Over 5,000 different coloured Fender plectrums have been used to create a unique mosaic portrait of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix on display at Abbey Road studios.
The picture, which was created by Manchester-based artist Ed Chapman, will be unveiled to the world during a charity event taking place at the world-famous recording suites.
Chapman’s portrait of the 60s rock legend measures just over a metre high and, as you can imagine, took several painstaking days to complete.
Over 5,000 plectrums, donated by guitar makers Fender, were used to create the piece and money raised from its sale, which is expected to top £16,000, will be donated to Cancer Research UK.
The artist said that he felt the mosaic and its materials are a fitting tribute to the electric guitar wielding maestro, responsible for songs including Foxy Lady, Purple Haze, Voodoo Child and All Along the Watchtower.
“Jimi Hendrix is a guitar maestro and nobody played a Fender guitar like him,” Chapman said. “I decided to use plectrums to create a portrait of him because I like experimenting with different materials and textures and I think it is a fitting tribute to the musician.”
It’s not the first time that Chapman has made mosaic portraits from unusual materials. Previous works have included Manchester United legends George Best, Eric Cantona, Mark Hughes and Sir Alex Ferguson, which he made using coins.
“There’s no better place for it to go on sale than at a legendary home of music and I hope it raises as much as possible for charity,” he added.
At an auction in back in 2009, Chapman’s ceramic portrait of John Lennon raised thousands for the charity.
The artist has exhibited throughout the UK and across Europe and the US. His work has a number of high profile collectors including well-known musicians and sports stars.
The picture, which was created by Manchester-based artist Ed Chapman, will be unveiled to the world during a charity event taking place at the world-famous recording suites.
Chapman’s portrait of the 60s rock legend measures just over a metre high and, as you can imagine, took several painstaking days to complete.
Over 5,000 plectrums, donated by guitar makers Fender, were used to create the piece and money raised from its sale, which is expected to top £16,000, will be donated to Cancer Research UK.
The artist said that he felt the mosaic and its materials are a fitting tribute to the electric guitar wielding maestro, responsible for songs including Foxy Lady, Purple Haze, Voodoo Child and All Along the Watchtower.
“Jimi Hendrix is a guitar maestro and nobody played a Fender guitar like him,” Chapman said. “I decided to use plectrums to create a portrait of him because I like experimenting with different materials and textures and I think it is a fitting tribute to the musician.”
It’s not the first time that Chapman has made mosaic portraits from unusual materials. Previous works have included Manchester United legends George Best, Eric Cantona, Mark Hughes and Sir Alex Ferguson, which he made using coins.
“There’s no better place for it to go on sale than at a legendary home of music and I hope it raises as much as possible for charity,” he added.
At an auction in back in 2009, Chapman’s ceramic portrait of John Lennon raised thousands for the charity.
The artist has exhibited throughout the UK and across Europe and the US. His work has a number of high profile collectors including well-known musicians and sports stars.