ANTFOX T-SHIRTS
We asked, you answered and now we are offering!
A chance to order your own customised ANTFOX gallery t-shirt. All you need to do is decide which of the artworks you’d like on the back.
PROCESS:
Select your artwork from our full catalogue or text for the back of the t-shirt.
Select the size of the t-shirt, please see the sizing chart
Send us an email to info@antfox.com with the details above and we’ll send you an invoice with a payment link (UK delivery £3.95)
Pay the invoice with 25 of the King’s finest pounds
Sit back and wait for your t-shirt to be delivered.
ANTFOX T-shirt sizing chart
Brighton's Sesame Seafront
Today, sees the launch of a new light hearted and fun collection. The pieces blend some of our favourite childhood characters into Brighton’s varied and colourful culture.
Each of the four images has an integrated augmented reality animation which brings the art to life, all you need is the free ARTIVIVE app. and turn up the sound.
The collection is part of Brighton’s i360’s exhibition as part of the wider Artist Open House May ‘23 Festival.
The Count
Can you think of anyone who’d be more content sitting counting pebbles all day?
Of course, some adaptions for the Count’s fair complexion have been made to ensure he’d be comfortable on the beach (…more info).
Brighton’s Pride Party
Elmo
Always on the lookout for new adventures, Elmo turns up to Brighton’s Pride with his usual enthusiastic and friendly outlook.
It doesn’t take long for him to make new friends, who just like him like to party (…more info).
Oscar The grouch
On a short ‘bin break’ from Sesame Street, Oscar visits ones in the Artist’s Quarter on Brighton’s seafront.
It wasn’t long before he realises that not all bins are the same and becomes grumpier than ever having to deal with some of the local inhabitants.
Oscar on a ‘bin break’.
Trying to finish of BB under Magnus’ (the pigeon) scrutiny.
Big Bird
As a secret Mod, BB likes to absorb himself into the Mod Culture. Enjoying a weekend off Brighton’s Laines, and is spotted visiting the iconic Mod Mecca of Quadrophenia Alley (…more info).
£20 off - Autumn Mix N' Match Offer on Window Mounted Prints
We are offering all our customers £20 off the cost of signed, window mounted prints when you buy three or more. To claim your discount follow the steps below:
Simply select three signed, window mounted paper prints
Enter AUT22 at the checkout to receive £20 off
Enter your delivery details
Sit back and wait for your prints be delivered to your door.
T’s & C’s:
Discount applies to any window mounted paper print available on the ANTFOX website.
The discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Incremental postage and packaging charges apply.
This discount is valid for unlimited usage during the promotional period unless stated otherwise.
All discount codes are exclusive to online orders and cannot be applied to any Collect in Store at the Seafront Gallery.
Offer ends 31/10/2022
The Last Supper
A 21st birthday commission - invite your favourite artists to the Last Supper.
A secret commission for a young man proved to be a rewarding piece to create. At 21 what more could you ask for than being able to invite your favourite artists to supper and DJing for them?
Over the years, Da Vinci’s masterpiece as been reworked in many guises and we waned to retain as much of the original style and setting as possible.
The young man’s parents spent time drawing out the young man’s favourite artists and we’ve pieced them together, would the likes of Mercury and Gallagher hold it together at the end of the table?
Fitting the artists into the scene, interacting with the environment and each other has taken the time but it has been rewarding to work on.
Sneaky until the end, even on the big day his present was displayed in a cordoned off area, and he almost walked past it.
It is absolutely my favourite part of my job seeing the pleasure it will bring others.
“Thank you so much. He’s still blown away!”
Brighton's Disaster Series
King Kong has finally arrived and is on sale in the seafront gallery, and via our website
Kong guarding his chips up the i360.
Kong is part of a disaster series that has been percolating in my thoughts for years. He is the first of four pieces to emerge from those fragments of ideas and thoughts.
Finishing touches to the original in the gallery.
King Kong 1933
I grew up with this misunderstood beast, captivated with this insight to his soul. The original film (1933) was one of the first to use stop motion animation, signifying the film industry was entering into a new phase of technology to entertain and engage millions.
Watching the movie as a kid in the 1970’s I was hooked.
Later, an art college trip to the now closed Museum of Moving Image in London, Kong’s metal armature model was on display. It’s simplicity of form and function captivated my interest and my energies moved into computer animations using the then state of the art black and white Macintosh 128K.
For the last few years I’ve been adding hidden extras to many of my paintings as augmented reality animations allowing a 3D element and immersion to the image. If you’ve visited me at the gallery you may have been shown the way in which the pieces work, all you need is the Artivive app on your smartphone or tablet.
It appeals to my sensibilities, (if I have any) that I’m taking works from some of the old masters repainting with an innovative twist and then bringing it to life that people can access via their own smart phones.
The days looking at flat canvasses are limited. Artists, studios and galleries are now reinventing themselves to adjust to this new era of accessing art.
Limited edition canvas and paper prints of Kong aere available here…
Whatever next? NFT’s?
Watch this space….there is more to come
The Three Marys opens in Leith
When an email popped up asking if I’d be interested in creating a commission for a new bar in Leith, Edinburgh based on three well known images of Marys through the ages with nods to the local area and it’s culture, it was of course a resounding ‘yes’.
So work started on transforming Mary Queen of Scots, Mary de Guise and Mary Magdalene into cocktail drinking pin ups with a few hidden extras for those that look closely enough. The first challenge was getting the right emphasis on the drinks for each Mary to reflect the brief of the bar and their signature cocktails.. They’ve already been noticed by the scotsman.com.
“Mary, Queen of Scots, drinks a bloody Mary (which will be one of their signature serves) complete with celery stick, Mary Magdalene is pouring some red wine, and Mary of Guise is winking with a glass of Champagne in hand.”
Adding the nods to some of the famous vibrancy and culture of the local Leith area was the fun part, can you spot some of those additions in each piece and tell us in the comments below?
Always a great moment when you get to see the pieces side by side for the first time.
We think they fit in to this new bar beautifully where every nook has been thought out to fit the concept of the bar, and look forward to visiting soon.
““We are looking to serve seasonal and sustainable, locally themed cocktails, independent local beers and pay tribute to the French links to the area, particularly the wines which would have been in plentiful supply in any nearby vaults around Mary, Queen of Scots’ time””
Byron's back in Mayfair
We are delighted to have worked on a bespoke version of Byron for an ambitious project based around the amalgamation of 15 Georgian townhouses into the Mayfair Townhouse Hotel. Originally built in the early 18th century, Half Moon Street has always held a reputation being a colourful haunt for batchelors, bohemiams and the artistic characters alike.
The Den @ The Mayfair Townhouse Hotel
We can’t think of a better setting for a bespoke version of our whimsical take of Byron. He adorns the entrance to ‘The Den’ an opulent swath of ruby red, jewel lined seats and range of artwork all pertaining to the elusive mascot, the fox.
In true Ant Fox style, there is of course hidden messages in the art. It would appear that this hasn’t been missed by some of those eagle eyed reviewers. The ‘Inspector’ from the Daily Mail noted, ‘some of the art has QR barcodes in case you want to find more about them’. Well spotted!
Byron with iPad
We understand that Byron will also feature in a new 3 part documentary ‘Britain’s Most Luxurious Hotels being produced by Spun Gold TV due to be aired on Channel 4 later this year.
We would like to thank Minda Dowling, Art Curator for the fantastic opportunity, we’ll be visiting soon!
Unveiling “The Life of Brian” Tryptic
Can you spot the easter eggs hidden in the these Monty Python Paintings?
I have had so much fun painting these three and they are finally all finished. You may have seen glimpses of them on Facebook and Instagram, they are now finished and limited edition prints are now available.
look closer..
Each painting has scenes and hidden symbols from the movie “The Life of Brian”
The hidden symbols are viewable in the closeup images of these paintings in the images below. Let me know in the comments when you find them. If you would like to see purchase options for these canvases and prints also click on the links below
“Bigeth Dicketh”, “The Peoples Front of Judea”, and “Very Naughty Boy” are now available as limited edition hand finished canvases and signed paper prints.
A special Christmas card to all our friends
This year as a gift to all the friends of The Antfox Gallery, I have made you a special Christmas card.
This year as a gift to all the friends of The Antfox Gallery, I have made you a special Christmas card that includes a 10% voucher code. To save printing any unwanted Yuletide card waste I’m sending you, with my love, the actual (yes the actual), printable pdf file, so that you can print it for yourself. This also cleverly negates the extra burden on your postman this year.
The card includes a 10% voucher code printed on the back. Please free to use the code yourself, or share this Christmas card with the gift code printed on the back to your friends or family.
Download your printable Card here….. >
Please do print this cards and share it and the discount code with your family and friends. But hey lets not go mad, Please don’t reuse this image and sell it. Spread the love instead. Voucher valid until 28/2/2021.
Merry Christmas and (insert sincere sentiment here)
The Retirement of a Hero
This week saw the retirement of a Ivor Henley, who has been with West Sussex Fire Brigade for 48 years. I had the privilege to mark the occasion with a painting …
This week saw the retirement of a Ivor Henley, who has been with West Sussex Fire Brigade for 48 years.
We’ll leave it to the BBC (below) to succinctly outline his outstanding career with tributes from many work colleagues and those who he has helped save over the years.
As part of a leaving present from his current crew, I’ve had the privilege to mark the occasion with a painting of his dog “Yogi”. The detail in the piece all represent different aspects of Ivor’s career; Yogi’s wearing Ivor’s original 1972 uniform, putting out one of Ivor’s many fires that he attended, this one being a pub in Ivor’s home town of Burgess Hill.
We thank Ivor for his many years dedicated service and which him and Yogi well in retirement.
The guardian newspaper visited the gallery
This article in the Guardian today pretty much sums it up. It’s not been easy for any of the seasonal small businesses in Brighton and Hove, nor should I imagine anywhere around the UK. I mean who plans for a pandemic as part of your business plan?
I have been fortunate in having an online business which during lockdown has provide a treacle feed of income. It has been pretty challenging, especially as only recently going full time self employed in the last 18 months, but things are hopefully looking up.
The same storm…
but different boats, it would seem depending on whether you’ve been able to turn those bricks into clicks and transfer onto online and quickly.
Like many of those in the Artist’s Quarter down on the seafront arches, we are now hoping for an upturn in passing trade from those on staycations and maybe even some tourists!
Virtual reality Gallery
Visit the gallery virtually via the Artivive app
Even though the doors are currently closed on the Antfox Seafront Gallery during the Corona lockdown, you can still access a virtual gallery as you wonder past.
Those of you who are already familiar to my work will know that if you point your smart phone at some of my pieces come to life in a virtual form as a little ‘extra’.
While lockdown continues, I’ve left you a virtual gallery of some of my favourite pieces which is accessible via the Antfox logo on business fliers or the ones outside the seafront gallery.
Simply install the free Artivive app on you phone ready for your next walk on the seafront and see the shopfront come to lift in glorious 3D, even when the gallery is closed.
#bringArtToLife
Gift Vouchers Now Available
Looking for a way to treat friends and family?
Sounds like a nice idea, buying a piece of art for someone. However, it can be a daunting task for yourself let alone for others especially If your not quite sure what their taste would be. We are now able to offer you our digital gift vouchers as the perfect solution.
A digital gift voucher could be just the gift for a friend, family or even a way of saving towards a piece you want for yourself!
Gift vouchers can be redeemed through ANTFOX.com and put towards anything in their basket - all they have to do then is decide, how to spoil themselves.
£25, £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200 vouchers available to buy online.
Additional Information:
Purchasing this digital gift voucher creates a unique code, which is emailed out instantly to either yourself or your lucky recipient.
The gift voucher recipient can enter this code at checkout to subtract the gift voucher value from their order total.
You or recipient will receive an initial email with the gift voucher balance. After entering the voucher code at checkout, you’ll see the remaining balance if there is any.
These gift vouchers don’t have an expiry date, even better for those anticipated purchases which sometimes take a long time to come to fruition.
Vouchers can only be purchased individually - if there isn’t domination that you wish to buy available please email us on info@antfox.com and we’ll make one especially for you.
Any enquiries about our vouchers please do get in touch on info@antfox.com
The French Bedroom company Meet the Maker
I was recently interviewed by the wonderful guys at The French Bedroom Company.
FBC have been selling my art for last few years, we spoke about the kind of things that inspire me and what makes me tick as an artist.
Please note that this interview was made before the recent COVID-19 situation.
During the current lock down in the uk we are operating as much as we can and our online ordering systems are working (more or less) as normal.
This is what they wrote…
Meet the Maker
We love nothing more than giving classic French interior design a quirky twist to add personality and character; a beautiful, French bed paired with a cheeky piece of art is the perfect blend of timeless individuality. Here we chat to the mastermind and creator behind our whimsically fun art collection, Ant Fox, to see what inspires his insatiable creativity…
When did you first discover your love of art and all things quirky?
I have been painting since I realised I could smear shapes in my spaghetti hoops. I rarely use that medium anymore, but I won’t be surprised if eventually that becomes the last medium I ever use too. As a child I couldn’t see very well, so I would see a fuzzy shape of my mom in the kitchen and could run up to her, memorise her face and what ever cake she was baking, and then go back to my paper in the corner and fit the pieces together to help me make sense of the world around me
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I often wake up giggling. My wife says “you have another one don’t you”? She then writes them all down in a leather bound book that we keep next to the bed. They are usually a three word phrase that makes no sense until I colour them in on a canvas.
What is a typical working day like for you?
I spend every day I can in my seafront gallery in Brighton. As well as affording me a space to work right on the seafront, it gives me a chance to show and discuss my work, live, with passers by. It is a convenient exposure to the zeitgeist of what people like and find amusing.
Which item in your home has a sentimental value to you and why?
My grandfather had a gold pocket watch that was given to him by his grandfather from the 1880s. I used to ask 'Grampy' to wind it up and I would fall asleep in his lap listening to its ticks and tocks next to my ear. Subsequently, he gave it to my father and now it is in a glass case and has pride of place in my living room. I wind it up three times a year, once on my grandfather’s birthday, on my father’s birthday and again on mine. It takes me straight back to that precious place.
When you travel, what do you miss most about your home?
That’s easy, my cats. I have been lucky to have visited some splendid places in the world, and whether from a distant ziggurats in Chile or a sacred cave in the mountains of Belize, I think about Donkey and Malibu staring out of a window at home wondering what I am up to
What’s on the cards for 2020?
I have recently been playing a lot with virtual and augmented reality and a way to build these concepts into my art. This spring I will be promoting a virtual gallery on show to visitors on Brighton seafront. Also I am working on a range of artworks for The London Palladium as part of The Royal Variety Performance later in the year. Dad would have liked that.
Quick Fire:
Tea or Coffee? Tea in the summertime and coffee in the winter
Beach or Mountains? Always start off on a mountain and then work downhill to the coast for a chillax on the beach, perhaps with a bit of scuba diving
Yoga or Spin? I went to yoga once and fell asleep. What is Spin?
Night Owl or Morning Person? All the fun happens around the midnight hours. You won’t find me anywhere in the morning, I dare you to try.
Which three French Bedroom Company products do you love most?
I have always been a fan of chandeliers. I have wanted one for ages but not had a space high enough to properly hang one, maybe one day and I can enjoy sitting on a Palais de Versailles Sacre Bleu Armchair to view it from. But most of all, what I like about the FBC, above their excellent products, is their attitude to life and business. Everything that they do is based on love and quality, not just in their furniture, it is evident in their attitude to business and to their customers.
The French Bedroom Company arehuge fans of incorporating quirky pieces, like Ant's fabulous artwork, into your home to add style, personality and character. Contact our friendly and knowledgeable team for ideas on how to layer Ant Fox's art with our classic French style furniture and luxury beds.
27 figures of speech in one painting.
Here is an image of the painting and a list of the 27 that we found. Let’s see how many you can find before checking our list.
During the isolation, we at the Antfox Gallery have been busying ourselves by studying one painting more than most (other than the ones I have been painting).
It is by Ella Baron and is said to contains 27 well known phrases. For instance, in the top left could be it’s title “A Figure of Speech, in a Nutshell”.
Here is an image of the painting and a list of the 27 that we found. Let’s see how many you can find before checking our list.
If there are any that we have missed, or that you have found that are better, please put them in the comments below and we will update any new ones and add them to the list. Enjoy!
1) Time flies 2) cat got your tongue 3) ace up your sleeve 4) don’t put all your eggs in one basket, 5) wear your heart on your sleeve 6) kick the bucket, 7) behind every man is a good woman or cast a shadow over me 8) spill the beans 9) everything handed to you on a silver platter 10) walking on egg shells 11) screw in your head loose 12) born with a silver spoon in your mouth 13) in a nutshell 14) tie the knot 15) cold feet 16) by the tail 17) rags to riches 18) red herring 19) keep your cards close to your chest 20) bird brain 21) in one ear out the other or earworm 22) best foot forward 23) big cheese or your story has more holes in it than Swiss cheese 24) shoe on the other foot 25) skinny as a rail or tall as a beanpole 26) follow your nose 27) a piece of cake
More work by Ella Baron here… https://www.ellabaron.com/
The making of a jigsaw
Jack and I decided to cut up one of my prints into 200 tiles and see if we could piece it back together without using a reference image (I should know the image quite well).
With enough pre orders, the jigsaw could be ready by xmas
Maeve Binchy original book cover art rediscovered
Maeve Binchy fans around the world are all a buzz since the news of many of the original artworks of John Hancock, have been uncovered.
Maeve Binchy
fans around the world are all a buzz since the news of many of the original artworks of John Hancock, have been uncovered.
The original pieces, presumed lost in his move from his english studio to his new studio in Bulgaria, were discovered in an unopened archive.
Maeve Binchy (1940-2012) is an award-winning, best-selling Irish novelist.
The English artist John Hancock was said to be “ delighted and relieved” that these pieces have been rediscovered.
For more information on John Hancock and his art click here: johnhancockart.com
Artivive at the Antfox Gallery
If you ever thought it would be cool if still pictures came to life like they do in the Harry Potter movies, now this has become a reality with the Augmented reality app Artivive.
Many of the paintings at the Antfox Gallery now spring in to motion when they are viewed by any smart phone with the Artivive app installed. The bluebells painting now have twinkles in the trees and a flock of birds flying through the forest.
Hold you phone over King Louie and he will tell you “I wanna be like you”
look at our painting of beaker and find out why it is called “The Meeping Sister”
So what is Augmented Reality? Augmented reality, commonly abbreviated "AR," is computer-generated content overlaid on a real world environment. AR hardware comes in many forms, including devices that you can carry, such as handheld displays, and devices you wear, such as headsets, and glasses. Common applications of AR technology include video games, television, and personal navigation, though there are many other uses as well.
The augmented reality app Artivive had won the “Best Austrian Startup” category in Pioneers conference in Vienna in May this year. Founded in 2017, it had already accrued over 60,000 downloads, with users spending a collective 1.3 million minutes engaging with art via the app. In the past year alone, over 2000 artists in 65 countries have used the platform, supporting over 100 exhibitions 1.5+ million scans nearly 5k original artworks.
Artivive CEO Codin Popescu says that “For an artist to create in augmented reality they previously had to build their own isolated solutions, which required technical skills and resources, but now those artists can take visitors on a journey in time and explain what lies behind, enhance the art with illustrations or show how the artworks were made. For museums, exhibitions, galleries and other art institutions it offers a new and innovative way for the audience to interact with the exhibits.”
This new technology allows artists to create new dimensions of art by linking classical with digital art. The digital layer opens the doors to a whole new world of possibilities. Artists can take visitors on a journey in time and explain what lies behind, enhance the artwork or tell a story. This new world can be unlocked by any smartphone or tablet and offer an extended and emotional experience.
Why not download the Free Artivive app now from the iTunes app store or Google Play Store from the links below and try it on the images below to see them come to life for yourself.
https://apps.apple.com/ua/app/artivive/id1188737494
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.artivive&hl=en_GB
Or come down to the gallery, with the Artivive app pre installed on your phone and we will gladly demo the animations for you with an explanation of how it works and how to get the best out of the experience. We we are offering a 10% discount to anyone that turns up at the Antfox Gallery on Brighton seafront to anyone with the Artivive app installed
You can find out more information on Artivive at https://artivive.com/
Rejuvenating an old painting
A lovely french lady, Janine, asked me to add a new feature to her old oil painting.
I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed painting it.
John Hancock at work in his studio Bulgaria
This short video was made during my visit to John in June 2019. Some art happened. I was filming myself filming a film of him painting a picture of me.
See more of John Hancock’s awesome art here: johnhancockart.com