Fortune Smiling
2023
Inspired by the 2023 Art Car Boot Fair theme of POP, plus our interest in crypto, we've created a range of Shoom-inspired Smiley pennies and some Bitcoins. Some of which have been gilded with 23ct Gold Leaf.
Also, new for 2023, BIG pennies! Plastercast coins, mounted on wood.
If you're interested in collecting any of these, please drop us a line.
Plausible Deniability
2022
'Plausible deniability': The ability of people (typically senior officials) to deny any involvement in illegal or unethical activities. the use implies forethought to plausibly avoid responsibility for their future actions.
There have been quite a few recent, high profile denials of responsibility; from slippery politicians, to smug sportsmen, to sweaty royals.
Some of the excuses proffered have been as lazy and as childish as those from Bart Simpson, revealing a complete disregard for accepted standards.
In this project, we stretched some truths. We put Victorian pennies through a milling press and hand painted little denials in colours from our colour wheel. The project also includes prints, an NFT, counter marked pennies and other little denials.
Whilst researching various denials, a sub-strand became apparent to us. The acknowledgement of an abhorrent event accompanied by a refusal to apologise for it, most notable in historical matters.
What is it that prevents a UK Prime Minister saying sorry for the Amritsar massacre on a visit to India? What is it that stops a senior member of the British Royal Family saying sorry for slavery on a trip to Jamaica? It's a powerful little word. Is it the fear that an apology might be an expression of liability, or just bad advice? Either way, it seems that sorry is still the hardest word.
The project launched at the Art Car Boot Fair at King's Cross, London on 14th May 2022 and will continue throughout the year including our solo show at Studio KIND. in the summer.
We have a very limited number of these left. If you're interested in collecting, please drop us a line.
- Britannia
2021
What do you think of the show so far? Well, it's been an interesting few years for Britain and we thought we'd commemorate this. And with the Art Car Boot Fair returning with a theme of 'Queen & Country' it only seemed right that we should launch this little project there.
All our pennies sold, but we have a handful of prints left. Drop us a line here.
- Good As Gold 2020
There's a long history of gilding coins in Britain. People used to gild halfcrowns to pass them off as two guineas for instance.
This new edition of partially gilded pennies features really nice examples of Victorian pennies and swashes of 23ct gold leaf. We've then hand painted 'Good As Gold' on each penny in our red and blue enamel paint. 'Good as gold' originally meant genuine, but has come to mean well-behaved over the years. But is all that glitters gold?
Whilst this is a limited edition, each penny is unique, as can be seen in the photos.
These can be ordered from Underdog Gallery London here:
- Spot Paintings 2020 onwards
Made of money.
'Why Deny Yourself The Finer Things? enamel paint, acrylic paint and 23ct gold leaf on old pennies and wood, 2020.
'Is Money Ruining Art?', enamel paint, acrylic paint and 23ct gold leaf on old pennies and wood, 2020.
Being shown in the 'Small Wonders' exhibition at Well Hung Gallery, London, 1st - 4th July 2021.
- Cheap As Chips 2020An edition of framed 23ct gold leaf pennies, hand painted with enamel paint. Produced for the 2020 'Viral' Art Car Boot Fair. Unable to produce its usual exuberant fair in London due to COVID, the Art Car Boot Fair turned to an online version for the first time. This edition sold out on the day. You can watch our little promo film of these here if you like.
- Was It Worth It? 2020A small limited edition produced in conjunction with Well Hung Gallery, London. 23ct gold leaf and enamel paint on Victorian pennies, framed in cast resin frame. The edition sold in 24 hours.
- Lockdown Bowie 2020
We had a number of exhibitions lined up for 2020 (including participating for the first time at Upfest); all of which was postponed due to Coronavirus. Unable to continue our #pennydrops in the lockdown, we devised a way for people to search for pennies from the safety of their own homes, from anywhere in the world.
We used a David Bowie theme for the series. Bowie’s career was marked by reinvention, an aptitude we think we could all do with during the pandemic. We painted five pennies and each could be found by piecing together the weekly online clues. You can read more about the project here on the Graffiti Street website.
The Price of Love 2019
Or, the price of an artwork called LOVE. Referencing Robert Indiana's famous piece of Pop Art (now owned by a secretive offshore firm and the subject of a multi-party legal fight over rights). Featuring Victorian pennies and some real gold plated pennies.
- Prints 2018 onwardsScreenprints and giclée prints, some with added gold leaf. Occasionally available from our shop.
- Kings & Queens 2019We crowned our own. See if you can guess who.
Other pennies 2018 onwards
- Misc 2017-2020Including two pizza boxes, a floorboard and two wooden bots (a collab with Robotic Woodsmith). Not to mention a penny bag made completely from scratch.
