Artist raises £3,000 in sale of Banksy and Nick Hancock portrait sales
The 25-year-old – who has made his name locally through his paintings of buildings – captured the images of Potteries celebrities.
The portraits were auctioned off in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation and the Burslem Arts Festival Group, at the Potteries Museum And Art Gallery, on Saturday.
Rob, originally from Draycott in the Moors, completed most of the portraits during a 48-hour marathon – spending a maximum of 90 minutes with each subject.
He said: “I was hoping for at least £1,000, or to perhaps sell each portrait for £50. To have doubled that amount is great.
“I did this to challenge myself. I painted 38 people on 31 canvasses in 48 hours, and then I did the other nine on later dates.”
The highest bid was made on Stoke City legend Gordon Banks's picture, which raised £300.
Jim Baker, head of the faculty of art at Stafford College, bought the paintings of former Apedale miner and charity worker Keith Meeson, and Peter Harrison, of the Burslem School Of Art.
The 60-year-old, of Church Lawton, said: “I paid £220 for the image of Keith, and £100 for Peter's. I bought Keith's portrait because I have a personal interest in Apedale because my mother was brought up there, and I have other family connections with the area.
“I was also very keen to support Rob, for such a good cause.”
Mr Meeson said he was very flattered that so much money had been spent on his picture.
He said: “All credit should go to young Rob for the effort he has put in. It must have cost him a lot in materials, as well as time.”
Burslem North councillor Joy Garner bought the picture of her and her sister – fellow councillor Debra Gratton – for £50. She said: “We wanted to buy it as a present for our mum. I've never had an oil painting done of me before.”
An image of Burslem historian and Sentinel columnist Fred Hughes generated £110.
Fred said: “I'm stunned and flattered that anyone should want to pay that much for a picture of me.”
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