A Chip Off The Old Pop - Highland Artists Who Break The Mould exhibition at Moray Art Centre

A NEW exhibition at a local venue is to feature pop art that has been shown alongside work by the likes of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

‘A Chip Off The Old Pop - Highland Artists Who Break The Mould’, on at Moray Art Centre (MAC) from 10am-4pm from April 8-30, will show off paintings by pop surrealist, Michael Forbes, and portrait painter, Leah Davis.

A MAC spokesperson said: “They’ve joined forces to organise an eccentric exhibition filled with energetic colours, and quirky concepts that celebrate expressing the authentic self.

“Like pop art and popcorn? This opening event is not to be missed!”

Forbes is a mostly self taught and from an isolated area in the north of the Highlands. He worked as an assistant to pop artist Gerald Laing, from whom he “learned more from than any art school education could provide”.

His paintings are a record of his thoughts and dreams, often journeying into the subconscious. Comedians Ricky Gervais and Terry Gilliam are collectors of his work.

Michael was selected to paint the Millennium poster for the London Underground, now on show at the Museum of London Transport. He was also selected for the 2007 Blue Cross exhibition ‘Animals in Art’ opened by the Queen, allowing him to exhibit with major British artists from Gainsborough to Hockney at Sotheby’s. He showed alongside major pop artists including Warhol, Lichtenstein and Indiana at the Opera Gallery exhibition ‘In the Mood for Pop’ in London.

His work is currently on show in New York at Pop Gallery in Manhattan, where he regularly exhibits with artists better known for music such as Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood and Bob Dylan.

Last year, he was the first artist to have a private exhibition of his work at The Club at the Ivy in London.

Davis is from Thurso but lives in Lossiemouth. She calls her work ‘pop portraiture’ - it is a blend of traditional portraiture with pop art, surrealism and culture.

She recently graduated from Gray’s School of Art with a Master’s degree with Merit in Fine Art. This is her first body of work since graduating and comprises never-before-seen oil paintings.

She exhibited a number of times during her student years, including KEEP Contemporary Gallery in Santa Fe, and a solo show at Upstairs Gallery, Inverness.

Davis describes her work as “an empowering adventure”. Her mixed media autobiography illustrates her journey from misunderstood small-town girl to her authentic self.

She said: “Exhibiting in Moray Art Centre - which previously showcased the work of John Byrne - is incredible.

“This body of work explores those who have accompanied me on my crazy life journey - I’ve been affectionately exploring our relationships and their personas.

“I’m interested to see how our relationship may change when they become my model, and how they may also see themselves differently once their image is the focus.”