14th April 2011 NEWS RELEASE

Artist in Residence at Caffè Fratelli
Successful first year of artistic programme concludes with new display of Italian-inspired art.

Caffè Fratelli, Sloane Square
After a year which saw Caffè Fratelli engage its first Artist in Residence, the owners are hosting their second major exhibition of new work by Nicky Leigh, showcasing her original and inspiring paintings and prints .

This year Nicky has added a selection of works reflecting the unique presence of Italy in the history of the motor vehicle, with a landmark item being the iconic Fiat 500 along with a number of other instantly recognisable classics that will appeal to motoring enthusiasts and art lovers alike. Nicky will also be showing more of her Italian scenes and landscapes as well as some more individual pieces.

Talking about her paintings, Nicky explained, “My subtle use of colour owes an obvious debt to the fresco tradition that characterizes such a large part of Italy’s artistic heritage and lends itself easily to diverse images that are reminiscent of the warmth, elegance and flamboyance that defines Italy.”

The Toni&Guy Charitable Foundation
Nicky, this year, is continuing her liaison with The Toni&Guy Charitable Foundation who will receive 20% of all sales related to the exhibition which includes original paintings, limited edition giclee prints and greetings cards of selected images from the exhibition. The Foundation is the official charity of the world-renowned hairdressing chain, Toni&Guy, and supports a range of charities, including Variety Club to refurbish a children’s ward at Kings College Hospital; Macmillan Cancer Support; Hair and Beauty Benevolent; and a children’s refuge in Italy.

About Nicky Leigh
Nicky’s influences include many years living and travelling abroad, her family’s interest in art and architecture and her experience as a buyer for Harrods during her early career. Nicky’s paintings, with their intensely personal use of colour, reference both her academic background (she is a graduate in Textile Design) and her abiding interest in the emotional content of colour itself. The pictures are often presented as a juxtaposition of decorative planes: their impact accentuated by a deliberate yet imaginative colouristic distortion. In this respect the pictorial treatment recalls the fauvists of the early 20th century as well as lending a characteristic visual dynamism to her work. This technical accomplishment, allows the paintings themselves, to express an exuberance that can at times appear at odds with the atmosphere of solitude that often emanates from these unpeopled scenes. Reminiscent of the work of metaphysical artists such as Giorgio De Chirico.

Venue: Caffè Fratelli, Unit 10 Duke of York Square, Sloane Square, London

For more information about the viewing or Nicky’s work:
Tel Nicky on 07795016656
nickyjleigh@googlemail.com
www.nickyleigh.co.uk