New work by Michael Alford at the Medici Gallery New Year Exhibition 5th January to 29 February
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Upcoming Film Features Nudes by Michael Alford
When actor-director Frank Harper spotted a painting by Michael Alford hanging in a London restaurant, he was immediately taken with its “muted tones and slightly mysterious feel”. Realizing that Michael’s female nudes would be perfect as decoration for the penthouse apartment of the main character in Harper’s new film, St George’s Day, Art Director Caroline Steiner got in touch and arranged to borrow a series of nudes for three days of filming.
Slightly mysterious
Look for Michael’s paintings later this year when St George’s Day opens with a stellar cast that includes Charles Dance, Nick Moran, Craig Fairbrass, Dexter Fletcher and Harper himself as gangster Mickey Mannock. Keep a close eye out for the “portrait” of lovely Keeley Hazell, who plays Mannock’s girlfriend, Peckham Princess, commissioned specially for the film. According to Steiner, Michael’s paintings “looked absolutely wonderful on location, truly setting the scene and bringing the whole look together.”
St George’s Day will be in cinemas early in 2012.
Alford Paintings Set the Mood for The Strand Magazine
Embankment I: "Timeless"
The Strand Magazine, a glossy publication aimed at lovers of mystery and crime fiction, seems to love Michael Alford. Over the last four years, his distinctive scenes of London life have graced no less than six of the magazine’s covers, including its recent 10-year anniversary issue, which showed a detail of his luminous Embankment I.
But what is it about Michael’s paintings that attracted the magazine?
As Strand editor Andrew Gulli explains: “When I first ran across Michael’s work, I was shocked to find a living artist who was able to paint in a style which, in my opinion, is timeless.”
Gulli, who’s made something of a name for himself by rediscovering lost works by Graham Greene, Dashiell Hammett and Agatha Christie, certainly has an eye for a classic. The Strand Magazine has its roots in the past, beginning life in 1891 London, publishing fiction by writers including Rudyard Kipling and Arthur Conan Doyle. Today it features up-to-the-minute articles, interviews and short works by some of our best contemporary mystery and crime writers.
“I think Michael Alford is like a contemporary Atkinson Grimshaw,” Gulli says, evoking the name of a British Victorian artist known for his paintings of night scenes and landscapes. “Yet at the same time the power in his work is very much his own. The first two issues of the Strand had cover illustrations by Grimshaw. Besides him, Michael is the only artist we’ve ever used more than once.”
And what does 2012 hold in store for the Strand? “More work by Michael, I hope,” says Gulli modestly. “And some more unpublished literary gems.”
The Strand Magazine is available by subscription.
Andrew Gulli (with co-editor Lamia Gulli) is the driving force behind No Rest for the Dead a thrilling collaboration between 26 top mystery writers, all for a good cause. All proceeds from the book go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Order.
Winter Shows
Lime Tree Gallery Christmas Exhibition November 26-December 24
Lime Tree Gallery, 84 Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4UB
0117 929 2527
www.limetreegallery.com
Portrait Sitting Auctioned for Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust bid against each other for the chance to win a portrait sitting with Michael Alford. Michael’s donation of a child’s pencil portrait similar to the image raised £700 during an exciting event that brought in £200,000 for the charity. More children’s portraits
Vaughan Smith Portrait
Vaughan Smith painted by Michael Alford
No one can say that the man in this portrait doesn’t live dangerously. When he’s not providing refuge for controversial Wikileaks founder Julian Assange at his Norfolk home, award-winning war cameraman Vaughan Smith can be found chasing “kinetic activity” in the world’s most dangerous conflict zones or running London’s Frontline Club, a hub and hangout for journalists from all over the globe.
He met Michael Alford in Afghanistan while Michael was serving as Official War Artist to the 1st Battalian Grenadier Guards and it was there on a remote patrol base the two first discussed the idea of doing a portrait together. As Smith relates, “The picture takes me straight back to February 2010 when I was embedded with Michael in Helmand with my old outfit the Grenadier Guards. Michael captures the colour and the dust: Situating me in one of those isolated outposts where young soldiers expect to be attacked at any moment.”
Commission for 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment
Securing the Canal Zone, Nad e Ali District, Helmand. 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment Battle Group, 2010-11.
This painting was commissioned by the Royal Irish Regiment to portray their recent tour in southern Afghanistan, as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. It shows soldiers of the regiment, with members of the Afghan National Army , taking part in Operation Tor Zhemay VI, one the largest airborne operations since 1945, which saw the regiment lead the successful attack on the Taliban stronghold of Zaborabad. Conditions through the winter were frequently wet and muddy, and due to the ever-present danger of IEDs the canals and watercourses were their main source of cover and access to Taliban-controlled areas.
The completed painting is to be unveiled on Waterloo Day , June 15th, at a ceremony at the regiment’s base at Tern Hill, Shropshire.
Duncan Campbell Remembered
Duncan Campbell’s gallery was a fixture in Thackeray Street for many years before Michael Alford joined its stable of artists in 2004. During that time, Duncan earned himself a reputation as an independent-minded gallerist with interests that ranged from modern British prints to African tribal art. From the beginning, Michael’s painting found a supportive home in this unconventional mix — and a strong advocate and friend in Duncan.
Duncan Campbell died on Valentine’s Day 2011, six months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma – too quickly and too soon. He’ll be missed by his devoted family and friends, his loyal clients and by the many artists whose work he championed.
See David Buckman’s full obituary of Duncan Campbell: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/duncan-campbell-gallerist-who-championed-the-work-of-the-white-stag-group-2286047.html