Alternative Art Fair at Hampstead Heath – plenty to eyeball.
It is in it’s 16th year and has over 1,300 exhibiting galleries and 232,000 visitors worldwide each year and it provides yard upon yard of exhibits showcasing top artists from galleries from all over London and across the globe to feast your eyes on and possibly empty your wallet on too! Old favourites like Damien Hirst are included and there are all sorts of artistic plays on themes from Andy Warholesque , Damien Hirstesque to Disneyesque as well as lots of eye-opening fine interpretations of historical pictures portraying working men in industrial scenes, to finely tuned op art, 3d and tangible “touchable” (don’t take that literally) art and lots of surprises amongst the thousands of pictures to enjoy with your endlessly available “complementary” goblets (disposable…) of wine.
Art ranges from £100 to £5,000 in price and chatting with the gallerists will help you learn about art and/or choose what to buy. Made in Arts London (MiAL) are showing a curated exhibition of work that will help champion the wealth of artistic talent currently emerging from the city’s art schools.
You can google who is exhibiting at www.affordableartfair.co.uk. The exhibition is at Lower Fairground Site, East Heath Road, Hampstead until 14 June 6 pm. You may find you are given a complementary ticket by an array of PR people but if not, it is roughly £10 to get in, with concessions considered at other rates. You can buy tickets at www.affordableartfair.co.uk. You can pick up a special free shuttle from Hampstead tube station, and there is ample parking if you come by car. You can also come to Hampstead overland and walk up the hill. It really is a big operation with smiles aplenty to be had and the surroundings are opulent green heath and trees. Of course there is room to sit on the patio to chat, partake of a cigarrete or cigar and drink one of your goblets of red or white which comes aplenty with the ticket and have a chat with an artist or a visitor. The centre of the exhibition has champagne at a price and there is also a tea and snacks bar as well as a wonderful live five piece band playing any and all of your favourite songs.
Affordable Art Fair Founder and CEO is Will Ramsay (Eton College, Newcastle Uni) who served in the British Army for five years prior to working in the art world. He is known as a multi tasker extraordinaire with many other projects on the go and he works with Nicky Wheeler (MD) and Luci Noel – Will and the two ladies enjoy collecting themselves and have all together made the Affordable Art Fairs into a truly exciting and eye-opening occasion every time you visit. Lets hope you find the time to go soon – this weekend would be perfect especially if the sun smiles down on us. Enjoy.
Penny Nair Price