Art
Paintings from Mark Gatiss and John Lithgow among exhibition of actors’ art
By night, Mark Gatiss is portraying Sir John Gielgud at the National Theatre. By day, he is portraying the great Shakespearean actor on canvas at home.
Gatiss – who shot to fame in The League of Gentlemen, has had screen roles in Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, and acted in and co-wrote Sherlock – has long loved art. Having made a documentary for television on the 1950s painter, John Minton, five years ago, he was inspired to start art classes during Covid in 2021. “Drawing and painting are both relaxing and stimulating,” Gatiss told the Observer. “I don’t know of any other activity where I lose myself so completely.”
Now, along with more than 20 leading British thespians, he is contributing to an exhibition of actors’ works next month. One is his still life of lemons; the other his charcoal of Gielgud, which he is drawing while starring in The Motive and the Cue, a drama about the famous 1964 stage production of Hamlet when Gielgud directed Richard Burton. “Art is challenging and fun,” says Gatiss. “I live off tea, and the only time I ever let a cuppa get cold is when I’m painting.”
The exhibition – Many Actors Make Art (MaMa) – is being curated by Christopher Villiers, known for Emmerdale and films including Bloody Sunday, and Nancy Carroll, the Olivier award-winner, who, earlier this year, was in the highly praised play Marjorie Prime.
“I took up painting as a therapy to acting,” says Villiers. “As an actor, you have little to no control, as you are told where to stand, etc. In art, you are in charge.” Villiers will have 15 of his paintings on display, and many are of lighthouses. “I started doing lighthouses as they are supposed to save us going on the rocks.”
His co-curator Carroll will enter some of her dog portraits in the show, running from 11 July at The Department Store gallery in Brixton. Carroll attended art and drama schools before concentrating on acting. “I love its collaborative process. But I’ve always done art as a hobby, and, in my early days as an actor, for extra income too. I find art meditative, and a great balance for acting as it slows you down. Actors are also observers and creative, so that helps with art.” Carroll agrees that “in acting we have no control. With art, you have much more.”
Included in the exhibition as an “honorary Brit” is American-born John Lithgow, winner of six Emmys for shows such as 3rd Rock from the Sun. He is showing three portraits, including one of Winston Churchill, whom he played in The Crown, while Fenella Woolgar’s portraits of Richard E Grant and Tanya Moodie will also be displayed. “I’m addicted to portraiture and character,” says Woolgar, known for Call The Midwife. “Richard was extremely stoic and sat on a chair and a pile of books for two days.”
James Fleet, from Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Vicar of Dibley, is offering his Danny Sapani, the British actor from Black Panther.
Not all are painters. Nicholas Farrell, who made his name in Chariots of Fire, does lino cuts, often of ducks. Ex-Emmerdale actor Sian Reese-Williams and Anastasia Hille, Gertrude in the Benedict Cumberbatch Hamlet at the Barbican in 2015, have pottery in the show.
There will also be bird photography by Sam West – noted for many stage and screen roles, and currently shooting the next TV series of All Creatures Great and Small. “I don’t see it – as some photographers do – as hunting or capturing,” says West, now a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ambassador. “There’s quite a divide, too, between those who watch birds and those who take pictures.”
West, son of Timothy West and Prunella Scales, took up photography as a child. “But I was never good enough to consider it a career. I’ve a decent eye for composition, which is useful as I occasionally direct.”
West will also provide a drawing, owned by his parents, by the Hollywood star and talented artist Tony Curtis. It is one of a very few (another is a painting by Noël Coward of a port in Jamaica where he lived) which are not for sale.
Most works – which include one by the late Antony Sher being donated by his husband, Greg Doran – are priced in the hundreds of pounds or low thousands. Many actors will try to be at the exhibition to talk about their work, with one day planned for schoolchildren. The proceeds will go to the Theatre Artists Fund, set up in 2020 by Sam Mendes, initially to help actors during Covid, but now aiding those struggling or out of work.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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