ArtCan VISIT: Roy’s Art Fair, 2019

It’s a fair like Roy’s that reminds you with a smile that contemporary art is about so much more than just pens, paint and paper. The atmosphere was buzzing in Old Truman Brewery this week as an eclectic and vibrant selection of artists came together to showcase their wares for a long weekend of arty fun.

First to catch your eye on the way through the doors was a collection of reclaimed sixties prints and vintage crockery that had been reworked by Debbie Carne with a witty flair and a generous dollop of good humour. I was also mesmerised by the fine gold embroidery work from Kelly Jenkins, who stitches onto acrylics, oils, oil pastels, charcoal and graphite to create bold and yet somehow soothing pieces.

Arturo Garcia de las Heras

First time exhibitor Sarah Warrs offered up a mood board of her mind alongside her delicate mixed media pieces featuring music sheets, watercolour, stitching and old photographs given a new story by her imagination. Zuanni offered an off-kilter selection of ‘irregular art’, bright and playful mixed media canvases at odd angles and framed with pieces deliberately missing – fun and irreverent, eye-catching and certainly a talking point.

Four ArtCan artists took part in this installation – Sal Jones brought along a collection of her portraits focused on women in cars, both passengers and drivers caught just for a moment so the viewer can ponder where there story started and where it may take them next… Arturo Garcia de las Heras also focuses on people, including with small framed canvases outlined in neon ink which proved popular.

Edmund Palao

Hamish Macaulay continues to experiment with his popular prints, now branching out into using recycled cardboard and an increased range of colours (which seemed to match many of the people browsing his stand). And Edmund Palao presented a charming and colourful selection of his urban landscapes, all neatly framed in black and contrasting nicely against the bare white walls.

Hamish Macaulay

Rosie Mclay brought along a collection of her as self-proclaimed ‘weird and wonderful’ art, including delicate anatomical and astronomical etchings flecked with gold leaf or acrylic, Matt Mackman presented his blend of street art and fine art filled with skulls and butterflies and roses, and Chelsea Lee Winterbottom almost stole the show with her pieces created from spent shotgun shells (brilliant).

As an added bit of fun The Misfortuneteller gave ‘dark therapy’ consultations resulting in hand inked unique artworks, tailored to the buyer with sayings like (my personal favourite) “Don’t doubt yourself – that’s what family is for.”

All in a great little fair. If you missed this installation, keep an eye on www.roysartfair.com to find out what’s coming next.