The Marquetry Shack

This is based on a photograph kindly loaned to me by the prestigious  Weldon Company, the foremost quality flooring company in Europe. ( http://weldon.co.uk ) It shows one of their craftsmen working on the floor of Westminster Hall. I was really impressed by the professionalism of the craftsmen and the way that Weldon continue to use hand crafting as well as more modern techniques. It also helps that the composition of the original photograph is brilliant as well. As an homage I added my own addition in the top left corner - a copy of the famous self-portrait by the Italian marquetarian Antonio Barili produced in 1502. This has led to me calling the picture "Young master and old master". 

Cost: £1300

This large and ambitious piece has taken quite a while but it is worth it. Entitled 'The Firefighter's Wedding', it is based on a photograph I took in Cologne. I was lucky to be passing just as the wedding was taking place and of course had my camera with me. Having looked at the photograph, which you can see below, I decided to do a triptych, one because I wanted to and two because I thought it would tell a different story (or series of stories) and add a bit of mystery. 

Cost: £1100

The original photograph! 
This picture is something different in that I have incorporated six miniatures into one picture, to give the impression of a photograph frame. I then cut and laid a pine overpiece to complete the photo frame effect. I took all the photographs in Siesta Key, Florida, the same place I took the photograph for the big beach scene. And I am delighted to say that the same person, Paul Parr, of http://www.sunsetroyale.com bought the picture for his other Siesta Key apartment, as soon as it went online! 

SOLD

There is a lonely statue high on the roof of Hotel Kvarner in Opatija, Croatia. If you are lucky enough to stay there and have a seaview balcony, you will see him sitting pensively (usually with a sea bird on his head, hence the guano streaking his face like tears!)  Last time I was there I took a close-up to do in wood - I just feel that marquetry pictures of statues create a bizarre reality! Here is the finished product! 

Cost: £240

This is the first of two pictures based on my own photographs and celebrating Manchester's boho Northern Quarter, a great place to eat, drink, shop or just chill! It reproduces a sculpture by Cornish artist, David Kemp, which is called 'The Big Horn'. Sadly it is shortly to be demolished to make way for apartments, so hopefully this is a fitting reminder. 

Cost: £650

This is the second of the two Northern Quarter pictures, showing a scene in Stevenson Square, where iconic street art can always be found, in this case a painting of David Bowie by Manchester based Akse 19 Crew. The painting reproduces a famous photograph by world famous photographer Gavin Evans. I was delighted to get copyright waivers from both of them and as they also donated their talent free of charge, I will contribute anything I earn from this picture to Manchester's homeless. 

Cost: £900

Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar on the Manchester to Leeds rail line is an iconic bar in a beautiful setting that appears unchanged by time. When I found that I would be displaying at the People's Gallery in Stalybridge I knew I had to take some photographs and then do a picture. I did a shot from the opposite platform so my picture could show the famous clock and station sign. 

Cost: £900

I could spend my whole life photographing sunset beach scenes at Siesta Key outside my friend Paul Parr's apartment by the sea and this is another one. You just can't beat the combination of tulipwood, rosewood and ebony to get a memorable silhouette. 

Cost: £400

I was delighted to do this picture, though the amount of detail made it hard work! It is of Dimitri's Restaurant, Deansgate, Manchester and the reason for the choice of subject is that Dimitri's are big art fans and there are plans for a joint exhibition there of my work and that of my friend and fellow artist Gordon Clegg. Look out here for more details! 

Cost: £900

This head portrait is based on a plaster saint I photographed in a church in Macau, China. It was tricky to do as the statue was very glossy and the features were eroded - but I wanted to do it as I like the expression on the face! 

Cost: £370

There is a lot of blue in this picture because the stage it was taken on at night time was lit with blue! The original photograph was taken from a balcony above the stage in Opatija as a Croatian band were playing their set. To the purists who frown on dyed veneers I refer you to the artists who were experimenting with cave paintings 35,000 years ago and the many breakthroughs since! 

Cost: £380

This picture is based on a photograph I took at sunset in Hawaii. I just went round a corner and saw this scene. I was really lucky that I had the veneers waiting to do a perfect sky and sea! I used smoked oak for the trees - very dramatic veneer but terrible to work with! 

Cost £860

I have called this picture "Night time in Venice"  I took the original photograph late in the evening just as people were starting to go out. I subsequently decided that dyed birds-eye maple was perfect for the canal. 

Cost: £640

Fantasy Fest is a 10 day celebration held every October in my favourite place in Florida - Key West. The increasingly wild series of events (like a zombie bike ride round the island) culminate in a big parade on the last evening and I was lucky enough to be there in 2018. I took some photographs of the crowd waiting in anticipation and turned one into the picture you see here. As you can see there is a lot of detail - but my favourite bit is the sky veneer which I had saved for three years to do justice to a setting sun! 

Cost: £860

When I get a break in between commissions (which doesn't happen often these days) I am working on series of pictures of my old stamping ground the Northern Quarter of Manchester, especially around Shudehill. This picture is based on a photograph I took at night-time at Shudehill Interchange, hence the title, Night in Shudehill. Some people find beauty in flowers and country cottages - I find beauty in urban grunge! 

£680

Time for a bit of fusion! One of my favourite paintings of all time is Renoir's 'Luncheon of the Boating Party' (I have a print of it on my wall). Some time ago a family group had an impromptu barbecue and I realised a photograph I took had some similarities in composition. I decided to have fun doing a combination picture, adding the awning at the back, the spooky man in the vest from the original painting - and Renoir himself (from his famous self portrait). All these were then combined with the barbecue photo to make a modern day version, that may be called 'Renoir comes to the Party' or 'Luncheon of the Barbecue Party' (in fact 'the Barbecue Party' would be a great political movement!) 

 

Sometimes a picture discovers you rather than vice versa and this happened when I was crossing the River Aure in Bayeux, Normandy. My eye was drawn by two small boats (one nearly under water), a couple of bridges and incredible buildings on either side, including the wonderful bistro, 'le Volet Qui Penche'. All of this backed up by trees in the distance and a glowering Normandy sky. The composition could not be improved and it just remained for me to turn the whole scene into a marquetry landscape - oh, and to make sure that on my next visit to Normandy I call in for a meal and drink!

This picture is part of my 'Life in Greater Manchester' series and is titled 'Welcome to Stockport'. Many people who saw a sneak preview on Facebook recognised the location as Little Underbank. I took the photograph it is based on in March 2022, which should give a clue to the title and an extra clue can be seen in the woman's T shirt. One further clue - any proceeds from the sale of this picture will go to Ukrainian relief funds.