A Shropshire artist’s work is not only hanging on walls - but wrapped around bottles of French wine.
Karl Robinson-Bray was asked to provide one of his black and white ‘photo-realism’ paintings as a label to help launch a new Rose onto the French wine market.
The wine was such a success that the vineyard, Alouva, commissioned a second work to launch their new red wine.
And he decided to adapt a self-portrait he was working on to provide the label.The completely self-taught artist, who grew up in Oswestry, said he was humbled by the request and the vineyard’s enthusiasm for his work.
“I am humbled by their enthusiasm for my work. They wanted a male subject on the red wine and the self-portrait was going well so they agreed to use that.
“I don’t know if they are planning to release the wine over here, but they have promised to send me a few bottles when it is ready.”
The large self-portrait has taken Karl around 500 hours to complete although his says other paintings do not take quite so long. As well as his own works he does commissions.
As well as his dramatic monochromatic realist style Karl enjoys other techniques of oil painting from trowelling to fine brushes.
“Oils are a wonderful medium in which to work - I call it liquid plasticine, you can mould it as you want and go back to it again and again as it stays sticky for a couple of days.”
As well as his painting he runs a busy framing business in Leg Street.
“You have to be disciplined and I spend half of my week framing and half painting,”he said.
He is currently painting a series of local scenes, including scenes from Wales but says he is also keen to embark on an “abstract adventure”.
The works sell instantly with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds.
The self portrait will soon be on display at the Oswestry Framing Company. More information is available from Karl on (01691) 670552.
By Sue Austin
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