had to knock on the door and say, ‘we will come to your gallery, pool our resources and deliver a show that will be something different for you and it could be a big success.’” With their reputations already well established in the
UK, the four artists looked for a new audience and David suggested pitching the Art of the Real concept to galleries in America. Denis for one was shocked by the response: “We started getting all these replies: ‘Gee, we love you British artists… The Royal Watercolour Society? Have you met the Queen?!’” Shows were eventually booked in New York, Texas
“We got all these replies from America: ‘The Royal Watercolour Society? Have you met the Queen?!’”
With the membership settled upon, the four set about
ABOVE Sandra Walker RI, The 3:10, watercolour on paper, 35x71cm
organising a first exhibition. Prior to taking up painting full time, David had worked in the music industry, arranging world tours for major rock bands (“There was a short life expectancy in that world,” he says, drily), so he was well schooled in handling the logistical side of things. “That’s where my years of blagging came in handy. In the music industry, you’ve just got to keep knocking at the door. Loads of times you are told to go away but sooner or later someone lets you in because they are fed up with you banging on the door. In this case, I didn’t have to bang very hard because one look at the work and these galleries were interested. But we still
and South Carolina, starting in the latter on 6 April. Arrangements for exhibitions in the UK followed and when David mentioned the concept to a gallery who had previously shown his work in Shanghai, a Chinese leg of the tour was added, too. Quite whether Art of the Real gathers the momentum of Bob Dylan’s Never-Ending Tour remains to be seen, but the plan at this stage is to carry on indefinitely. Each of the seven exhibitions will require an average of 10 paintings each from all four artists. “What’s not sold in Charleston will then be flight crated back up and moved to the next show in Texas and we’ll top them up from the UK,” explains David. However, if all the works sell out in the initial
exhibitions, the four artists might have a job on their hands to keep up with demand. “There is a huge commitment to making sure the work is produced on time with a high degree of quality,” says Angus. “I work better under pressure anyway and this touring exhibition has created a pressurised environment – I’m embracing the workload that comes with it.” All four members have spent the last year working
away on paintings for the tour, interspersed with periodic ‘meetings’ at David’s home in Shropshire
MEET THE BAND! Introducing the four members of the globe-trotting Art of the Real collective…
Angus McEwan ARWS A graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee-born Angus is a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, as well as an associate of the Royal Watercolour Society in England. An avid traveller, he has painted in countries including China, Venice, Morocco and beyond.
20 Artists & Illustrators
David Poxon RI This former music business pro spent years touring the globe with high-profile rock bands and has brought his logistics expertise to the Art of the Real project. Now based in Shropshire, his detailed watercolours explore the textures of rusting machinery.
Denis Ryan RWS After years of working as a successful animator and illustrator, London-based Denis has turned his attentions to painting full time in recent years. Inspired by photorealist art, his paintings of cityscapes, reflections and neon signs earned him membership to the Royal Watercolour Society in 2008.
Sandra Walker RI By all accounts the shyest member of the group, US-born Sandra more than holds her own at the easel. A winner of the Sunday Times Watercolour competition, her photorealistic depictions of urban life are collected by the likes of author John LeCarré and Baroness Thatcher.
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