Let me educate you: an art tutor’s verdict on art by Robbie Williams and other stars
It’s pop art, but not as you know it. Robbie Williams is the latest in a long list of musicians to have branched out into painting as another way to express themselves, but will it entertain you?
His fine art foray will be shown at the auction house Sotheby’s next month, adding to the growing gallery of pop star art. Over the years exhibitions have featured the work of musicians including Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
Their works have not always been well received. As long ago as 1999, the art critic Brian Sewell said he was sick of the “infuriating tendency among clapped out old pop stars to become artists”. Such critical scorn does not seem to have deterred musicians turning to art. The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood said that rarely a day goes by without painting.
Should they stick to music? We asked A-level art examiner Deborah Philpott, who is also a Superprof art tutor, to grade works by six musicians including Williams.
The results were mixed with some only scraping a pass at A-level. But the examiner generously praised the individuality on display.
Philpott says: “All the candidates were able to respond in a creative and individual manner with strong connections to their own environment. They all showed a creative response to media and materials, which demonstrated meaningful and considered outcomes.”
She added: “All the work was personal, some being more contextually informed and driven by the work of other artists. Each piece reflected the candidates own interpretation of subject matter close to their hearts.”
Robbie Williams
A-level grade B
Paul McCartney
A-level grade C
Kurt Cobain
A-level grade D
Joni Mitchell
A-level grade B
Chrissie Hynde
A-level grade A
Ronnie Wood
A-level grade B