What Do Artists Do All Day?Season 4
This documentary offers a snapshot of the life of artist and writer John Byrne as he completes a large mural for the dome of the King's Theatre in Edinburgh. The film follows Byrne from the intimacy of his Edinburgh home and studio - with a wealth of anecdotes and memories - to the theatre, where he oversees the completion of his latest work. Born and brought up in Paisley, John Byrne now lives in Edinburgh; the cameras follow him as he cycles and walks its streets, meeting people and reflecting on the buzz of the festival city
Where to Watch What Do Artists Do All Day? • Season 4
5 Episodes
- Dennis MorrisE1
Dennis MorrisDennis Morris is one of Britain's most successful photographers, whose images of Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols helped define the art of rock photography. He started out taking pictures on the streets of Hackney and his early photography offers a striking documentary portrait of London's black community in the 1960s and 70s. In the year punk turns 40, and with an exhibition of his work with Public Image Limited opening at the ICA, this film follows Dennis at work, photographing an up-and-coming new punk band. We also follow Dennis back to the places that inspired his early work, and he recounts life on the road with Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols. - Katie PatersonE2
Katie PatersonKatie Paterson's public artwork, Hollow, will be made out of 10,000 samples of different tree species and unveiled in Bristol in early May. This film follows Katie over a ten-month period as she assembles the wood collection and creates the artwork. Sourced from all around the world, her samples include the oldest tree in the world, a tree that survived a nuclear blast, and many trees that are now extinct. Katie's quest to collect tree samples takes her to an arboretum in Scotland and the national wood collection at Kew, to create an artwork designed to inspire wonder at the evolution of trees through time and the fragility of life on our planet. - Shirley Hughes
E3Shirley HughesFor over five decades, Shirley Hughes has been entertaining young children with her lovingly illustrated picture books. From the adventures of Alfie to the stories of Dave and his favourite toy Dogger, Shirley has created some of our most popular children's books. In 2007, Dogger was voted the nation's all-time favourite illustrated children's book and, aged 89, Shirley shows no signs of slowing down. This programme sees Shirley working on the final page of her latest Alfie book, discussing her love of illustrating, the challenges of coming up with new ideas, and why she has no plans to retire. - Yinka ShonibareE4
Yinka ShonibareBest known for 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle', which appeared on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, Yinka Shonibare MBE is one of Britain's foremost contemporary artists, rising to fame as part of the 'Sensation' generation along with Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin in the early 1990s. Since then Shonibare has created a unique body of work. Often influenced by his Nigerian origins and combining darkness and humour, his art challenges our ideas about cultural identity and the post-colonial world. For the last 20 years Shonibare has created a series of distinctive 'mannequin' figures - anonymous, headless and dressed in African batik fabrics. This film follows Shonibare creating his latest figure and talking about his life and career. - Dougie WallaceE5
Dougie WallacePhotographer Dougie Wallace's eye-catching images capture life on the streets of Knightsbridge and Chelsea in all its blinged-up glory - from women dripping in diamonds and designer shopping bags, to men cruising around in gold-plated Lamborghinis. This film follows Wallace as he finishes Harrodsburg, an acclaimed photography series documenting the super-rich in one of the UK's most wealthy and exclusive postcodes. The recent winner of a Magnum Award for his work, Dougie's images are bold, confrontational and divisive. But he is unrepentant about his methods and his message: "I'm just showing what's happening, just shining a wee bit of a torch on things, you know? Don't shoot the messenger." Told at breakneck speed, the film is a rip-roaring, hilarious and provocative portrait one of the world's top street photographers.