It's always lovely when new talent is given a voice (or in this case, a showcase) so it's with delight that we introduce you to the Park Plaza Victoria's first art residency programme.
The hotel has joined forces with the extraordinary Independent Art School, to invite art students from London and Birmingham to put together their work, whilst interacting with the hotel's 2,100 guests.
It's an unique way to get their talent out there, but it certainly works. In fact, I visited the students at work and caught them having a marvellous time explaining their techniques to inquistitive visitors and even letting kids have a go on the canvas.
Art students Emmie Carson, Monica Chrysostomou, Mandy Eugeniou, Graham Litchfield, Olga Skavysh and Helen Wilson all won their residency through top proposals - and have since been putting together their masterpieces in the lobby, bar and other public areas of the hotel. When their work is complete, the hotel will be auctioning off their paintings for charity.
When I headed down, Helen Wilson was the student hard at work crafting her watercolour painting of London's Pearly Kings and Queens. She told us, "The guests have been great, I've made friends with a few and they've talked through what I've been doing. It's been an experience."
The full line up of artist residencies are below.
Emmie Carson // Residency: 3-5 September Mandy Eugeniou // Residency: 26-27 September, 29-30 September Helen Wilson // Residency: 14-16 October Graham Litchfield // Residency: 18-20 October Monica Chrysostomou // Residency: 26-27 October, 31 October-1 November
For more information on the artists and details of the auction, visit www.parkplaza.com/victorialondon.
