Commercial
Artwork
Bespoke artwork can dramatically alter an environment to create character and ambiance, leaving a lasting impression upon customers.
I work very closely with clients to help them achieve exactly what they want. From an initial brief I will research an array of ideas to come up with a range of possibilities to find the one which will best enhance and realise your vision.
I provide detailed design documents throughout the design process to provide as clear a picture as possible of the end product.
Commercial projects can provide challenges, as the demands of every client is different, but when the right solution is found the end result is deeply satisfying for both the client and myself.
Headed by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, the Viking pub and bakehouse opened in West Kirby, Wirral in June 2016
The team wanted to reflect the natural world of the vikings by bringing local wildlife into the pub. A large project, consisting of 3 canvases and 8 murals, I've worked closely with them to research local animals and identify the best location for each.
The murals were produced onsite whilst the pub was open, and the feedback from local customers was extremely positive and warming.
Grey seals are very popular local animals. The West Hoyle sandbank, to the west of Hilbre island, provides a haul-out for large numbers of Grey Seals, up to 400 in summer. Seals can be seen swimming around the islands most days of the year. The original photo for the painting was taken near Hilbre Island. Canvas Size: 800 x 800 mm (80 x 80 cm)
The White-tailed eagle (or White-tailed sea-eagle) is the largest eagle in Europe and the largest bird of prey in the UK, residing in Scotland. Although not common to the local area, they can be spotted locally as they migrate. The largest population in Europe is found along the coast of Norway, meaning they would have been very familiar to vikings. Canvas Size: 1295 x 900 mm (129.5 x 90 cm)
Not only are hares popular animals across the UK, but Wirral has a thriving population. Hares can be seen across rural areas of Wirral, particularly the Wirral Way. A large number also live on the grounds of Landican cemetery.
Ravens are common across the planet, but hold a very important role within Viking and Norse mythology. Odin had two ravens, Huginn (from Old Norse ‘thought’) and Muninn (Old Norse ‘memory or ‘mind’), who served as his eyes and ears all over the world, Midgard. Each day Huginn and Muninn would fly out from Odin’s throne, Hliðskjálf, and bring back news from across Midgard.
Short-eared owls can been seen along West Wirral along the river Dee. Seen from Spring to Autumn, they particularly like the marshes from Heswall to Parkgate, as well as Hilbre Island. The photo for this mural was taken on Hilbre Island.
This curious fellow was included to honour the few vikings who made it to North America around A.D.1000.
Foxes are a common sight in both countryside and urban areas and are one of Britain’s most popular mammals. This guy has been very popular with visitors and staff.
The grey heron is Europe’s largest heron, and it tops the aquatic food chain. Extremely popular in the region, 2 of 5 largest heronries in Britain are in Wirral & Cheshire. The grey heron is a truly impressive wading bird with an unmistakeable appearance. Standing tall on thin legs, a fully grown adult reaches approximately one metre tall.
Mediterranean Gull (top-left) & Turnstone (bottom right) Over the past 100 years Turnstones have gone from being rare to quite common on the coasts of UK and Wirral, especially Hilbre Island.
I produced 2 large scale murals for Auger to create some very unique and striking spaces in their brand new offices.
First was a 10 meter long corridor leading to meeting rooms with toilets, a shower room and a storage room at the end. Second was a 6.7 x 3 metre blank wall in a 'Games Room' for staff and guests.
The two pieces are polar opposites in style but the variety creates a very powerful and impressive effect, both through scale and subject matter. The hallway is very calming and relaxing, whilst the games room is lively, bright and uplifting.
Liverpool Skyline with the 3 Graces and Mann Island stretch along the left side of the main hallway. The full corridor is approx. 10 metres long.
The Mann Island building provided me with a large abstract shape to break up the area and provide depth to the hallway. This is enhanced by replacing the roof area with a flat yellow colour, whilst the blue face of the building is representative of the sky reflecting on the glass.
The end of the corridor has toilets and a shower room. A nature scene with an animal on each door was chosen to contrast the city view and provide a subtle clue to which door is which.
The theme and style was chosen by the client whilst I selected the final images and arrangement. The wall is 3 x 6.7 metres in sizes with each square being 90 x 90 cm in size.
The room is a Games Room for staff and guests to use to relax or chill out.
The mural looks interesting from a variety of angles.
A size comparison of me next to the finished mural.
The comparison show the dramatic effect the mural has had on the space, adding a great amount of colour, life and energy. The fun and bold nature of the mural actually compliments the hallway mural very nicely.
Jamie Carragher Retirement Portrait
In 2013 I painted a portrait for Jamie Carragher's 23 foundation charity as part of the celebrations surrounding his retirement from Liverpool football club.
The photo is of (right to left) Jamie Carragher, Mike Lepic from 23 Foundation, and then Liverpool Manager Brendan Rogers, with the painting (signed by Liverpool team mates and staff).
LP Strength Academy
LP Strength Academy in Wallasey provide 1-to-1 training and asked me to do a total of 3 murals to inspire their clients and brighten the gym.
First I was tasked with painting an Olympic lifting Ironman; as in the Marvel superhero not the strongman competition!
Alongside Ironman is She-Hulk, a strong female figure to inspire the many female clients they have.
Finally I was asked to paint a custom version of their logo, which I decided to embellish with a lively paint splatter style to contrast with the Marvel comic book characters.
Sound Basement
I was asked to produce an energetic graffiti mural for popular Liverpool bar 'Sound' in their new basement bar. The new space is a bar and music venue, with the aim to create a small make shift and exciting underground bar.
The design came together quickly and I was left to let go and do what I want.
In 2008 my brother and I were comissioned to produce a series of large striking paintings for Vodka Revolution bars in London and Cardiff.
The style was inspired by 17th Century Dutch-realist paintings, with dark, atmospheric still-lifes lit by candle-light.
Both were oil paintings of at last 2 meters in height or width, and each was designed specifically for that bar and location. The London Ledenhall bar is a converted old bank, the photo for the painting was taken in the old vaults on the draw of a safety-deposit box.
Oil painting, 2 x 2.6 meters
Vodka Revolution Cardiff painting in progress
Close-up detail of lettering and reflections on the vodka bottles
Oil painting, 1.85 x 2.4 meters
In progress picture
Close-up of finished shot glasses and reflections.
Chester GiANTS
To celebrate the Royal wedding of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 my brother and I were commissioned to created giant heads for 'Chester the GiANT City', a community project based in Chester.
The heads were 5ft tall and modeled in clay. From the clay models we created molds and cast out light-weight versions of the heads in fiber-glass resin, then painted. Other artists and community groups created clothing for the Royal giants, who were featured in local newspapers as well as promotional material for Britain's Got Talent.
Tallulas Wine Bar
Tallulas bar and nightclub in New Brighton, Wirral, was themed with a French Moroccan boudoir style.
In 2008 my brother and I completed 3 large scale oil paintings of pin-up girls, complementing the nightclubs unique style and burlesque nights. Unfortunately the bar closed in 2012.
This large oil painting was completed by my brother and I in 2009. All we were given was a tiny, very bad quality print out with no further details. It wasn't till a few years later I eventually found the woman was Olive Thomas, the first sweetheart of Hollywood, and the artist was Alberto Vargas. The piece is called 'Memories of Olive', 1920.