Commissions and Public Installations
Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to have had some fabulous commissions, from Airport lounges to Caribbean cruise ships, museums to theatres, restaurants and hotels to authors’ own books.
I’ve always relished a private commission, creating something special for a birthday, specific event or commemoration. From authors’ own publications to favourite childhood stories, each piece is a joy to create.
The V&A in London has long been my favourite museum and I had the privilege of being asked to create two original Alice in Wonderland pieces, commissioned exclusively for the creation of limited edition prints to complement the 2021 exhibition, ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’. The first edition of 75 prints sold out so quickly that I was commissioned to create a second piece with a run of 125 prints.
Airport lounges are no longer just stopovers between destinations, they’re destinations in their own right. At Delta Air Lines, art has emerged as a defining element of that evolution. Across its Sky Clubs and Delta One Lounges, the airline is transforming high-traffic spaces into cultural touch-points, each defined by curated collections that reflect the character and creative energy of the cities they serve.
Guiding that vision is Susan Gibbs, art curator at Delta. From striking murals in San Francisco to commissions throughout New York and Atlanta, Gibbs’ approach goes beyond decoration into the realm of storytelling. Through her work travellers don’t just pass through these spaces, they’re invited to pause, look up and connect. ‘W is for Wilderness’ and ‘European Butterflies and Moths’ from my ‘Alphabetical Encyclopaedias’ collection are permanently on display.
The Coal Shed is a vibrant restaurant in Brighton specialising in charcoal-grilled meat and fish, owned by former DJ Raz. Over 30 of his favourite ‘7″ Singles’ from the 80’s, everything from ‘Eat Sleep Rave Repeat’, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Relax’ to ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ and ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ adorn the walls of this city centre, award-winning restaurant.
Milsoms Hotel in Dedham, in the heart of Constable country, is an established family hotel with a modern twist. The Beatles reportedly dropped in for lunch in the 60’s when playing in nearby Ipswich, causing great excitement and consternation for the staff. The then owner, Gerald Milsom, hadn’t heard of them, which became a longstanding family joke. A Beatles-themed series of ‘LPs’ was commissioned in his memory by the current owners, Paul and Geraldine Milsom, to adorn the dining room. ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ subtly incorporated family images, past and present, and ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ contains memorabilia from the Ipswich Gaumont show. Additionally, The Library, a private dining and meetings room, is home to over 25 of my favourite ‘Face Books’.
These three ‘LPs’, ‘Never Let Me Down’, ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘Let It Bleed’, were specially commissioned for the Music Room at the Vintry & Mercer Hotel, City of London.
The Abbey Hotel, Bath was a gem of a project that appealed to my naughty sense of humour… the brief, delivered by the hotel owner, for this collection of ‘Face Books’ was “I want them all to be Bath-centric and as naughty as possible!” Possibly my most hysterical commission, featuring Bath’s Roman history, architecture and, of course, Jane Austin.
I was delighted to receive commissions from authors John Connolly and Sam North to create ‘Picture Books’ from their own novels, ‘The Book of Lost Things’ and ‘The Old Country’.
If you would like to discuss a commission for yourself, a gift for someone special or an installation for a commercial or public space, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’d be delighted to hear from you by ‘phone, email or in person at my studio in Wivenhoe.