pencil art, pencil portraits
art gifts, greeting cards, print and original art
2010
Monday 27 September to Monday 18 October 2010
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Thursday 30 Sept: The Armstrong and Miller Show Friday 1 October:The Armstrong and Miller Show Saturday 2 October: The Armstrong and Miller Show Tuesday 5 October: Ross Noble: Nonsensory Overload Friday 8 October: Mark Watson
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Steve Lilly's Comedy Classic Portraits The Alexandra Theatre showcases the detailed graphite artwork of local fine artist Steve Lilly. Situated within the theatre's Gershwin's Bar, the exhibition features original artwork, prints, collector's cards and brand new material. Steve will also be in attendance on all comedy nights: selling, signing and generally chatting about his drawings. Steve's work is now becoming very collectable with a number of his original works in private collections. He has strong links with the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford, the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society and numerous other comedy related groups and fan clubs. "I think your work is quite excellent, congratulations"- David Croft OBE (creator of Dad's Army) "Each portrait is remarkable not only for the artistic skill involved, but also for how it manages to capture so perfectly the expressions and mannerisms which bring each character to life" - Jacqui Gray, Journal Alexandra Theatre, |
Steptoe and Son pencil art
Pleasingly the order book is already filling up nicely with commissions, I have 3 brand new Comedy Classic portraits on the drawing board: Laurel and Hardy, Allo, Allo! and On the Buses. I have taken advanced orders on all of these for limited edition prints and have agreed a sales outlet in advance for On the Buses with the official fan club at http://www.onthebusesfanclub.com I am selling my Steptoe and Son prints and cards through a fantastic site entitled Albert and Harold at http://www.albertandharold.co.uk I'd like to thank the Highbury Theatre for the esteemed honour they have granted me of Artist of Residence. Over the coming year I hope to repay their trust by raising as much money as I can towards their fund raising drive. My first contact with the theatre came in March 2008 when I held an exhibition of my work, I was made to feel right at home, part of the team and fortunately the show was a success. http://www.highburytheatre.co.uk
Dad's Army Weekend June
After two years of fund raising on 19th June a statue of Captain Mainwaring was unveiled in the Norfolk town of Thetford, where many of the classic sitcom's scenes were filmed. The statue is a magnificent piece of work commissioned by the Dad's Army Museum and created by renowned sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn. In presence were Dad's Army writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry and an array of cast members including Bill Pertwee (Warden Hodges, also the museum patron), Pam Cundell (Mrs Fox, Jone's love interest) and Phil Madoc ( the German U-boat officer).
Sean Hedges-Quinn's fantastic Mainwaring statue
I made the trip from Birmingham for the weekend of Dad's Army related festivities and had a fantastic time. I arrived in Thetford early on a windy and rainy Saturday morning to a warm welcome and was instantly roped into hanging flags from a nearby building. Initially it was planned that I set up a display of my prints and cards inside the museum, but after my flag hanging soaking atop a wind swept ladder we relocated to the indoor sanctuary of the museum. I was not the only artist in attendance: local artist Lyn Aylward stood by in front of a large crowd as Bill Pertwee uncovered a fantastic likeness of himself created by Lyn in oil.
From the indoor shelter of the museum we all walked down to the river front for the grand unveiling of the Mainwaring statue, it really is a brilliant piece of work. After the interlude it was back to a brisk period of trading at the museum. After a tiring but wholly fulfilling day I retired to my hotel room with a bottle of wine to watch the World Cup. When I booked in I found out the 15th century Bell Inn had an illustrious past, the cast and crew of Dad's Army used to stay there. and it has also featured on "Most Haunted". I slept like a log without being disturbed by any paranormal activity. Saturday evening the raffle draw was made for my Dad's Army artwork. The winning ticket was claimed by Robert Kybird from Thetford. The raffle raised a fantastic £840 with the museum taking 30% of the proceedings. Thanks to everyone who took part and for all the hard work from the museum team who really promoted the event and pushed sales.
Dad's Army raffle winner
Sunday's plan was to collect my gear from the museum then travel down to Bressingham for another day of Dad's Army celebrations. Having not learnt from the previous day I was again roped into a bout of labouring. This involved helping to move a couple of hundred chairs in the Carnagie Rooms which were left out from the Dad's Army Comes Home play which was staged the evening before. At some stage in the evenings proceedings I think there may have been a food fight as I kept finding Jersey Mids everywhere!
I eventually made it to Bressingham and set up shop only to have it dismantled a couple of hours later when a strong gust of wind lifted half my prints and cards from the display and dumped them on the floor. Luckily help was at hand in the form of some familiar faces....thanks again for your help.
Bressingham photo by kind permission of Andrew Ruff
I'd like to thank everyone involved in a very enjoyable weekend especially the museum staff, also Corinne for making all the arrangements (when I left Sunday evening she looked dead on her feet).
I now have a profile on Facebook why not check it out..?
CHARLIE a recent commission I created for Get the Picture http://www.getthepictureonline.co.uk/
NEW .... unmounted limited edition prints of my most popular artworks: Dad's Army, Carry On, Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers and Steptoe and Son are now available through my webstore. Prints retail at £20.00 and will offer an alternative format to the mounted version whilst still being part of the limited run of 350.THESE ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE
JOHN DENVER AND KERMIT THE FROG/private commission
Original artwork, limited edition prints and collector's greetings cards at affordable prices. From bespoke portrait commissions for special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays and Christmas to limited edition collectors prints, I have over 18 years experience creating unique pieces of pencil rendered artwork. If you are searching for a very special gift idea you can invest in a commissioned piece from as little as £95.00. Prints begin at £14.00.
The beauty of a graphite portrait lies in the depth of tone and contrast achievable by using varying grades of pencil and differing pressures of application. It is an ideal medium for expressing texture and detail.
Every portrait is created with meticulous attention to detail and is built up over many hours by blending layers of finely laid pencil. All pictures are drawn onto 220g/m acid free heavy weight cartridge paper and mounted onto sturdy mount board.
I take great pride in my work. If the customer is not satisfied neither am I.
2009
Fawlty Towers pencil art
Highlights of the year included a number of events with the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society, a collaboration with the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford and a return stint at the Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham. 2009's Birmingham Comedy Festival exhibition at the Kitchen Garden Cafe again gave me excellent press exposure and a radio interview with Loyd Williams on BBC WM. The Highbury Theatre in Sutton Coldfield named me Artist in Residence and I said a fond farewell to the original portraits of the Carry On team and Fawlty Towers (which made the bank manager happy), but said hello to Steptoe and Son. To finish the year in style I had a trip to the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford to hang my Dad's Army portrait and had the honour of meeting David Croft co-writer of the much loved series.
Dad's Army pencil art www.dadsarmythetford.org.uk
"I think your work is quite excellent, Congratulations".........David Croft OBE
The museum is now stocking my Dad's Army and Godfrey prints and collectors greeting cards.
The location shots for the Dad`s Army TV series were filmed in and around the town of Thetford from 1968 to 1977. The museum celebrates this wonderful comedy. It houses unique photographs (many supplied by The Dad's Army Appreciation Society) alongside the many and varied memorabilia associated with the show. There is also information about the local Home Guard.
Me with Captain Mainwarring Me and David Croft
I took a trip to the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford at the end of November and was given a wonderful surprise. The idea of the trip was to hand over the original Dad's Army artwork , which is to hang at the museum. As the museum is trying to raise £20,000 for a statue of Captain Mainwaring, they are planning to raffle the artwork off to raise funds towards the statue. Little did i know that they had a big surprise in store for me. None other than David Croft himself!! I was just gob-smacked and tongue-tied and just about managed to thank David for the inspiration!
http://www.highburytheatre.co.uk I have been awarded Artist in Residence at the Highbury Theatre in Sutton Coldfield for a year to coincide with the launch of their Autumn/Winter program. The aim of the residency is to help raise awareness of the venue and to contribute towards fund raising for a refurbishment. I will be donating a number of finished works taken from my observations of theatre life and will also be selling existing works, prints and cards with 20% of the proceeds going into the fund raising pot.
ON THE BUSES www.onthebusesfanclub.com
A fantastic site remembering the classic sitcom. The show ended up being exported to 38 countries and is still being re-run to this day. Why not hop onboard the number 11 for a trip down memory lane. This site is absolutely ram packed with information, a must for all sitcom fans.
The Birmingham Comedy Festival
My artwork is now being showcased at Carry On Forever, the ultimate Carry On film fan site, which has for the last 5 years provided over 12,000 visitors with information, videos, competitions and essential news. The site is partnered by the one and only Carry On MySpace page, by joining the Space you can be entitled to some very exclusive offers, and be the first to hear the latest Carry On news.
http://www.freewebs.com/carryonforever/ www.myspace.com/carryonforever
FESTIVAL MEDIA STAR AWARD (Iocal)
Goes to ... artist Steve Lilly whose Comedy Classics exhibition at the OJS has been covered by everyone from the Birmingham Mail to papers in Walsall, Great Barr and 'old codger' websites. Runner up goes to Jo Enright for a sucession of radio and press interviews - the power of a television sitcom!
Birmingham Comedy Festival
hits since induction 10th May 2006
TESTIMONIES
"I think your work is quite excellent. Congratulations" David Croft OBE co-creator of Dad's Army
After a recommendation from a friend i contacted Steve. We met up and i gave him some photos of my dogs. The one dog had died over 13yrs ago, so the photos were not as clear as modern photos, my other dog did not like having his photo
took, so Steve worked from a couple of photos.
The finished drawings are absolutely remarkable, he has managed to capture the essence of my dogs, the expressions are so them!
I would not have any reservations about recommending Steve to anybody. Charmayne McAloon - Birmingham
"I can't believe how lifelike you've made them. There was one of a cocker spaniel that I seriously had to keep reminding myself was a drawing rather than a photo, and the portraits of the TV and film stars are absolutely incredible. You've definitely got a talent there." Rachael Taylor (News Editor, Springfair.com)
"I can't believe what I saw, it was truely amazing. It is not everyday you see something so good as that" ......Rob (http://www.myspace.com/carryonforever)
"the image you have sent me is magnificent" .......http://www.coercri.dsl.pipex.com/whatacarryon
"I really enjoyed your work".....George (http://www.cultv.co.uk )
"I think the portrait is amazing and you,ve done a really good job. You,ve made the characters as life like as possible when it comes to drawing them, and I,m really impressed with your work"...Russell Saunders (http://www.walliamsandlucas.com)
"They are great portraits! Best I've come across by far!"..Michael (littlebritainfans.com)
"The prints are really superb! Well done. I am sure they will prove very popular"...Comedy Dave (http://www.whispersfromwalmington.com)
"Wow, they're really good, - your clearly very dedicated and highly skillful, I'm very impressed"....Mark, British Sitcom Guide Editor (http://www.sitcom.co.uk)
Huge Thanks again,
Love and Light,"
Migs xxx
