Biog - Lions of Bath 2010

Artists
Lions of Bath artists
Nicky Ackland-Snow
James Adams
Catherine Beale
John Bendon
Claire Benison
Sonja Benskin-Mesher
David Birks
Sam Brett-Atkin
Jane Veveris Callan
Sam Charles
Julia Davey
Rachael Doble
Nicola Donovan
Alan Dun
Louette Eagles
Jane Eaton
Susan Elliott
Lucy Eves
Kaffe Fassett
Teresa Foster
Laura Freeman
Angela Goodman
John Gould
Nina Gronw-Lewis
Sophie Howard
Helena Howcroft
Interim – Ben Trill and
Esther Yarnold
Matthew James
Elizabeth Knott
Stephen Knowles and The
Wooden Hand Collective
Heidi Lee-Sperring
Samuel Lindup
Bhari Long
James Mark Long
Mark Lovegrove
Brandon Mably
Bradley Macmath
Charlotte Moore
Howard Moses
Francis Mosley
Lee Moss
Paul Nicholls
Helen Nock
Darren Portch
Kate Rattray
Jane Robinson
Caroline Rudge
Graham Ryan
Stephen Seal
Josephine Sherabayani
Citizen Skwith
Annette Smith
Mark Smith
Ted Smith
Jac Solomons
Simon Spilsbury & Art Bombers
Helen Stanfield
Emma Strange
Lila Streether
Carole Tonge
Julia Trickey
Joe Tymkow
Lara Varga
Julia Warin
Sarah-Jane van der Westhuizen
Rachel Wilcox
Lisa Thelion-Wooding
Nicky Ackland-Snow
Biog
Nicola Ackland-Snow has been an
award-winning commercial illustrator
and lecturer in the Bath/Bristol area
for the last 17 years, locally famed by
those in the music and arty circles
and a bit of a well-kept secret, creating
quirky pieces for UK & US publishing
houses, fine art installations and even
working as co-author of the now worldrenowned 'Fly - The Art of The Club Flyer
(1996)'. Influenced by mixed media
fine artists such as Sir Peter Blake
(who snapped up a Nicky Snow early
piece from her degree show), and
Joseph Cornell, Nicky has long been
fascinated by the infinite possibilities
of bringing together found objects and
images, to create off-the-wall, poetic
messages, seated in 'the now'.
James Adams
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Lion design ideas
Biog
James Adams is an experienced artist,
originally from London, now based in Bath.
He is a master of painted illusion creating
wonderful trompe l’oeil. Manipulating paint
to imitate marble, stone and wood. He is an
experienced gilder and competent illustrator.
James has created stunning backdrops for
theatre and television.
Sponsor Agreed
Catherine Beale
Lion design ideas
A lion with realistic fur, claws and mane but to work in
tones around royal purple. The colour purple will stand
out as bright and modern against an urban or landscaped
setting. To help the public engage with this lion I would
paint a mouse hidden within its mane which children
could be encouraged to look for. In this way they would
explore the sculpture. The mouse refers to the Aesop
Fable of The Lion and The Mouse.
Biog
Catherine is an experienced portrait painter in oils
and watercolours. She has spent 15 years painting
commissions of people, animals and homes, in Asia
and now from her studio near Bath. She decorated
Progressive Pig in the 2008 King Bladud’s Pig Project.
Catherine will hold her fourth solo exhibition in 2010.
John Bendon
Biog
I am more of a graphic artist than anything else.
I draw and print cats and lizards, make moulds in
Silicon rubber, paint murals and do computer art.
For the last 10 years I have done technically correct
Illustrations of lizards for wildlife journals.
I sell coloured prints of their illustrations.
Claire Benison
Lion design ideas
Being ‘green’ - using/portraying recycled materials
(maybe mosaics) to reflect the ongoing climate and
continue awareness battle with our planet.
Keeping a Roman theme - but adding a contemporary
twist
A surrealistic approach
Magical/mystical Lion of fairytales
Futuristic lion - time traveller
genetically modified lion, depicting the sign of the
times – the new age/a new dawn... combining a lion
with another creature, one that would seem outlandish
e.g. a peacock or fish.
Biog
Following a foundation course in art, artist Claire Benison
moved to Brighton where she studied for her BA Honours
degree in illustration (graphic design). Moving back to the
local area she has undertaken a wide spectrum of work
and has held exhibitions in galleries.
Sonja Benskin-Mesher
Main area of artistic activity:
Painting and drawing
Biog
Born 1947, Bournemouth.
Lives and works in Wales. Sonja has worked
full time as an artist since 1999, after completing
a period of study.
She specializes in abstract work, both painting
and drawing. The work is textural and layered
giving an illusion of age and depth.
Sponsor Agreed
David Birks
Main area of artistic activity:
Printmaking
Biog
David specialised in painting at college,
but is now a printmaker working producing
monoprints and drypoints of landscapes
and townscapes. He has taken part in several
open studio events, and exhibited with Bath
Artist Printmakers. He was elected as a
member of the Bath Society of Artists in 2009.
Sam Brett-Atkin
Main area of artistic activity:
Ink
Biog
BRATTKIN aka Sam Brett-Atkin creates
art with fluid forms and a vivid appearance.
Drawing inspiration from anything that feeds
his appetite for elegance and sensual forms,
he makes atmospheric and whimsically
surreal images.
His favourite media is ink but he also works
with pastels, charcoal, paints, print and more.
Jane Veveris Callan
Lion design ideas:
Biog
Jane has been working as an artist for 25 years,
and often exhibits locally. Her work, inspired by the
nature and natural world, celebrates its beauty,
from the ‘everyday’ to the ‘unexpected’. In 2008
she was commissioned to paint 3 sculptures for
the acclaimed King Bladud’s Pigs in Bath Project.
Sponsor Agreed
Sam Charles
Lion design ideas
I would like to use my painting technique to
represent fur, perhaps as a tiger or a cheetah.
The shapes and the colours I use in my
paintings give the subject the energy and
vibrancy you'd expect to see in a wild animal. It
would be great to have the opportunity to utilise
the unique way I paint on a 3D subject.
Biog
Having studied Exercise and Health at University
for 3 years and working in Film and TV for 5, I
picked up my brushes and started from scratch
again. In the past few years I have developed a
unique style, completely self-taught.
Working in oils and using high quality canvas
and frame material on a large scale, the end
results have been highly commended. By
combining a simple, fluid-like style with detailed
finishing touches, utterly original works of art are
produced.
Julia Davey
Main area of artistic activity:
Ceramic Artist
Biog
Graduating in 2007 with a First Class Honours
degree in ‘3D Design: Ceramics’ from Bath
Spa University Julia has been a local practising
artist ever since. Recent local exhibitions include
‘Handmade in Britain’ at Bath Assembly Rooms in
July and ‘Contemporary Ceramics’ at the Rostra
and Rooksmoor Gallery in George Street, Bath.
With a small space at ‘Bath Artists Studios’ Julia
creates unique tableware and homeware pieces,
all decorated with her signature, hand drawn designs.
Rachael Doble
Lion design ideas:
ROAR BRITANNIA
A celebration of Englishness. Vivienne Westwood
meets Blue Peter. English have come of age. One
large Union Jack will be painted over the entire Lion,
stencilled in to the colours will endangered species –
or items of antiquity. To be decided, I am happy to
create the work on my own, but will tentatively take ideas.
Biog
I am a fashion print designer and I studied at Central
St Martins. I have worked for many fashion houses
and interior companies over the years primarily as
a freelance capacity developing in house collections
or specific concepts. Commissions or collaborations
are always welcome.
Nicola Donovan
B.A. and M.A. Fine Art, based at Spike Island Bristol.
Shows nationally and internationally, work held in the
V&A archive, Falmouth Art Gallery and private collections.
Work featured in 'The Guardian', 'The Telegraph',
'Time Out', 'Metro', 'The Observer', 'Artist's Newsletter'
and various regional publications.
I would like to furnish my lion with a sumptuous mass of
mane constructed from medical scalpel blades to create
a tufted, luscious surface and to have the body sprayed
to a perfect metal finish in a paint shop. The blades are
harmless as I obtain them before they are sharpened,
although they still retain the suggestion of danger. The
idea encompasses the nobility and profound beauty of
big cats but also makes plain the deadly potential of these
astonishing beasts. The materials will withstand outdoor
conditions and with a little light the blades sparkle, throwing
light onto surrounding areas and surfaces.
Alan Dun
Lion design ideas
The concept takes a Roman theme: a sculpture
of Cybele, the all powerful Roman goddess
who rode on the back of a lion and was mother
of the gods. I will adapt the lion to have a
sculpted female figure riding on his back.
She will be sculpted in a harmonious
composition with the lion. I will finish the
overall sculpture by colouring the lion basalt
and the goddess to include gold. I will fix the
figure securely to the lion.
Biog
Alan studied sculpture at Chelsea School of
Art in the 1970s, and went on to become a
commercial sculptor. He has worked on public
and private projects all over the world. He now
creates portraits and sculpture from his studio
near Bath. He created the ‘Blady’ pig and
the new lion for Bath.
Louette Eagles
Lion design ideas
‘Mainly in the Pink’ will be a perfectly
detailed lion, modelled on the African lion,
roaming the plains of Bath. Using acrylic
paints the lion will be exquisitely detailed
down to each individual strand of hair but
with a twist; the lion will be in hues of pink.
I would like to dedicate it to the people
supporting the victims of cancer; the
partners, lovers, children, parents and
friends; without their support it would be
difficult to envisage a time when life will
return to being ‘Manely in the Pink’ again.
Biog
South African born Louette paints and
sketches in acrylic and pencil on canvas,
ostrich eggs and slate. She worked as a
scrimshaw artist for the export trade;
her work included exquisitely detailed
wildlife scenery on ostrich eggs, hippo
and elephant ivory from culled animals.
Jane Eaton
Main area of artistic activity:
Oils. A quote by Marc Chagall explains how I work:
“I work in whatever medium likes me at the moment”.
Lion design ideas
Ideas include; Lion decorated like an Ethiopian
Surma stickfighter – emphasises an individuals
strength/intimidates opponents; Dandy Lion – as per
Beau Nash of Bath; Lion painted in a pinstriped
suit with a bowler hat and Rolex.
Biog
I am influenced by Japanese culture, particularly
prints and textiles. My inspiration is drawn
predominantly from life experiences and literature.
Paintings are of a graphic/illustrative style with an
emphasis on line and colour.
Susan Elliott
Biog
Susan lives / works in Hastings, East Sussex.
She trained in textile design before working
as a community artist in London. During this
period she learned mosaic making. It is this
discipline, using recycled kitchen and tourist
ceramics she now embraces. Susan uses
recycled kitchen crockery and tourist mementos
to create a multi-faceted image of popular culture,
often with a narrative of national identity,
expressing a sympathetic deconstruction of
British clichés, describing her work as “like
archiving the mantelpieces and kitchen
cupboards of a Nation.” Susan’s work is
regularly exhibited at Mauger Modern Art in Bath.
Sponsor Agreed
Lucy Eves
Lion design ideas:
One of the initial ideas I have had would be a
playful take on the phrase 'King of Beasts' or
'King of the Jungle', and base this on Elvis
Presley ('The King') - the lion could have his
face and his Vegas jumpsuit painted on, and
Possibly encrusted with jewels/mosaic pieces.
Biog
Lucy Eves gained a BA(Hons) in Illustration at
Swindon College of Art and Design in 1996.
She has had 2 solo exhibitions and exhibited
her work a number of times as part of a group
in London. An interest in photography and
time spent working as a photographer's
assistant led her into employment with the
BBC photo library at Television Centre. She
has since produced a series of floral
photography prints and greetings cards. Lucy
is currently working on writing and illustrating
a childrens' book and is involved in setting up
'Chalk and Cheesecake', a new pre-schoolers’
art class in Bath.
Kaffe Fassett
Main area of artistic activity:
Textile Designer
Biog
Textile and Mosaic designer and author of 16
books, American resident in England since 1964.
Designer of the popular King Bladud’s pig
sculpture “Primavera.
Teresa Foster
Lion design ideas
These include using scenes from stories about the Lion, for
example from Aesop or from C.S Lewis ('The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe). Or a play on words, such as covering the
lion in brightly coloured hearts. Here is a design using the line
"....out of the strong came forth sweetness".
Biog
Teresa is a professional artist who lives and works in Bath.
Both a painter and illustrator, her work encompasses many
subjects and reflects her love of colour, light and pattern. In
2008 she decorated 'Piggery', one of King Bladud's Pigs in
Bath. For the Lions of Bath project she is very happy to work
with a sponsor's ideas or, if they prefer, has several of her own.
Laura Freeman
Main area of artistic activity:
Acrylic paints
Lion design ideas
Ideas for Lions would be brightly coloured,
patterned, jewelled, vibrant etc.
Biog
Laura studied A-Level Art in Oxfordshire
and moved to Bath in 2007. Concentrating
on brightly coloured acrylic paintings,
animals, patterns and monsters form the
main subjects in Laura’s art. In 2008
she painted one of the Bath Pigs, producing
a green and yellow flowery one named
Miss Sowflower.
Angela Goodman
Main area of artistic activity:
Paint
Biog
Angie Goodman is an artist, writer and teacher
whose published work includes arts reviews
and short stories. She has illustrated books
and exhibited and sold prints and paintings in
London and the South West. She recently
organised the Larkhall Festival Art Exhibition
and also established the Larkhall Open Studios.
John Gould
Main area of artistic activity:
Illustration
Lion design ideas
Intricate detail in black and white with ink, machine
and architecture.
Biog
I love to do my art in this medium (black
& white on canvas) it’s a style similar to
M.C. Escher or H.R. Giger.
Sponsor Agreed
Nina Gronw-Lewis
Lion design ideas:
I plan to mosaic my Lion with Glass and
hope to light him from inside, so he
becomes a large Tiffany style lamp,
a contemporary take on a traditional craft.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Biog
Nina grew up in Somerset and still lives
there now. She is a practising artist and
teacher of Glass (stained and fused) and
general art and design. She teaches both
adults and children. She is in her second
year of a degree in Contemporary Fine
Art at Bournemouth University. Her work
is rapidly changing, learning new skills
and using new materials has pushed
the boundaries, she looks forward to
combining her glass skills and knowledge
with her newfound skills to produce a new
range of individual artworks.
Sophie Howard
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Lion design ideas
Top predators, vulnerable creatures of the
threatened natural world, great big pussy
cats and symbols of national pride. Ideas for
lion painting are endless. Sophie painted ’
The Two Tunnels Pig' and 'The Happy Pig'
for Bath's 2008 Pigs project. Delighted to
paint again, she looks forward to collaborating
on new designs.
Biog
Sophie is an artist living and working in Bristol,
with her husband Nigel Shipley who is a painter.
Mostly known for her sculpture, found in galleries
across the UK, she also paints and teaches art.
Sophie's subjects include dancers, nudes and
horses. When not making art, Sophie and Nigel
dance the tango.
Helena Howcroft
Lions design ideas:
Biog
Helena Howcroft trained as a textile designer and
started her working career as a fashion/textile designer.
She now works in Bath as a superyacht interior
designer for Reymond Langton Design. Along with her
keen eye for design she has a great hand for drawing
and painting.
Interim – Ben Trill & Esther Yarnold
Main area of artistic activity: Pattern based work
Lion Design Ideas
Our design work always starts from a doodle or a sketch
and develops from this. Our style is clean and graphical
designs and pattern based work.The pattern or design
will be applied to the lions body either directly hand drawn
onto the surface or using vinyl graphics designed and
produced off site. All of our design work also has an element
of community participation and we would like to propose
the possibility of holding small drop in workshops in the
local area to create the work together with us. An interesting
and organic pattern will be formed during this design process.
We are able to work from an initial idea or colour theme
and to develop the initial idea into the pattern, or design.
Biog
Interim is a partnership between UK (London & Dorset)
based digital artists, Ben Trill and Esther Yarnold. Interim
create playful, engaging and aesthetic art and design work,
focusing on issues of negative space in both real and
unreal worlds.
Matthew James
Main area of artistic activity: Illustration
Lion design ideas
My initial idea for the Lion is to cover its surface
with a scene encompassing earth, sky and space
and to inhabit this land with numerous fantastical
characters in many varying situations – there may
also be a written aspect with a poem incorporated
into the design as well as any particular ‘theme’
required by the sponsor.
Biog:
The work of Matthew James communicates the
fragility of life and its composite parts. One day all
that is and will be won’t exist – this inevitable truth
is what drives and inspires his beautiful works, which
celebrate the wonder and diversity of life as well
as illustrating the insanity of our conflict with nature.
Elizabeth Knott
Lion design ideas
I would project shadows directly onto the lion,
combined with shadows drawn onto acetate
and then projected. These shadows would be
from my immediate environment, such as from
plants and from the human figure. I would use
bold, solid shapes of colour with possible outlines.
Colour is important in my work. I like that it can
suggest depth and create visual illusions. I would
use acrylic paint. Having suggested this, I would
be equally happy to work to a different design idea.
Biog
Elizabeth Knott graduated from Bath Spa
University in Fine Art. Her paintings incorporate
elements of the human figure and of the
landscape. Bold colour is important in the
ambiguous paintings of her immediate
environment. She has successfully exhibited in
Bath, Bristol and London and designed the
popular 2008 King Bladud’s pig sculptures;
“Bath Rugby Pig” and “Hog the Front Page.
Steve Knowles & The Wooden Hand Collective
Lion design ideas:
Biog
A creative collective based in Cornwall,
consisting of a small group of artists, illustrators
And designers who individually have amassed a
wealth of experience in their chosen fields.
Brought together under a single banner, the aim
of the collective is to promote ourselves and
show our work through initiating regular local
and national exhibitions.
Heidi Lee-Sperring
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Biog
Heidi Lee-Sperring specialised in Art
Design Education at Bath Spa University.
She currently teaches at the City of Bath
College and is a music photographer.
Heidi has experience in many artistic fields ,
but her passion lies with painting.
Samuel Lindup
Main area of artistic activity: Mixed mediums
Lion design ideas
Biog
Sam Lindup is an artist who lives and works in Bath.
He draws inspiration from the City, its people and
the surrounding environment. Sam’s work has been
exhibited at local and national exhibitions. He works
in various mediums with colourful geometrical patterns
which challenge the eye and brain to view its meaning.
Bhari Long
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Lion design ideas
Bhari would love to paint a lion in bright colours,
perhaps quite fun-loving, and is especially drawn
to the titles of lions given as follows: lion dancer,
making a bee lion, lion fish, dandelion, coastline,
shoreline, lion eyes, neckline (jewellery),
reading between the lions (featuring text about
the whole Lions of Bath history etc), lion heart,
lion hearted, ARI (Hebrew name meaning ‘lion’
(by BHARI!).
Biog
Local artist, Bhari has exhibited across
Southern England. Married to artist James
Mark Long, first joint exhibition 2007, The Forum,
Bath. Latest, Westminster Central Hall, 2009.
Bhari loves colour! Paintings renowned for
bright, vivid colours, whether life-like or abstract,
full of movement, energy and expression,
sometimes quite fun-loving, sometimes peaceful.
James Mark Long
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Biog
A local Artist since 1993, James has exhibited across
England, including the Wildlife Art Society International
Exhibitions; The Forum, Bath; Westminster Central Hall,
London and currently at Cheddar Gallery, Cheddar Gorge
and Time & Space Gallery, Combe Down, Bath. Having
achieved noteable success as a Wildlife Artist, in
September 2001 he attracted a lot of local media interest
when his stunning painting of a Sumatran tiger stole the
show at the "The Best Of..." (40 Artists) Exhibition at the
Citadel Gallery, Chippenham. Here he was first acclaimed
as 'the new Sir David Shepherd!" James regularly paints
in acrylics and has received commissions from across
the UK, Europe, Australia and USA. He paints everything
from portraits to landscapes, seascapes to wildlife.
James' style is incredibly life-like and he has painted
the lion more than any other subject!
Mark Lovegrove
Main area of artistic activity: Landscaper
Biog
Mark studied graphic and three dimensional design
in London, before moving into horticulture. He worked
for a number of landscape and event companies in
London, traveling throughout Europe, the US and
Russia within a team of designers creating bespoke
events and gardens for discerning clients. Later moving
to the West Country he lived and worked in Bath for a
number of years before moving to Bristol two years ago
setting up his own garden design and event company.
Brandon Mably
Main area of artistic activity:
Painting, mosaic, textiles, interior and styling.
Biog
Internationally renowned author and textile
artist Brandon Mably teaches colour in
design workshops world wide besides
running the Kaffe Fassett studio in London.
Bradley Macmath
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Biog
Bradley Macmath’s work focuses on travel
and personal experience. The paintings
which he creates are visual responses to
visiting different parts of the world. The first
‘series’ of these pieces were a reaction to
time spent in Tokyo, Japan. These canvas
works make use of multiple media and
techniques to communicate the feel of
the city.
Charlotte Moore
Main area of artistic activity: Painting
Biog
Born in Australia, grew up in London.
Graduated from Falmouth College of Art
in 1969. Exhibited regularly in London and
the Midlands until 1989 while teaching at
Bournville College of Art, then moved to
Australia to teach at Queensland College
of Art and exhibited at the 482 Gallery.
Now lives in Bath and exhibits in London
and the West Country.
Howard Moses
Main area of artistic activity:
Carving, etching and sculpting.
Lion design ideas:
Glittering pride of lions.
Biog
Howard Moses works in a range of
media across many disciplines. From
fine art, sculpture and calligraphy to
animation and special effects for the
moving image. Represented as a fine
artist by Hawkins Gallery in Bath, he
also decorative pieces such creates
as mirrors, brooches and candlesticks
in a variety of materials.
Francis Mosley
Main area of artistic activity: Illustration
Lion design ideas:
A blue lion with a crackle glaze - like the crazing
on old glazed pottery.
Biog
Francis trained at Brighton and has worked
as an illustrator for over 25 years. His painting
is currently non-representational but figurative
elements are discernible and there is depth.
His most recent work has evolved without any
specific starting point and has developed as
he responded to and selected from elements
produced by chance.
Lee Moss
Main area of artistic activity: Painting, Sculpture
Lion design ideas
I would like to create a design for a lion that
relates to the practice of the sponsor in some
way but also retains the spirit of the animal.
I am also very willing to work to a specified brief
and challenge myself in new ways with this project.
Biog
A recent graduate of Bath Spa University 2007,
Lee’s work is made up of traditional oil paintings
and sculpture often combining wood and metal.
Currently working in a studio space at Bath Artists
Studios, Lee gains inspiration from the human form
and variety of character for the majority of his work.
This interest in the figurative also translates into
his sculpture work along with a quirky sense of
humour to be found in much of his work.
Paul Nicholls
Lion design ideas:
The design will include summer seaside
images of surfing, sailing and sandcastles.
I would hope to call it ‘Sea Lion’.
Biog
Paul Nicholls studied at Epsom, Portsmouth
and Brighton Colleges of Art, from 1965 to
1970. He is inspired to paint by a wide variety
of subjects, often with an affinity towards the
sea, figures and landscapes. Paul has held
many one-man shows and mixed exhibitions
across the UK. His work is in the public
collection of the Royal Cornwall Museum as
well as many private collections at home
and abroad.
Helen Nock
Lion design ideas
Stained glass mosaic, but not exclusively, and open to
ideas of potential sponsors. I can incorporate other
materials including non-corrosive metal details and
a partial or whole painted decoration/theme option too.
With permission of the Lions of Bath team, I can also
make additions to the lion sculpture in e.g. fibre glass
or epoxy-based body filler materials for say, sculpting
a larger main. Initially, I’m envisaging a grand main
decorated in glass… perhaps golds and coppers with
interesting glass insets over the body, and realistically
modelled eyelids with embedded glass centres.
Biog
Helen specialises in designing and making bespoke and
highly individual, durable garden art furniture and sculpture.
Diverse material is incorporated into her work, often
reclaimed and in combination with traditionally forged
metals for supporting structures and interesting design
details. Helen often draws on mosaic method in surface
techniques, which she used to decorate Pig in Clover for
the King Bladud’s Pigs project in 2008.
Darren Portch
Biog
BOVTS trained in scenic art and propmaking.
National tours including ‘An Inspector Calls’.
5 years as residant scenic artist at Bristol Old Vic
4 Years as Scenic Art tutor, BOVTS.
Designing / painting sets. Most recently designed
Richard III at the Alma.
For Bladud Pigs Darren designed ‘Dig My Pig’
based on the Combe Down mines.
Kate Rattray
Main area of artistic activity: Mosaic
Lion design ideas
A golden lion - using copper, orange and gold
tiles. A white lion - using silver and cream tiles.
Biog
Kate is a Somerset based mosaic artist,
having worked in the medium for 15 years.
She uses a variety of materials to create
beautiful, and often iconic indoor and outdoor
mosaics for exhibition, community and
private spaces.
Sponsor Agreed
Jane Robinson
Main area of artistic activity: Paint
Biog
Born in Bath, Jane trained and worked in
London as a graphic designer for 20 years.
Now based at a workshop in Bradford on
Avon she specialises in trompe l'oeil, still
life and flower painting. Preferring to work on
a large scale, she has completed commissions
for both domestic and commercial situations.
Caroline Rudge
Lion design ideas:
Biog
Caroline Rudge lives and works in Corsham.
Since graduating with a Fine Art degree
in 2002, Caroline has been working
as a professional artist, and exhibits widely.
She is currently working towards her first
solo show in Mold, Wales in September 2010.
Graham Ryan
Biog
Born in Dublin, Graham Ryan also lived in
Laois, Kildare, Mayo, Galway, Wexford
and Waterford. He is currently living in Bath,
UK. Balancing the fast pace of city life with
the calming rhythm of the countryside, and
under the influence of the sea, he finds
inspiration everywhere.
Stephen Seal
Lion Design Ideas
Biog
Stephen studied at Bath Academy of Art in
the 1980s - from there he became interested
in computer art and worked in London for
advertising, fashion and music clients such as
V&A, Alexander McQueen, Bjork, John Galliano.
Now living and working in Bath, his work
combines photography and computer illustration.
Josephine Sherabayani
Lion design ideas
I am thinking at the moment of a Venetian
Lion, as the Serenissima, which was the
old state of Venice, is represented by a
winged lion, though I am not thinking of
attaching wings but of painting them and
then adding paintings of commedia dell'arte
characters.
Biog
Josie studied life drawing at the Accademia
in Venice, learnt how to make masks, and
started a wholesale business there. After 7
years she returned to London and opened
a mask shop in Camden Lock. 10 years
and three children later she is back in Bath
painting and sculpting.
Citizen Skwith
Lion design ideas:
Biog
Citizen Skwith is an artist who is currently working on the
streets of Bath, Brighton, London and Amsterdam. He likes
to look at everyday objects, signs and events, change them
and bring them to life with his unique sense of humour,
then leave them for people to discover and photograph.
He has produced a couple of ongoing projects called Signs
of Life and Crass Sections (attached) and is just starting
on the Pigeon Project. Recently he set up the ‘Free Art Fair’
outside the ‘Frieze Art Fair’ in Regents Park.
Annette Smith
Lion design ideas:
The Egyptian sun/lion god Aker: the colours
of the rising dawn spreading slowly over the
lion figure, his head in the 'day' and tail in the
'night' time the leonine Sphinx: covered in
riddles – maybe one made up specially for
the event, the Nemean lion and Hercules:
painted in black and ochre geometrics like
a Greek vase, or with Victorian style
weightlifters. However, my designs for 'Abi'
and 'Ziggy' pigs were in response to my
individual sponsors, and I would be willing
to go on working in the same way for the
Lions of Bath event.
Biog
Annette Smith is primarily a painter interested
in the passage of time and its relationship to
lived experience. Her dreamlike images are
informed by an interest in early photographic
techniques. She decorated two of the King
Bladud's Pigs in 2008 and has exhibited in
London and locally.
Mark Smith
Biog
Smith’s work deals with questions of recognition,
memory and reality, using different materials and
processes to achieve a specific piece of work.
He examines the connection between the strange
and familiar, resulting in an interaction between the
abstract and the surreal, the human and the alien.
Ted Smith
Lion design ideas
The Lion is to be called 'Lions of Communication' and
is to be painted brightly but fairly realistically and the
entire surface will be subtly covered in words and
sentences that will add visual texture and literally
portray those very lines of communication suggested
by the title. And fear not, no expletives or offensive
language will be used - on the contrary, the overall
message will be of thought and consideration for
others, reflecting the company ethos of 'From Me To
You', the sponsor. Also, I was fortunate enough
to have painted a pig last year and intend to repeat
the medium of acrylic together with a few coats of
Lascaux UV Varnish.
Biog
Ted, based in the village of Box, is primarily an
Abstract and Figurative painter and fiction writer. His
preferred medium is acrylic and mixed media on
canvas and also sculpture and has had two pieces
accepted by the RWA. In the new year he intends to
work on a community based art project of his own design.
Sponsor Agreed
Jac Solomons
Lion design ideas
Jac is happy to collaborate with her sponsors
to come up with a design together…
Biog
Jac Solomons decorated two of the Bath
Pigs in 2008. She is a well established
graphic designer and painter, with a
reputation for creating bold, exciting and
memorable images. Jac has exhibited
several times at the Royal West of England
Academy Autumn Exhibition.
Sponsor Agreed
Simon Spilsbury & Art Bombers
Lion design ideas
Biog
Simon Spilsbury is primarily an exponent of line.
He draws all the time. When he’s not drawing
he’s teaching drawing at Bath Spa University
UK. His commissioners have described his line
as spontaneous, energetic, quirky, inherently
humorous, adaptable and elegant. One
enthusiastic Art Director said “Spilsbury’s
drawings always jump off the page and bite me
on the ass.”
Helen Stanfield
Lion design ideas
Biog
Helen Stanfield is a Primary School teacher in Bath and
has also lived and worked abroad in various countries in
Scandinavia and the Far East. She works in many
different media including oils, watercolour, pen and ink,
and silk painting and particularly enjoys working on intricate
patterns and detailed designs (see Inky Pinky Porky).
Emma Strange
Lion design ideas
Ideas are to decorate the lion with ceramic
flowers, either ceramic and wire flowers
attached throughout the mane and tail
(although with the lions being outside this
may not be possible with the fragility of the
wire and ceramic, this would need to be
looked into) so another idea would be to
make ceramic tiles of flowers, all decorated
differently to be attached to the lion to give
a relief on the lions surface. The flowers
could be arranged in all sorts of different
pattern formations from as few to as many
as required, all depending on the design.
Biog
My work is inspired by colour and surface
pattern. I work with a mix of nichrome wire
and clay to express a sense of movement
and spontaneity, capturing the essence of
a flower without being too representational.
Each flower is unique and can stand alone
or playfully dance in groups.
Lila Streether
Lion design ideas:
'Sun Lion' and therefore sunflowers as they
can be bright and sunny colours. The leaves
and stems of these would be a blue-green.
The background could be a rusty colour,
to look semi-realistic. At the base, will be
grasses to look as though the lion was
emerging from undergrowth. The grasses
would start from the feet and taper off at
midway height on the lion, and would be
varying lengths; they would be in a dark green.
Biog
Specialising in flora, Lila is a founding
member of the Bath Society of Botanical Artists,
working in watercolour. She also belongs to
the Old Bakery Artists with whom she exhibits
regularly, and paints flowers and other subjects
in watercolour and acrylics. Her paintings have
found their way to many other countries; she
has exhibited in the South West of England
and in Dublin.
Carole Tonge
Lion design ideas:
I would take my inspiration from the lions
that appeared on seventeenth century
stumpwork caskets, a good example of which
used to be on view at Holbourne House.
Stumpwork was a very particular form of raised
embroidery that was worked from early transfer
designs. The designs were worked in bright
colours and expensive jewels and beads were
applied to finish them. I propose to treat the lion
as a three dimensional canvas and paint a
surface design in layers of acrylic in bright
turquoise and burnt oranges and browns.
The cream highlights could be accented by
mosaic glass pieces.
Biog
BA (Hons) Economic and Social History from
Hull University, 1986.
City & Guild in Creative Embroidery 1990.
Foundation Art & Design City of Bath College
2007-9.
2009 - ’Infinite Variety’ Summer Showcase at
City of Bath College.
‘Under a Monkey’ Contemporary Art Fair at
City of Bath College.
Julia Trickey
Lion design ideas
Fabric Lion - painted as if made from patchwork
fabric, as a soft toy.
Topiary Lion - as if clipped from shrubs with
creepers, flowers and mini beasts.
‘Sea Lion’ - painted with waves with and/or
underwater scenes.
Lion decorated using traditional African patterns,
Chinese lion designs or Willow Pattern.
Lion painted as if made from another material
- glass, marble, wood etc.
Or a realistic lion!
Biog
Julia is an award winning artist who trained
as a graphic designer but now specialises
in botanical watercolours. She is particularly
drawn towards specimens that are less than
perfect. Julia has experience of other art forms
including trompe l’oeil and painted two of the
2008 Bath Pigs – Hedge Hog and Brassknocker Pig.
Joe Tymkow
Biog
I have increasingly felt that my work lacks any
clear focus or direction, so I have decided to
turn any doubts or frustration into a positive;
consequently I will work on images surrounding
'art & politics'. After all, isn't one of the roles of
an artist to court controversy, to question the
norm and hold a mirror up to society?
Lara Varga
Lion design ideas
For the lions project I would like to work with
a nature inspired theme, ideally utilising
Austrian eidelwiess, fauna and landscape inspired by the Sound of Music and other
relevant Austrian history as it relates to
Richard of Lion heart. Please contact me to
discuss possibilities further.
Biog
Lara has studied Fine Art, has a diploma in
illustration from Chelsea, University of the
arts and is currently studying part-time for an
MA in Art and Design from U.W.E., Bristol.
For over ten years her practice has worked
with Nature, producing images with a
nature/animal, and/or mythological theme.
For King Bladuds pigs she created 'Prince of
acorns' a turquoise pig wearing gold acorn
necklaces, on show at the R.U.H., Bath.
Julia Warin
Lion design ideas
For the Lion project I have initially responded
with an idea for collage and paint around the
idea of “Lionising”, but I am open to other
suggestions and can work in a variety of
mediums and materials, so If you have an
idea and need an artist to realise it, I’m happy
to discuss it.
Biog
As a visual artist I work in a variety of 2D and
3D media, including paint, collage,
photography, ceramics, mixed media, found
object assemblages and site specific
installations. My work is often in response to a
place or project brief, so materials may be
suggested by the context. I try to allow space
for the intuitive, and for chance to lead my
practice into unexpected areas, so my work is
often eclectic and hard to categorise.
Sarah-Jane van der Westhuizen
How I plan to decorate my lion. Three ideas –
Dandy Lion. A ‘foppish’ fellow, with a tail coat, cravat,
colourful ruffled shirt-front and fancy accessories. The
clothing will be real, not painted, so would have to be
displayed indoors.
Lion Heart. I would frame the lion with a giant heart-shape,
probably made of wood, which would have other hearts
hanging off it. The Lion will be sprayed in a textured metallic
colour, to be decided.
The Lion’s Share. The lion with a pair of scales in his mouth.
His body will be decorated with symbols of weights & measures.
Or, of course, he can be covered in junk like Pigasus, but that
poses a problem as to what to call him.
Biog
A self-taught artist, Sarah-Jane has lived near Monmouth,
in the Wye Valley since 1986. A freelance illustrator, her work has,
in the past, included designing enamel boxes for Halcyon Days,
Chelsea Enamels and Moorcroft, creating images for most of the
major greetings card publishers, book illustration and packaging.
A commission to decorate one of 100 life-sized model pigs,
which were on display during summer 2008 in the City of Bath,
led to a series of 3-dimensional Junk Work pieces.
Rachel Wilcox
Lion design ideas
As my present work involves the rhythms and
hypnotic surface of the sea, I would be happy to
continue this theme and decorate the surface of the
lion with ripples or sparkling movements of water.
Colours and image to suit sponsor. Another idea
would be to paint the lion with the patterns of star
constellations, in particular the signs of the zodiac.
On a dark background (dark blue/black) the
constellations of LEO, LEO Minor and other groups
(e.g. Aries, Pisces) would be painted using either
silver or gold, their geometric structures and patterns
being shown with connecting lines also in silver or
gold. I would be using ‘A Field Guide to the Stars
And Planets’ Donald Menzel (Collins1977) for an
accurate guide in making the geometric patterns.
A possible name would be Leo.
Biog
Rachel Wilcox (MA, Contemporary Fine Art) artist
and teacher living in South Gloucestershire. Rachel
regularly exhibits her paintings, drawings and prints
of landscape and the human figure. A member of
Bath Society of Artists, Rachel painted “Bubbles”
the King Bladud’s Pig situated at Thermae Bath Spa.
Lisa Thelion Wooding
Lion design ideas:
‘Thelion’ will have a face sensitively gilded with gold
leaf expressing a gently shaded golden fur. His mane
will glisten with gold and glitter as it tumbles onto
his stone body. The stone will be separated by
golden mortar. Like any hero of an olden age, he
stands firm, a strong and beautiful beast waiting.
Biog
Lisa Wooding is a down to earth artist living and
working in Bath. Her career has been varied and
she has become skilled in many different techniques.
Knowledge and understanding of paint and other
mediums allows Lisa to experiment and play, creating
beautiful unconventional paint finishes whilst using
traditional methods.