Artists of our time

The exhibition opened on September 27 and remains open to the public until Saturday, October 5.

Impressive, monumental, larger than life figures are captured on canvas celebrating their role in the music industry and connection between artforms. Portraits of Paddy Glasgow, Terri Hooley, Dave Fanning, George, Vin McCreith and many more will also include talented and prolific songstress and actress Bronagh Gallagher.

The works are a departure from Friers’ internationally recognised wildlife painting and rugged landscapes, and are inspired by the Solidarity weekend of 2007.

“My imagination was fired by the vibrancy of new musical creativity and the rejection of rivalry amongst performers,” he explained. “The Solidarity weekend of 2007 has almost moved into the folklore of local music here. It seemed to capture a real sense of the vibrancy of new musical creativity and the rejection of rivalry among performers - it was well named.

“I, along with most of the audience, I think, was struck by the camaraderie, optimism and warm community of all these music people, not just the performers but all those associated. Something altered for me that weekend and I felt compelled to record it somehow.

“Although not my main area, portraiture is something I have been interested in over many years and is such an engaging exercise both to execute and, hopefully, to view. It was the obvious vehicle. Something happens when people are represented in paint that can be, for me, exciting and also rather inexplicable.

“Both my sons are in bands so, logically, I started there. When I increased the scale of the paintings in order to make the sitters around life-size it was clear that these were going to form a series. Most of my work to this point had been fairly solitary, painting alone in my studio but now there was required to be some interaction with every sitter, getting to know them to a greater or lesser extent, before beginning the work.

“As it turned out that would have been reason enough to set out on what has been a rich and rewarding experience; they have all been fascinating, very unassuming and a pleasure to work with. I am really grateful to them all. It is, after all, through them that the collection can feel inclusive. They have all been so amenable despite not knowing how I meant to portray them.

“Some of the bands involved in the Solidarity weekend have gone on to great things, most are still gigging, many more people have come to music since and the whole scene has retained its originality, its vibrancy, a greater awareness of its history and its sense of family. That’s worth recording, worth celebrating.”

Master classes will also be a feature os the exhibition, with ‘Drawing from Experience’ with the artist on site to lead an artist’s talk, master class and workshops to artists of all ages.

For more information contact The London Street Gallery on 028 7126 0051 or log on at http://www.londonstreetgallery.org/ The email address [email protected]