If even half of what is written about Ian Dury on his Wikipedia page is true, then what a life he led. What? Oh come on, I can’t have read every proper official biography and autobiography on every arts personality in the entire history of human existence, can I? And it’s Monday morning, give me a break. Just for that I’m going to make you read it yourselves.
For those who couldn’t be bothered (shame on you), Dury had it all in front of him as a graphic designer and illustrator before he gave it all up for a career of fame and fortune as a successful musician, having studied at the Royal College of Art. It’s that very institution that’s holding the exhibition, Ian Dury: More Than Fair – Paintings, Drawings and Artworks, 1961–1972, proving the man was indeed a true artistic polymath. His work was informed by the influence of tutor and Sgt Pepper cover artist Sir Peter Blake, forming pop-art concoctions of black and white subjects married with psychedelically jarring backgrounds and clothing. See another side of the Blockhead until 1st September.
Dany Bubbles c1963-66
Pencil and acrylic (framed) 29″ x 20″
Exhibition View
courtesy, Royal College of Art
Lee Marvin 1968
Pencil (unframed) 30″ x 22″
Exhibition View
courtesy, Royal College of Art
Nelly Hanoi c1963-66
Acrylic (unframed) 29″ x 20″
Jemima Proust, 1969
Aquatec, sequins and varnish
Exhibition View
courtesy, Royal College of Art
Sir Bernard and Lady Docker 1966
Pencil and pastel (unframed) 24″ x 32″
Tony Bennett 1965
Front cover for London Life magazine
