‘Beyond Time and Place’ – The Art of Paul Gregory
Oct 03, 2012 | Comments 0
‘Beyond Time and Place’ – The Art of Paul Gregory
A Book Launch @ The British Music Experience
Thursday 1st November 7:30pm
Love both metal and art and want to experience something a little different? 1st November marks a special launch event to celebrate the artwork and album covers of one of the UK’s premier contemporary fantasy artists, Paul Raymond Gregory. The event will be held at the British Music Experience within the O2 Arena complex, and will include a talk and exhibition of many of Paul’s outstanding works.
‘What is Art? Art at its best is the imaginative soul of the artist. Here you will enter Paul Raymond Gregory’s dream world, come in and explore at your leisure and be amazed. Paul has lived his life for Heavy Metal and Tolkien, and has plunged into both universes head first and spent a lifetime revelling in them. Here is the greatest interpreter of Tolkien on canvas – making him the only artist, so far, to produce ‘three dimensional’ paintings on a monumental scale.’
Having exhibited at the Barbican Art Centre, the Abbaye de Daoulas in Brittany, and in 2007 at Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde in Stockholm, the British Music Experience is delighted to be hosting the launch of Paul Raymond Gregory’s new book, ‘Beyond Time and Place’. The museum prides itself on championing not just the front men, but the creative’s and artists who work behind the scenes, that transcend music to create the aesthetic we associate with a band, genre and in Paul’s case narrative.
As a self taught artist, the book takes a journey through the three key aspects of his career. The first exploring the sweeping landscapes of Paul’s imagined Tolkien world. The next documents Paul’s total absorption in the Heavy Metal world. As a life-long rock fan, Paul’s move into album artwork had been just a matter of time. His style lends itself perfectly to the genre and he brings to it the same restless imagination which shines throughout his other work. Since 1984, Paul has created more than thirty album covers for some of rock and metal’s best-known bands, forming a body of work as impressive as any in the field. Many iconic bands of the genre have chosen him to design their album covers, and they each discuss the various projects in detail alongside the artwork. He has painted eleven sleeves for Saxon and worked for Molly Hatchet, Uriah Heep, Freedom Call, Blind Guardian, Dio and Company of Snakes. Paul has also found time to create and direct the greatest independent Metal show in Britain! Bloodstock Heavy Metal Festival is visually represented with new paintings, posters and promotional material.
Across 176 lavishly illustrated pages in a hardback book housed inside a slipcase, Paul Raymond Gregory’s staggering achievement as an artist over the past 35 years is revealed for the first time in print. There is also a special collector’s clothbound edition, strictly limited to 500 signed copies, housed inside a slipcase, with a wallet containing a unique art print and personalised certificate of ownership to each purchaser.
Designed by artist Mark Wilkinson, a long time admirer of Paul’s (who has produced album covers for Marillion, Fish, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and The Darkness). The comprehensive text is by Alex Lewis, a specialist writer from the Tolkien Society and Greg Moffitt, a well known rock journalist and author.
“Sometimes a band has a relationship with an artist that works really well, a bit like producers, and I think some of Paul’s best album covers have been for us. The songs we write are perfect for him.” – Vocalist Biff Byford, Saxon
“Your album is only complete when it’s in the right cover. Music and artwork go hand in hand together.” – Guitarist Mick Box, Uriah Heep
Both editions will be available in November 2012, published by Studio 54 Publications. For further details please visit Paul’s home page www.studio54.co.uk.
Paul’s BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR festival has early bird tickets on sale now for 2013. Point your mouse at http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/
