend to have a direct style. I think this comes from my background as a commercial illustrator/designer…I like images that work viscerally. I enjoy pushing the boundaries between fine art and commercial illustration. Illustration seems to be enjoying a renaissance at the moment, with people purchasing illustration as fine art print. It’s all very exciting.

What is the most challenging thing for you when it comes to your art?

Commercial work is difficult because you need to marry your intuition and instinct with the expectations of a client (and often the voices behind the client).

What would be your career dream? What project would you love to be able to do?

I think to leave behind a body of work that transcends the commercial requirements of a brief. I think of Charles Tunnicliffe and how those Ladybird Book illustrations did so much more than keep his client happy. They inspired awe in generations of children. That is a wonderful thing.

Did you have another career prior to this? If so, what was it?

I briefly flirted with the idea of being footballer! However, two left feet swiftly ended this dream…I started art school at 16 and have been doing it since.

Where would you like to see yourself in 10-15 years’ time?

Cheshire Life, Nicky Thompson - The Artists Print Room — Cheshire Life, Nicky Thompson

Still drawing and creating pictures. It’s what makes me happy.

What is your typical day like?

I’m not sure I have a typical day! Tomorrow looks like this…coffee at home, drive to Chester University to deliver two-hour lecture. then a meeting afterwards with course leader. Drive to my studio, eat a sandwich in the car. Work in the afternoon (three projects need attention tomorrow). Finish work at 6pm, play racketball. Shower. Home, cook tea (maybe with a glass of wine). Read for an hour (The Magpie Murders). Watch a sit-com (Early Doors). Then sleep.

What do you love the most about your job and what do you hate the most?

I love drawing. My day feels exactly the same as doing art at school…but all day, which is brilliant. I never take for granted how lucky I am. I don’t hate anything, although admin and invoicing is never a daily highlight.

How do you relax after a long day?

Playing racketball, cooking dinner, glass of wine and reading.

To see more of Nicky’s work you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

William Shakespeare – The 400th Anniversary Portrait, by Geoffrey Tristram, April 2016.

In 2015, Stratford Town and District Councils asked Geoffrey Tristram, a professional artist from Stourbridge, to create a painting of William Shakespeare’s face for advertising and promotional purposes. They chose Geoffrey first and foremost because they liked his style of painting, but also because of his pedigree as an illustrator. He has been an artist and cartoonist for 40 years, working for hundreds of large companies including the BBC, Penguin Books, Winsor & Newton, Reeves, Ravensburger Puzzles, Trivial Pursuit, and Past Times, to name but a handful. He has designed and illustrated record sleeves for the likes of UB40, postage stamps (The Charles and Diana Royal Wedding, Lake Placid Winter Olympics, World Cup Football and Miss World) and painted or caricatured many celebrities including Jeremy Clarkson, Alan Shearer, and virtually every top snooker player during his 25 year stint as Embassy World Snooker’s favoured cartoonist. So, put simply, he could be trusted to make a good job of it!
Having successfully completed this small, initial commission, Geoffrey confessed that, as a lifelong Shakespeare fan, his dream job was to paint a brand new, large, impressive oil portrait of the Bard at his writing desk. The idea was well received, and just before Christmas 2015, the painting was begun. The artist knew full well that such a picture would bring with it a massive responsibility, and he was in no doubt that it would attract criticism, both good and bad. It didn’t help that, for such a world-famous person as Shakespeare, he didn’t appear to be overly fond of posing for artists, so there wasn’t much in the way of previous reference material to fall back upon.

Undaunted, Geoffrey set about the task in his usual forensic, obsessive way. He dug out copies of just about every existing painting, etching, wood cut, bust and statue that purported to be of the great man. He even found a death mask. They may as well have been ten different people. The etching on the first folio was apparently approved by Ben Jonson, but the drawing was naive and rather odd. There were a couple of paintings, presumably created when Shakespeare was a younger man that could have been Sir Walter Raleigh or any other Elizabethan, for that matter. Some pictures had a full head of hair, while others had none. On some, he looked thin, but on the Holy Trinity Church bust, he looks more like a jolly butcher.

It was dawning on our artist that he had maybe bitten off more than he could chew. Nevertheless, he ploughed on, comparing the images, allowing for the fact that we all get older, fatter and balder, and pictures of us taken at college seldom look like us at all by the time we draw our pension. Then Geoffrey traced out the familiar bald pate and moustache and goatee beard combination, and began to overlay it on top of the various depictions of this enigmatic man, and lo and behold, he experienced a Eureka moment. All the contenders, once so dissimilar, now suddenly began to seriously resemble each other. This gave our frustrated artist heart.

He contacted his friend, Steve Jolliffe, a graphic designer and photographer, and waylaid another friend, Simon Millichip, promising a trip to sunny Stratford and a cream tea in return for reference photographs and a body double, respectively. He then hired a costume of the correct vintage and social class at great expense, and convinced the Shakespeare Birthplace in Henley Street that they must allow him to use the house as a backdrop (they chose the room where W.S. was almost certainly born, which seemed fitting somehow). Due to a traffic jam on the M40, our intrepid band ended up with just half an hour to take all the reference photographs before the first coach-load of tourists arrived.

400th Anniversary Portrait Giclée Print £195
Edition Size 400

Shakespeare’s face was mainly based on the first folio etching, but then Geoffrey humanised it. He wanted to create a real, living, believable human being. Meticulous preparatory drawings were done, sleep was lost and the Tristram residence driven to the edge of sanity. The artist locked himself in his studio for two months, obsessing, painting, fretting his weary hours at the easel and occasionally just sneaking back at some ungodly hour just to take another look. What looked great on a Monday was altered on the Tuesday, and duly altered again on the Wednesday until it returned to how it was in the first place. Then, round about the beginning of February 2016, he emerged paint-stained but happy. He had an answer for every potential critic about every potential bone of contention. His research had been thorough, and if anyone really thought they could do better, they were welcome to try it!

One of the main reasons for painting the picture was the creation of a special edition giclee print. To this end, Geoffrey contacted Mark Parry at the Artist’s Print Room, just outside Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Geoffrey met Mark and was impressed with his attitude and dedication to producing a first class job. For many, the only reproduction of the original painting they would ever see was the print, so it had to be right. It was also important to Geoffrey that Mark was an Artist’s Trade Guild member, and as such, someone who was able to meet their high standards. The two got on famously thanks to a shared sense of humour, and the result was two editions of the image, a special edition of just 400 signed and numbered prints which was aimed at institutions, theatres, schools, colleges and the like, priced at £195 plus postage and packing, and a smaller, domestic-sized open edition at £85.

The original painting was unanimously well received by the Stratford councils, and will be displayed in the ancient town hall during the April festivities, which will see people travelling from all corners of the globe to pay homage to their literary hero. By all accounts, the yearly celebrations are always spectacular, but this year the town intends to raise its game even further, with street processions, a banquet, and a host of famous guest actors and celebrities in attendance. It has even been rumoured that royalty may well attend.

If you are interested in owning one of the prints that Geoffrey and Mark have created, take a look at their new website, www.thetristramshakespeare.co.uk where you can find more information about print sizes and substrate details, etc. You can also email Geoffrey on [email protected] if you need more information. And because there are only 400 prints available to the whole world, please remember, if t’were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it was done quickly!

That man had a way with words, don’t you think?

Helen Parry Watercolour Artist

Our Artist of the Month

Helen is an extremely talented PURE Watercolour Artist from Shropshire. Helen’s painting technique is extremely rare these days, She works using only 3-primary pigments, no black and no white. All the colours used are mixed in palettes or in multiple layers, thus building up a dynamic colour range. All the whites you see are the paper. it’s quite remarkable, each of Helen’s paintings take about 35 hours to complete. Helen is also the co-founder of The Artists Print Room.

Please visit Helen’s Website Click Here

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