Wednesday, 19 July 2023

Print of Adam and Eve by Team Beswick and Pye


This CMYK screen print made on 285gsm Fabriano paper, in an edition of 30 will feature in 2 group shows in the not too distant future. Graham Crowley has organised a show called 'Silent Disco' which will open on Saturday 29th of July at 87 High Street, Wickham Market in Suffolk. 

Graham's show will also include work by a galaxy of art starts including; Sarah Dwyer, Sarah Jeffries, Bob & Roberta Smith, and John Strutton. The Adam & Eve print will also feature in a group show called The Magnificent Seven which will take place in the basement of the Cass Art Shop near Angel tube.

This show will feature prints, paintings and textile art by me and 6 other fine artists; Gordon Beswick, Cristina Calvache, Francis Macdonald, Suzanne Spiro, Chris Tosic, and Loretta Wall. The show will be open the public between the 28th of Aug and the 8th of Sept. More news soon. Team Beswick and Pye made the painting of Adam and Eve ten years ago. The print was made by Jonas of Blacklisted Prints. Most museums in Europe have a painting made at least 500 years ago that depicts Adam and Eve.  And most of these paintings show the couple when they are about to be banished for breaking the rules. By contrast, this painting shows Adam and Eve enjoying the good times. It's worth noting we didn't make the mistake of painting Eve with a belly buttonAdam is the Hebrew word for 'Man'. His companion was made from Adam's spare rib - her name Eve means "the mother of all living" - amongst the living creature seen here are; a puffin, a zebra, and my personal favourite a cheeky monkey.

Wednesday, 12 July 2023

The Clash

Above: "The Clash" painted by Harry Pye with Rowland Smith, For most of their recording career, The Clash consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer (first on the left in the photo below), lead guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones (standing with fag in mouth), bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon (wearing a beret).

Photo above by Chester Simpson (1979)

Above: a photo of Mick Jones taken by Harry Pye in July 2009
In May of this year Mick Jones made a guest appearance on this track by The Goldborns...
A month earlier Paul Simonon collaborated with Galen Ayers on this fantastic new song: Lonely Town

Read The Guardian's opinion on The Clash's 40 Greatest songs: Here 

Monday, 19 June 2023

Mad, Mad World

Above: Dave Berg

Above: Don Martin

Above: Mad art by Norman Mingo

Above: Hear No Evil


Above: Clockwork Lemon

Above: Mad Mickey


Above: Mad Cover from 1999

Above: Mad Pepper

Above: Alfred E. Dali

Friday, 2 June 2023

Twenty Photos From Varnishing Day at The Royal Academy of Arts

 

Above: Sculpture of The Royal Academy's first president, Sir Joshua Reynolds that stands infront in the Annenberg Courtyard of Burlington House.

Above: Sarah Wood and Sandra Turnbull in the R.A Courtyard
Above: Harry Pye off to special service for artists held at St James's Church

Above: Sarah Wood with Gavin Turk (R.A.) inside St James's Church
Above: Sarah Wood next to her painting 'Devoted' (oil on linen). This section (works 662-862) featured still life painting chosen by Clare Woods (R.A.) As well as great paintings by Lee Maelzer and Rachael Robb - this section also featured a bronze Veg Box by Gavin Turk.
Above: 'Devoted' by Sarah Wood

AboveJock McFadyen (R.A)

Above: Adam Dant with Russell Herron

Above: A wall of paintings selected by David Remfry MBE RA

Above: Humphrey Ocean (R.A) the painting in the top right hand corner is his portrait of Winnie Hall.

Above: Gavin, Humphrey and Winnie all point to the best painting in show.

Above: Bob Smith (OBE, RA)

Above: Gavin Turk (RA)with David Remfry (MBE RA) in front of work by Bob & Roberta Smith.
Above: Gallery 9 curated by Eileen Cooper RA

Above: Upclose and personal with Sandra Turnbull
Above: 'Can You See Me?' by Sandra Turnbull (acrylic, charcoal)
Above: Lovely Lee Maelzer offers me some strawberries. Check out her oil painting 'Cupshere


Above: 'Oratorio' (wood cabinet with side panels comprising of 8 paintings and 8 figures) by the late Dame Paula Rego (OBE, RA). Works 1133-1187 are by Royal Academicians who have recently passed away such as Brian Catling, Tom Philips and the amazing Paula Rego. (R.I.P.)

Above: Photo of 'Terry and Jerry in the Summer of 81' painted by Harry Pye and Rowland Smith (photo by Russell Herron).

Above: CHEERS! (photo by Sarah Wood)
Go and see the Summer show at The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Picadilly W1J OBD (Tue, 13 Jun 2023 – Sun, 20 Aug 2023)
More info: HERE





Thursday, 27 April 2023

Chaz Jankel in the studio with The Spammed

Chaz Jankel and Ian Dury co-wrote classics such as; 'Sweet Gene Vincent', 'Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll', and 'Hit Me With Your Rythmn Stick'. Aside from The Blockheads, Chaz has collaborated with everyone from Quincy Jones to Sly & Robbie to Robbie Williams. Yesterday Mr Jankel had another reason to be cheerful - he was invited to spend a day with the studio with The Spammed recording a track for the next Specialized CD compilation ('Punk Pioneers: The Roots of Punk')

(Above: Singer Kevin Eldon, Guitarist Micko Westmoreland, Producer Chaz Jankel, Guitarist Paul Cuddeford, Drummer Rat Scabies, Keyboardist Micky Gallagher, Bass player Horace Panter, and Sax player Terry Edwards.)

Specialized is a musical community that was created in 2012 to raise funds to improve the lives of teens and young adults with cancer or who are living in difficult circumstances. The Specialized Project brings together amateur and professional musicians with the shared goal of creating musical projects for cancer research and support agencies, particularly The Teenage Cancer Trust, The National Foundation for Youth Music and Tonic Music for Mental health. They’ve done this by the production of themed albums supported by live music events across the UK. The two main organizers of The Specialized Project are Paul Willo and Paul Ayriss. The albums they’ve put out over the last decade have raised over £100,000.

To find out more about the project visit: https://specializedproject.com/

(Above: Rat, Kev, Micky, Terry, Paul, Chaz, Horace and Micko recreate the photo on the back of The Blockhead's Do It Yourself L.P.)

The Spammed (whose original line-up was put together by Harry Pye and Micko Westmoreland) have appeared on every single one of the Specialized Cover Version compilations – these albums included tributes to acts such as; Bob Marley, The Clash, Madness, The Beat, and The Rat Pack.

(Above: Kev, Micko and Chaz)

Yesterday The Spammed were delighted to work with extra special guests guitarist Paul Cuddeford (from Tony Visconti's band Holy Holy) and Blockhead keyboard legend Micky Gallagher. It was great to be in the legendary recording Premises studio in Hackney watching these talented chaps record a cover of ‘Louie Louie’ for the next 4 Disc Specialized CD  “Punk Pioneers:The Roots of Punk Rock


Read Harry's interview with Chaz about his Glad To Know You anthology: HERE

Saturday, 22 April 2023

The last day of the London Coffee Festival


This year's London Coffee Festival closes today. The festival's Artists In Residence are; Gordon Beswick, Cristina Calvache, James Lawson, Harry Pye, and Olga Suchaanova. 


Above: Affordable prints by James Lawson are looking for a home

Above: A visitor grabs one of Team Beswick & Pye's Elelphant & Castle screen prints.

Above: James Lawson's artwork making people happy

Above: Olga Suchanva hanging her work

Above: Visitor taking a close look at Cristina's artwork

Above: Pye paintings of Nookie Bear and The Beat

Above: Fans of Gordon Beswick paintings

Above: This CMYK screen print by Harry Pye and Gordon Beswick could be yours for just £40

Above: A rather serious fellow in hat infront of 'Masks' by Harry Pye

Above: Nice chaps

Above: Cheers!

Above: Good bean Cristina


Above: Wall of doodles

Above: Cristina Calvache: 'Gadgets resting on a tree at Cheshunt Lake (Lost & Found nº10)'. 42x29.7cm. Digital print in 250gsm of recycled paper. Edition of 5. £70

Above: Another fan of Mr Beswick's painting

Above: Close up on Olga's amazing Nocturne painting

Come to level one's Soho section and feast your eyes on the fab art of Olga, James, Harry, Gordon and Cristina. For more info on the festival click: HERE