About the Visual Shakespeare Project
I am interested in narrative painting and am currently exploring the works of the playwright, William Shakespeare, who needs no introduction. I have created a project called The Visual Shakespeare Project which is intended to promote Shakespeare's work and my interpretation of it, via the visual arts. Additionally, I provide financial support for small Shakespeare theatre companies, by selling these paintings and prints.
The project has proven to be a great success, thanks to the inclusion of some wonderful and talented actors. The first of these was the Parisian actor/director Rodolphe Fonty from The Theatre du Nord-Ouest in Paris, who has become a dear friend and permanent collaborator in this Project. He is pictured on this webpage. Rodolphe and his actor friends have appeared in these paintings and Rodolphe curated an exhibition of these paintings in Paris. You can view a discussion of two paintings from the theatre event, which opened the exhibition, here:
Henry VIII and Macbeth
Alternatively: download a catalogue of the paintings
Another successful actor is the New York actor/director/film-maker Chelsea LeSage. Like Rodolphe, she is a very versatile actor. Her acting ranges from Shakespeare to the horror/thriller genre. She and her actor friends dressed and posed for a painting based on the play Much Ado About Nothing. I look forward to working with her in future paintings based on the play, Henry VI, when she will pose as Joan of Arc. Chelsea is also pictured on this page.
Another group of actors are based in York and are part of the York Shakespeare Project. Many have expressed an interest in appearing in one of these paintings and I will contact them in due course.
In each case the theatre companies that my actor friends belong to will, or have, benefited form the sales of the paintings that I have created for this Project.
Each painting captures a significant moment in a specific play, and all around are related objects, places and people that give clues to what is happening at other points in that play. I describe my paintings as a theatrical performance that is captured for the viewer to enjoy whenever they gaze upon the artwork. As such, I have left room for me to reinterpret the plays, so as to allow me to express my reaction to events. I want people to be able to return to the painting again and again and discover more of its iconography and symbolism. I would be delighted if you kept an eye out for upcoming paintings which will be added to this gallery.
Link: back to the Shakespeare paintings
The project has proven to be a great success, thanks to the inclusion of some wonderful and talented actors. The first of these was the Parisian actor/director Rodolphe Fonty from The Theatre du Nord-Ouest in Paris, who has become a dear friend and permanent collaborator in this Project. He is pictured on this webpage. Rodolphe and his actor friends have appeared in these paintings and Rodolphe curated an exhibition of these paintings in Paris. You can view a discussion of two paintings from the theatre event, which opened the exhibition, here:
Henry VIII and Macbeth
Alternatively: download a catalogue of the paintings
Another successful actor is the New York actor/director/film-maker Chelsea LeSage. Like Rodolphe, she is a very versatile actor. Her acting ranges from Shakespeare to the horror/thriller genre. She and her actor friends dressed and posed for a painting based on the play Much Ado About Nothing. I look forward to working with her in future paintings based on the play, Henry VI, when she will pose as Joan of Arc. Chelsea is also pictured on this page.
Another group of actors are based in York and are part of the York Shakespeare Project. Many have expressed an interest in appearing in one of these paintings and I will contact them in due course.
In each case the theatre companies that my actor friends belong to will, or have, benefited form the sales of the paintings that I have created for this Project.
Each painting captures a significant moment in a specific play, and all around are related objects, places and people that give clues to what is happening at other points in that play. I describe my paintings as a theatrical performance that is captured for the viewer to enjoy whenever they gaze upon the artwork. As such, I have left room for me to reinterpret the plays, so as to allow me to express my reaction to events. I want people to be able to return to the painting again and again and discover more of its iconography and symbolism. I would be delighted if you kept an eye out for upcoming paintings which will be added to this gallery.
Link: back to the Shakespeare paintings
Me, Rodolphe and Joanna at The Theatre du Nord Ouest, Paris
Me and a very generous patron of the theatre
The talentant actor and film maker, Chelsea LeSage
Chelsea and the cast of Much Ado About Nothing at the Stag and Lion Theatre, New York