Sheffield artist sees the bigger picture in Big Apple

A Sheffield artist is in a New York ‘frame’ of mind after wowing art lovers on the other side of the Atlantic.

After exhibiting 50 original paintings at New York’s Art Expo, Pete McKee had his work exposed to thousands of new fans.

And during his trip to the US, city-born Pete also met with 20th Century Fox Studios – home to the Simpsons, Futurama and Family Guy.

A self taught artist, Pete draws his inspiration from his working class roots and his memories of the late 60s and early 70s – a ‘golden age’ of bingo halls, cafes, football matches and hazy, lazy days at the seaside.

And he has already impressed one celebrity. Oasis star Noel Gallagher loved the picture Pete sent him and proudly displayed it in his living room. The musician then asked Pete if he would paint a similar picture on a 10ft model guitar for a Gibson Guitartown charity appeal. The appeal involves some of art and rock’s biggest names with Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake painting Ozzy Osbourne’s guitar – but Noel turned to Pete to do the honours for his contribution.

Pete – who has had local success with regular exhibitions at venues including the Forum Café and Bar in the Sheffield city centre and Archipelago on Ecclesall Road in the city, as well as the Winter Gardens as part of Sheffield’s Comedy Festival – has now begun looking further afield.

He started his company – Pete McKee Ltd – with manager Michael Mackevych earlier this year and has exhibited in London, Glasgow, Brighton, Scunthorpe, Northampton and this year’s Spring Fair at the Birmingham NEC.

But it was the New York venture that opened doors outside the UK. The Art Expo is the world’s largest fine and popular art fair, hosting more than 500 galleries, art publishers and art dealers, and thousands of artists.

Pete and manager Michael turned to the South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC) and their UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) international trade advisor Heather Guile for help getting there.

Said Michael: “We knew it would be expensive getting Pete and his work out to America but were convinced it would be worth it. It costs a lot of money to transport securely and safely all of the paintings – shipping alone ran into thousands of pounds.

“I went to see Heather and she was able to help out. She is very down to earth, very helpful and had lots of time for us.

“In the end we were able to access about £2,000 of funding which will help us with things like shipping costs.

“It was an excellent exhibition and people in the states really loved Pete’s work. Thanks to the meeting with Fox, it could lead to even more exposure for Pete.” 

Said Pete: “This was the first time I'd shown my originals in America and, to be honest, I had no idea how they would take to my very British working class art but they loved it. I couldn't have hoped for a better response. Overall, the show was a great success with the prospect of doing a commission for Fox on the horizon.”

Said UKTI international trade advisor Heather Guile: “I have worked with Pete and Michael on our Passport to Export programme and Pete has benefited from having UKTI exhibition funding as well as regional Targeted Export Support Scheme (TESS) funding to go to the exhibition in New York.

“We’re so pleased things are going well for Pete. He is a real asset to Sheffield and our region and we are thrilled to be able to assist him in attracting new audiences outside the UK so that he can demonstrate to the rest of the world the exciting and vibrant work of a South Yorkshire artist!”