UNITED KINGDOM: AFRICAN ARTIST HOPES HIS LATEST PAINTING WILL EARN HIS TICKET BACK TO NIGERIA.

Record ID: 338324

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: AFRICAN ARTIST HOPES HIS LATEST PAINTING WILL EARN HIS TICKET BACK TO NIGERIA.
  • Date: 13th December 1975
  • Summary: 1. CU ZOOM OUT Portrait of the Shah of Iran with artist putting finishing touches to the work. 0.17 2. CU Pen being used to dot in background to painting. 0.40 3. The artist working. 0.50 4. CU ZOOM OUT FROM The Shah medals (depicted in painting.) 1.03 5. CU ZOOM OUT FROM Detail of Shah eye in painting to entire head. 1.14 6. CU Name beneath painting "Shah of Iran." 1.15 7. CU Complete portrait of President Kaunda of Zambia. 1.20 8. CU Complete portrait of Queen of England. 1.28 Initials VS 23.45 VS 23.55 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th December 1975 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: STREATHAM, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZLSI8H8QMDU2MSY0FMW7QB2H
  • Story Text: For the past six months, a Nigerian artist working in London has kept himself locked in his studio working on a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The artist is Mr. Gaius Nnite, and his method of painting is very close to "pointillism", which was first practised by the French artist Seurat.

    His pictures are made up of hundreds of little dots all applied individually with a small mapping pen. His portrait of the Queen was based on postcards and photographs of the monarch. Mr. Nnite says that during the six months the painting took to complete, he worked every morning, afternoon and night.

    Now that it is finished, he hopes to sell it for the best offer over a thousand pounds sterling. He wants the money to help sort out his life, he says, and to buy his ticket back to Nigeria where he wants to continue his work as a graphic designer in television.

    Mr. Nnite came to Britain on a Thomson Foundation course, and one of his earlier portraits was of the man who set up the foundation, Lord Thomson. The portrait was shown to Lord Thomson, and he was so pleased with it, that he now has it hanging in his offices in Canada.

    Other subjects that Mr. Nnite has painted portraits of, include President Kaunda of Zambia and the Shah of Iran.

    SYNOPSIS: The Shah of Iran is just one of the portraits that Nigerian artist, Gaius Nnite has been working on at his studio in London. His method of painting is very close to "pointillism" -- the method first practised by the French artist, Seurat.

    The pictures are made up of thousands of little dots, all applied individually with a small mapping pen. It is one of the most delicate and painstaking art form an artist can choose. Earlier this year he spent six months working morning, noon and night, on a portraits of Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

    Mr. Nnite came to Britain on a Thomson foundation course, and one of his earlier portraits was of Lord Thomson - the man who set up the foundation. The portrait was shown to Lord Thomson and he was so pleased with it, that he now has it hanging in his offices in Canada.

    Mr. Nnite does not find it necessary to work directly from live models. He usually uses postcards and photographs. His portrait of the Shah is his latest painting. Other subjects include President Kaunda of Zambia. But it is his portrait of Queen Elizabeth that he regards as one of the finest. He hopes to sell it for more than a thousand pounds.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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