TEARS OF A MIDNIGHT CLOWN

This Painting it is about KARMA HOPE FATE CHANCE LUCK DESTINY EXISTENTIALISM SURREALISM, in this time of the post Covid pandemic. ‘Tears of a Midnight Clown’ is a product of my response to being locked down due to Covid 19. it deals with my thoughts and emotions about the themes of Karma Fate etc as well as Expressionism, Surrealism and Existentialism. It is said there is nothing more scary than a Clown at Midnight. In the painting the Clowns tears contain a Magpie … one for sorrow two for joy etc, an allegorical meaning regarding the interplay of Hope, Luck, Chance. and Fate etc in the dark landscape of our dreams and imagination and the way they interplay with our existentiality. This painting was selected for the Outside In Major National Open Exhibition, ‘Humanity’ and was exhibited at Sotheby’s in London 9–27 January 2023 before heading to Project Ability in Glasgow in the summer and then Brighton and Hove Museums in winter 2023.and in 2025 the RBSA  Royal Birmingham Society of Arts Friends Exhibition Show January- February 2025.

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THE TEMPTER

The Midnight Clown Dream Dealer offers his Dream wares to those in search of one dream to follow!

Shortlisted for VAA Visual Art Association International Art 500 2025 competition. Oil and Acrylic on canvass

BEATLES AT SMETHWICK BATHS 1962

The famous Beatles  performed at the Smethick Thimblemill Baths,  back in 1962:- just as they were achieving widespread fame. A member of my family was in the audience that night. I regularly swim at the pool and often look up to the stage area  whilst swimming....  thinking of all the famous 60's groups that performed there. The Smethwick Baths is a great multiuse Environment catering over the decades since 1930's for swimming, Ballroom Dancing  and Concert uses engaging with the community across diverse recreation activities, to provide an inclusive environment responding to change and needs overtime. It is a listed building which has stood the test of time. The Swimmer in the picture is me . I have swam here for over 50 years Man and Boy. This painting was Exhibited At the OUTSIDEIN Environments‍ ‍exhibition has been selected for The 2019 National Outside In Environments exhibition at the Piano Nobile Gallery at Kings Place London 28th October to January .It was also Showcased in FAD magazine publicity article for show

KIMURA DAWN

This painting is of the Japanese Karate Master Kimura who founded the Shukokai Karate style,  'Shukokai' means the 'Way for All' and Master Kimura travelled the world Europe Africa and America to teach the style .It subsequently became a wordwide style with 1000s of Karate students globally.

The painting was entered for the 2019 Royal Birmingham Society of Artists RBSA annual open Prize competition show and it was selected for Exhibition alongside many established Artists of note.

Vicious Icarus

This painting links the the Legend of Icarus flying too close to the sun as he attempts to escape imprisonment, to the career of Sid Vicious. Sid Vicious belongs to that group of musicians who found the existential realities of success too much to live with and reverted to various escape attempts from reality via substance abuse. Some like Vicious flew too close the the sun and who like Icarus died in their attempt to seek escape. This painting Vicious Icarus was selected for the VAO 2022 International Art Exhibition longlist. The painting is the first painting from a intended series of paintings that will Focus on those famous Icons who like Icarus flew too close to the suns flame of fame. The series will be known as the ‘Icarus Set”

Oil And Acrylic on Canvass.

.This painting shows a homeless veteran and his dog sheltering on a bench in the embankment area near Big Ben and Parliament. Often homeless people rescue a homeless dog and the two become  'Loyal Companions'. As a former Nurse and social artist I have talked often to homeless people offering help and  I have often been told that they had been offered sheltered accommodation inside ... but were told they could not bring their dog with them. so they refused and remained outside preferring loyalty over shelter. To the left of the picture a yellow wall depicts so called Hobo symbols graffiti, written on walls by the homeless as messages. The circle with an 'X' inside means 'you can get good handouts here'. Whilst the i symbol on its side means 'this is a good place to stay'. The circle with a P inside it means 'there are a lot of police here.' The sign in front of the bench states Homeless Veteran 6% and refers to the reported statistic that 6% of ex Veterans are homeless. In the distance a girl in a pink dress holding a Union Jack pattern Balloon seems oblivious to the scene behind her, she is captivated by the Majesty of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Further still the all seeing London Eye ferris wheel overlooks the scene acknowledging the landmarks and yet being oblivious to that which hides in plain sight ... the homeless and those without shelter. The paintings title is

'LOYAL COMPANIONS OUTSIDE AND IN' and is inspired by that which I have seen in London and Birmingham