Expansion is in the frame
Nov 14 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal
AFORMER engineer is hoping to establish himself as a internationally-recognised artist by expanding his business selling reproductions of old masters.
William Innes, who set up Henry Pelham Fine Art in 2005 to sell his self-painted copies of classic masterpieces, has begun work on a series of original paintings which he hopes will significantly grow the business.
The 47-year-old established the company after ending a 20-year career as an offshore engineer in 2005 following the discovery of a serious kidney disease which could one day leave him needing dialysis or a transplant.
The Newcastle artist hopes his own work will become as popular as his copies and that he will become a household name in his own right. He said: “The first paintings I have decided to do will be a series of still lifes, followed by some expressionist and surrealist ideas that I've been considering for a while now. All exciting stuff.
“This is where I hope to excel, and although the reproduction work will remain for the time being as it is the bread and butter of my orders, I do one day hope to become recognised for my own originals.”
His copies have attracted a lot of attention from art enthusiasts over the past two years, with clients in countries including Spain, Poland and Norway approaching William to request quotations on a vast array and differing styles of art.
“The most requested artists include Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Monet, Giovanni Boldini and William Bouguereau, but top of the list is the brilliant Vincent van Gogh, whose works look so simple in their execution, but remain one of the most difficult to accurately duplicate,” he said.
William painted in his spare time while working as an engineer, and did not seek any kind of formal training.
The artist, who lives in the Wills Building on the Coast Road, has also attracted the attention of a number of international hoteliers and interior designers, which are both markets he plans to develop in the new year.
His new-found career has seen him travel the world to create his reproductions, travelling as far as Burma and Vietnam.
He is currently in Rome where he is in the process of painting three Caravaggios for an Italian client.
He said: “Both the client and his wife were extremely pleased with their paintings and I have since received four more commissions from other family members.
“In America, the market for academic and realist art is booming, and I have already secured many commissions for William Bouguereau renditions.
“It all seems a far cry from the paintings I was doing while working offshore all those years ago, painting from photos of work colleagues’ homes and cars, portraits of their wives, children and families.
“But I am indebted to them all as it has honed my artistic skills and allowed me to eventually chase a dream.”
