Fine Art Blog

Caroline Shotton Artist – Special Delivery & Handle With Care, For Charity

Caroline Shotton is set to release 2 new charity box canvases on July 14th 2008 and £25 from the sale of each item will go to a baby charity called ‘Bliss.’ The charity helps to care for premature babies

In 2007 Caroline had her second baby, Elliot, who was born prematurely and she heard about Bliss and through them she gained invaluable information about caring for her baby

‘Special Delivery’ by Caroline Shotton:

Both images will retail at £330 each and are sized 22’’ x 22’’ inches, a little smaller than her normal box canvases but are at a much keener price! These are special time limited edition pieces and will only be available from 14 July – 30 September 2008, so hurry!

‘Handle With Care’ by Caroline Shotton:

I really like these images as it brings something different again into her ‘Cow’ genre which undoubtedly she has cornered the market on.

I never thought it was possible but these cows maybe the cutest images she has ever released.

If you want to donate directly to Bliss charity, please use the links below.

thank you

Russell

Useful links:

‘Bliss’ baby charity - website homepage
‘Bliss’ - donation page

Artist Beryl Cook’s Original - New record value auction, July 2nd 2008

As per my post in May the artist Beryl Cook sadly passed away.

On July 2nd 2008, Bonhams of London held an auction of British artwork and the Beryl Cook Originals for sale broke the previous world record amount for her work!

‘Granny with her Pet Mouse’ by Beryl Cook:

‘Granny with her Pet Mouse’ has set the new record and sold for a whooping £69,600 Sterling.

And another original: ‘Dolphin’ reached £66,000. Bare in mind the previous record was £28,800 that is quite unbelievable. It means all her Originals, Limited Edition artwork, including lithographs and silkscreens, will now be even more of an excellent investment for her collectors.

Many feel Beryl Cook, before she died, was Britain’s most popular artist and the most instantly recognisable in the UK, I suspect this will remain the same for many years to come.

Some useful links:

http://www.easier.com/view/Home_and_Garden/Interiors/article-188776.html
http://auctionpublicity.com
http://www.bonhams.com
http://www.governmentauctionsuk.co.uk/news.php?newsid=8923

thanks

Russell

Artists Paul Kenton shows us the London, New York & Paris Skylines

A tremendous new artist that is has been published for about a year, Paul Kenton brings something very different to the landscape art scene. Originally born in Derby, England he now resides in Ilfracombe.

‘City Of Light,’ Paris by Paul Kenton:

Having met Paul last year I was lucky enough to speak to him about his painting techniques, from which his unique limited edition box canvases are reproduced. Although he admitted to me that he uses both oil and acrylics amongst other painting mediums, the actual mixture he uses is his own closely guarded secret!

‘City Heat,’ London by Paul Kenton:

As you can see from some of his box canvases, the artwork appears to have been layered on within the last few hours, it’s a lovely effect. Up close the intricacy of some of the paintings is amazing; However stand back from a distance and the real genius of his work comes to light and the full beauty of the scene is revealed to the eyes.

For example ‘Skyline’ up close, looks like a maze of layers and layers of paint but from a distance, its instantly recognizable as the London Skyline!

‘Skyline,’ London by Paul Kenton:

Random fact for you, Paul is also a keen Surfer!

Paul recently released 4 New Box Canvases:
-City Of Light
-NYC
-Manhattan
-City Heat

The 4 depict: Paris, New York, New York and London respectively

‘Manhattan,’ New York by Paul Kenton:

thank you

Russell

Artist Beryl Cook has died Monday 28th May 2008

(Beryl Cook - unpublished self-portrait)

It was with great sadness that I learnt the artist Beryl Cook had died on Wednesday morning the 28th May 2008, with her husband John and her son by her bedside, she was 81 years old.

Beryl Cook is undoubtedly one of the most popular British Artists of the late 20th century and the popularity of her work is absolutely huge both in the UK and worldwide.

(Beryl Cook - ‘Party Girls’)

In my experience, age, race, colour and social class have never been an issue amongst differentiating her fan base. Nearly every person I spoke to about her work found it to be funny, uplifting and appealing, with her bold, and outlandish characters usually depicting something that looked hilarious and yet it was something we recognised from our own lifes.

Her cheeky take on British life and culture have been printed into multiple formats over the last 30 years, from calendars, notebooks and postcards, to signed limited edition prints and silkscreens, she has bought smiles to the faces of countless people.

(Beryl Cook - ‘Clubbing In The Rain’)

Beryl used to quietly sit in the pub or in local café and paint people in real life situations, always managing to capture something funny. She loved painting people laughing and enjoying themselves.

She was also awarded the OBE in 1995, something I wasn’t previously aware of!

I read that Beryl Cook was actually a shy and retiring person in real life. It was though her work, painting these outrageous and larger than life personalities, that perhaps we see the type of person Beryl would have loved to have been herself.

(Beryl Cook - ‘Lady Of Marseilles’)

She lived in Plymouth and I she died peacefully there 2 days ago. My thoughts are with Beryl’s family and friends at this very sad time. If you find any other tributes to her, please feel free to comment.

Usefull links:

Bristol City Council Tribute

Plymouth Herald Newspaper Tribute

Daily Mail Tribute

Gallery of 70+ Beryl Cook’s images

thank you

Russell