This portrait project was one of a series of public engagement projects led as a co-founder of Grit*. Working from Grit Art Central (GAC), myself and fellow artist Nathan Parker, famed for his large scale, spray painted portraits, invited people who live, work or were born in Nuneaton to be drawn/painted/photographed either within their own workspace or at GAC.
Do you have Grit? Drawing local people with courage, resolve and strength.
Date: September 2023
– March 2025
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Location: Exhibited at Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery. Painted at Studio 27 and Grit Art Central, Nuneaton
This portrait project was one of a series of public engagement projects led as a co-founder of Grit*. Working from Grit Art Central (GAC), myself and fellow artist Nathan Parker, famed for his large scale, spray painted portraits, invited people who live, work or were born in Nuneaton to be drawn/painted/photographed either within their own workspace or at GAC.
We asked “Do you have Grit?” – we looked for individuals to be painted who demonstrated perseverance, courage and resolve.
We wanted people to engage in art and be part of an archival legacy collection that reflected a snap shot in time, that captured people from our town in 2023/24
I painted people who primarily worked in the town centre. Some have been serving the public for over 40 years and were known and loved. From organic, home grown veg and plant sellers, a personal taylor specialising in mens suits, a hot pork batch seller, a make-up and beauty expert, signalman and doctor to a street cleaner, physiotherapist, transport data analyst, gardener, musician, ex punk/fashion designer and event manager. These portraits capture a liveliness and honesty of each sitter and were exhibited at Nuneaton Museum and Art gallery during the winter of 2024/25.
* Grit. An artist led programme of events that brought art and culture to Nuneaton and culminated in Art on the Streets.
