An innovative artist known for his YouTube media reviews and artwork on newspaper will be hosting an in-person version with Sheffield Hallam’s MP this weekend.
The Artist Taxi Driver, aka Mark McGowan, will return to Cole’s Corner on Abbeydale Road for an exhibition and newspaper review with Olivia Blake.
Nicole Jewitt, owner of Cole’s Corner, 46, mentioned how her independent record shop and café built a relationship with Mark after one of his art pieces caught the eye of several customers.
She said: “It started with a print that somebody bought me when we first opened the shop, which was a small pigeon, that says, Still Hate Thatcher.
“We put it in our toilet when we first opened the bar and I’d say about 50 people asked me if they could buy it within the first few months of us being there and that’s why I got in touch with Mark.”
Mr McGowan’s previous visits have seen him review the Sunday newspapers with the likes of Magid Magid, the former Lord Mayor and John McClure, also known as the “The Reverend” from the Reverend and the Makers.
Ms Jewitt alluded to how this year the Sunday newspaper review may have a special guest alongside Ms Blake.
Speaking of his art, especially in relation to using newspapers as his canvas, Mr McGowan said: “I love painting on newspaper, it’s an incredible canvas and I always see them as historical paintings.
“The watercolours are just from a feeling of wanting to make the world a better place to put something out there that brighten peoples day, art is amazing and extraordinary, I think it’s political but it’s also healing and nurturing.”
The exhibition runs from 1pm on Saturday 3 December to 4pm on the Sunday, with an artist talk in the early evening of Saturday. The newspaper review will take place on Sunday.
