Brushstrokes Between Bites
The Night I Had to Paint Faster Than People Could Talk
I was invited to a fundraising dinner at the Mr. White’s English Chophouse (by Marco Pierre White), inside the New Road Hotel in Whitechapel, E1. This venue is the kind of place where the room already feels like an occasion before anything even starts.
As the guests arrive, walking, talking, laughing, and snacking on the delicious canapés, I was painting three canvases live while everything flowed around me. The room was buzzing with people, meeting and greeting and I wasn’t tucked away in a corner, quietly painting in the background. Every few minutes someone would stop, lean in, ask what I’m working on, or just watch in silence for a moment like they’d hit pause on the evening.
And because there were VIP guests in the room, I also had the privilege of properly speaking about the work, not just showing it. Explaining the meaning behind theme. Letting people in on the “why,” not only the “wow.” The event organisers themed this dinner on the topic of how Islam flourished around the world. I wanted the pieces to be meaningful and related to the topic, landscape- style. The kind of art people genuinely want in their home, with scenery and architecture.
So I landed on ‘minarets’. One of the most beautiful parts of Islam spreading across the world is how it didn’t erase cultures, it often sat alongside them, naturally blending with what people already knew and loved. You can see it in mosque architecture. In parts of the Middle East, minarets often rise tall and elegant, with a very distinct classical style. Move further east towards China, and you’ll spot more oriental influences in the shapes and rooflines. Head west to places like Morocco, and you’ll notice minarets becoming more bold and boxy, sometimes echoing tower-like structures you’d recognise from older local architecture.
On top of everything, the night included a special guest. England cricketer and World Cup winner, Adil Rashid. I felt genuinely honoured. The idea that one of my paintings would be owned by someone who’s performed on the world stage is something I’ll always be grateful for.
So I gifted him one of the paintings from the night.
The dinner was absolutely amazing. I have to say it, I really loved the steak and chips at Mr. White’s 🤪👌
The presentation of the plate was so beautiful it was a work or art. I spent a long time taking photos of it with my paintings as seen above.
Towards the end of the dinner, I had a few people approach me wanting to commission this entire theme again for their homes. However, I had to turn it down as I don’t duplicate my work. If someone buys one of my originals, I want them to feel like they own something that no one else has. So I’ll absolutely paint similar scenes, but with different colours, different energy and a different story in the details, never a carbon copy.
I want to thank everyone who attended that evening, watched me paint, asked questions, and shared kind words on the day. It meant more than you know.
If you’d like a one-off original for your home, office, or a live painting experience at your event, keep an eye on my updates. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more my latest updates and upcoming events.