Sixties pop artist's work comes home

Dudley Edwards:
Sixties pop artist's work comes home

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Dudley-Edwards-Sixties-pop-artist39s.6051130.jp

08 February 2010

Dudley Edwards rose to fame in the Swinging Sixties as one of the
world's leading pop artists.
Now 65, the man who painted Paul McCartney's psychedelic piano is
showcasing his first one-man show in Yorkshire.

The artist, who lives with his wife Madelaine in Wetherby, has shown
his works in galleries across the world.

He said: "This is going to be a show of my paintings from over the
last 20 years.

"It is a particularly special occasion for me because Yorkshire is my
home and it's where I grew up."

Mr Edwards has worked with some of the w orld's most famous musicians
including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. His works included designing
the album cover of the Kinks's Sunny Afternoon.

After growing up in Halifax the young painter went to Bradford Art College.

He aimed to create colourful art that would mark a shift from the
greyness of post-war Britain.

By the end of the 60s, he had moved in to share a house with Paul
McCartney and Ringo Starr.

While living with him he made a mural featuring rainbows and crosses.
Later, when bringing up their two boys, he and Madelaine moved into rug design.

His creations have since sold to stars Hugh Grant, Tori Amos and even
featured in the Big Brother house.

Top-of-the-market stores sell repeat designs made by the pair as well
as the exclusive one-offs for the stars.

He can make as many as 60 draft designs before a blueprint is settled
on for a single rug.

But painting remains his first love.

He told the YEP: "Rug design is still a secondary thing. For me, my
paintings are more important."

Eldest son, Dylan, has also been successful with his artwork and
studied at Leeds College of Art.

The exhibition, at the Crossley Gallery in Dean Clough, Halifax, will
highlight the shifts in his artistic style over the years.

His work has previously been displayed in The Tate Gallery in
Liverpool as well as galleries in New York, Paris and London.

The show runs until March 6.

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