SUE Tilley: author, model for Lucian Freud, and stalwart of the London fashion and clubbing scene, has been enjoying her first foray into the art world as a practitioner, rather than a model or a muse.
Three canvases from the Favourite Things section of This Is My Life
Tilley’s first show This Is My Life has been running since last month and ends in a few weeks time when Tilley plans to celebrate it with a Closing Party which – if it’s half as jam-packed and jolly as her launch night – will be a date not to miss.
Sue Tilley plying her wares at the recent Axiom Sample Sale
T-shirts and prints made for the launch night sold so well that Tilley’s extended the range, and even manned a stall at the recent Axiom Sample Sale – which she hopes will become a regular event – and is in the process of setting up a website.
Stylist and accessories designer Judy Blame wears Sue Tilley at Axiom Sample Sale
Catch the exhibition before it closes. You will miss a few key pieces: Tilley’s Custard Cream was stolen from the Gallery last week. “A heist!” commented Tilley, clearly thrilled.
Fashion designer Louise Gray wearing Sue Tilley t-shirt
Also, Tilley has a tendency to let those buyers who have ‘come a long way’ take the art from the walls and go home with it there and then. “I don’t like to disappoint,” she says, “and besides, it saves on postage.”
by Rachel McCormack
This Is My Life is at Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery, Stour Road, London E3 and runs until 12th November, Open Thursday and Friday 5-9pm and Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm
All images in this post © Sue Tilley
First published on Glass November 2nd 2015
Update August 2019
As regular readers will know, Sue and I have been friends for many years, and she is Godmother to my daughter. I note with interest that I make no such disclosure in the article above, lol. This was such a great show! And a bloody good sample sale too – as well as Sue’s t-shirts, I picked up a Sibling blue knit skirt and cardigan, and an incredibly versatile and holey black mohair jumper.
I am now the very proud owner of one of the paintings from Sue’s first collection of work, and no, it wasn’t me that nicked the Custard Cream! Sue surprised me at Christmas with the glorious work of art that is the Mitchum deodorant (a product Sue and I share the same enthusiasm for. Read Sue talking about Mitchum, Dove and other joys of life in Tell Me About Your Bad Self …
