POLLY’S POP ART DELIGHTS
T HERE aren’t many homes like that of breakfast radio DJ Polly James. The backdrop to her sink is the graffitied words Wash Up B***** and the centrepiece of her living room is a sight that you’ll baa-rely believe.
Polly’s three bedroom semi in Cardiff Bay is a treasure trove of madcap models and glittering pop art delights – including a semi-naked Tom Jones, a graffiti fridge, a severed head and some eye-popping artwork.
However, it’s the latest addition to her collection that will turn heads, literally.
The presenter said: “I thought I would keep the theme Welsh and hang a sheep upside down from the ceiling. I think it looks incredible.”
Polly said she purchased this distinctive adornment online from a specialist website that she’s used previously.
“It’s where I’ve bought the models of the shark head and a crocodile head that I already have on the wall and I wanted a model of a big animal so, as I’m Welsh, I thought I would go for the sheep just to keep the stereotype.”
She revealed it also took a lot of work to attach the model – even having to remove floorboards from her bedroom above.
“The risk with this was that it was always going to be a onetake wonder, whether I liked it or not it was going to have to stay there, given all the work it took to get it on the ceiling in the first place. Floorboards were removed from the bedroom and there was no way it was going to come down once it was up.
“Luckily I think it’s brilliant. People who have seen it have said – ‘Woah, how is that hanging?’ It does look like it’s floating and walking on the ceiling.”
Moving into her home two and a half years ago was the culmination of a dream to have her own place and decorate it her own unique way.
“It was such a long time being able to buy my house and to have my own blank canvas,” said Polly. “I can’t do colour schemes, I’m rubbish at that.
“I had collected lots of furniture and art pieces, but I had to be really careful because I was living in rented accommodation, so I couldn’t put much up.
“Having my own place has been 10 years of planning and masterminding.”
One of her favourite things is her collection of paintings by Rolling Stones’ guitarist Ronnie Wood. So far she has three paintings by the rock legend, who has shown he is as adept with a paintbrush as he is with a six string.
Polly reckons her little collection cost around £10,000 – but they are priceless to her.
I love it because I get to hold Tom Jones’ knob every day
“I think Ronnie Wood is my spirit animal when it comes to colours and art,” she said. “Everything I want in a painting he brings to his art. They are bright bold colours, he uses glitter, it’s modern, it’s vintage, it’s mismatched, it’s me.”
Polly has many distinctive pieces in her home. There’s a model of Freddy Krueger holding a severed head, positioned at the foot of her stairs, a fridge that is vividly painted with her name on the side, a rather risqué mural in her bathroom that acts as a reminder for her to brush her teeth in the morning – and then there’s a semi-naked Tom Jones adorning a cupboard door, painted by famed Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn.
“Nathan did a great job,” said Polly. “I told him I wanted a naked Tom Jones with Welsh flag budgie smugglers (covering a strategically placed doorknob) and he absolutely smashed it.
“I love it because I get to hold Tom Jones’ knob every day,” she laughed.
Polly said: “I love the shock factor. Every morning on the radio I try to create those great moments that people talk about.
“And it’s the same for the house. It’s just a true reflection of who I am.”