#pennydrops in Barnstaple
All around Barnstaple, Devon.
Sunday 16th July 2023. From 10.30am
We'll be out in Barnstaple this Sunday, leaving penny art on the streets for people to find. Pics will be shared on our Instagram and Facebook as clues to some of the locations. There'll be lots of stamped old pennies carrying little messages, along with one special hand painted penny.
The work is part of a Studio KIND. pop-up event, funded by the North Devon District Council as part of their Sparks funding programme.
If you find one, share a pic using #pennydrops #studiokind.
Penny hunting starts at 10.30am.
- Reconstructed Pennies
We're working on a new series of work for 2023 around the theme of 'Reconstruction'.
The broken plaster cast pennies were launched at the 2022 Art Car Boot Fair in London.
'All The King's Men' has been exhibited at 'Tipping Point' at Studio KIND., a group show questioning whether we attempt to preserve what was, or disrupt existing systems.
Most of our first set of work sold at the recent Art Car Boot Fair, however any left will be available from our shop site. Hit the button below:
'Fault Lines'. An edition of 25. Each unique.
'All The King's Horses'. An edition of 25. Each unique.
- Money Talks: Penny Parlance
Studio KIND. Braunton, Devon.
16th July – 6th Aug 2022
'Money Talks' brought together pennies from the past seven years and the 'Plausible Deniability' series of work (featured at this year's Upfest in Bristol and the Art Car Boot Fair in London).
The show ran for three weeks and featured workshops and a secret missing penny which was hidden in the locality.
More details on the Studio KIND. website.
- Plausible Deniability
2022
Throughout 2022 we will be working on a project which focuses on recent, high profile, denials of responsibility; from slippery politicians, to smug sportsmen, to sweaty royals.
Victorian pennies, hand painted in random colours from our colour wheel and a bit stretched - like an excuse from a slippery politician. The project also includes counter marked coins, prints, further pennies and an NFT.
The project launched at the Art Car Boot Fair at King's Cross, London on 14th May 2022 and will continue throughout the year over various media.
- Art Car Boot Fair
'Queen & Country' Edition.
Online, 6-8th November 2021
The return of the art world's most exuberant event! And with a theme of 'Queen & Country' it only seemed right that we should focus on dear ol' Britannia.
All our pennies sold, but we have a handful of prints left. Drop us a line here.
- Prison Residencies
Shepton Mallet Prison C-Wing, 18th Sept – 3rd Oct 2021
Sharon was recently a part of the Prison Residencies group show, based at Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset, curated by Luminara Florescu and Amanda Lynch. Her research for this site specific artwork focussed on two women prisoners from the Victorian era, resident at the Prison.
For many women incarcerated, poverty was the driving force behind the crimes committed. Trying to live a secure and healthy life with little or no money was (and still is) impossible to do. Hard labor (sic) punishment was handed out to prisoners; often for theft of insignificant small items or foodstuffs, for being un-ladylike (swearing), or for being destitute.
Sharon's artwork consists of two C19th style prison aprons, made from an antique, workman’s linen smock. Each apron has the name of a former Shepton Mallet prisoner, with their crime and punishment, machine-embroidered onto it. The aprons are an acknowledgement of the women who lived a life of hardship. The chained Victorian pennies are a reminder that money, education and equality are the things women need to avoid the poverty trap.
The prison aprons are an interactive artwork, we encourage visitors to try them on and take a moment to think of the prisoners that were incarcerated in C-Wing.
The residency ran 18th Sept – 3rd Oct, 2021.
We've also minted two digital limited edition NFTs as part of this project and these are available on the energy efficient Tezos blockchain at pennydrops.xyz.
- Small Wonders
Well Hung Gallery, London
1-4th July 2021
Small Wonders at Well Hung Gallery was an ace show – the first we've physically been to since lockdown. Check out the flyer below for the amazing list of artists.
Our piece for the show was made from a 23ct gold leaf Victorian penny, enamel paint and pre-decimal pennies on a painted wooden box. It's 30cm x 30cm and if you're interested it can be purchased from Well Hung here.
- Art Car Boot Fair 'Flora & Fauna'
May 2021
We were chuffed to be invited to our seventh Art Car Boot Fair in May 2021. The Fair is always a really exuberant celebration of art, where you can pick up a bargain directly from the artists.
This year was online-only, but we managed to hold an open studio session via Zoom, so we still got to speak to collectors.
Big thanks to everyone who called in and who bought from us over the three day event.
- Lockdown #pennydrops
Feb 2021
This was a project aimed at distracting people from the pandemic lockdown.
First, we tracked down a really lovely example of an 1895 penny. We gilded it in 23ct gold leaf and on the surface, we painted 'just keep going' in enamel paint. We re-dated the piece 2021 as a little encouragement and memento of a strange time.
We put out one clue a day on social media for a week. Piecing together the clues gave you the (virtual) location of the penny.
The penny was found on 14th Feb 2021 by a person in Cumbria who cleverly worked out where we'd left the penny.
- Background Bob
2021
We are delighted to have played a small part in Background Bob's lockdown art project that became a global phenomenon. He's been all over the news lately, but if you've missed it here's a piece by the BBC.
The story:
In April, @background_bob and his Dad sat down to do some painting. They knew a few street artists from their love of the art and visiting street art festivals and so posted on Instagram to ask if anyone wanted to collaborate on producing some pieces for a charity auction. Around 250 artists from around the world replied.
By popular demand, a book was created bringing together all the work received prior to the deadline. Everyone who took part is featured including, My Dog Sighs, Anna Schellberg, Pez, Trust.iCON, Carne Griffiths, Silent Bill, Dank, Toaster, Eelus, Penny, Snub, Mason Storm, JPS, Heath Kane, Ange Bell, Background Bob’s mum and dad. Oh, and us!
100% of the profits from the book went to Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, specifically the Children’s Department at Colchester Hospital.Following an auction on the 7th March 2021, an amazing £100,000 was raised! Big thanks to those of you who bidded on our piece.
Update:
Background bob is doing it all again! If you're an artist and would like to help, check out @background_bob
- Shop small
Dec 2020
Founder of Not On The High Street, Holly Tucker asked us to paint a Shop Small penny as part of the #CampaignShopIndependent for Christmas 2020.
