Brian Shields (BRAAQ) - “The Factory”

Delightfully charming with humour and detail

Stock Code: 2498 - SOLD

Description: A winters day in a northern British city, with families out and children playing in a snowy park, next to the factories and houses where they lived and worked. Delightful and charming, with humour and detail, observed by the expert eye of renowned Liverpool artist – Brian Shields.

Further Information: Born in Liverpool in 1951, to father Dennis Shields, who himself was a highly regarded artist, however having twelve children found it difficult to support his family through painting alone. Brian’s eldest brother pursued a successful career in America as a sculptor. Brian’s adoption of the unusual pseudonym of ‘braaq’ is actually a misspelling of the famous French artist Braque which, on account of his artistic talent as a boy, was Brian’s nickname at school. The name ‘Ann’ after his own signature was a reference to his sister who died at the young age of 21 and in whose memory all of his subsequent paintings were dedicated.

Brian held his first exhibition in 1974. In 1977 he was invited to hold his first of four exhibitions in London’s West End. It was after this exhibition that ‘The Times’ described him as “one of the six most successful artists in England”. All Brian’s paintings are based, in a humorous way, on his childhood memories of Liverpool. He frequently painted himself as a boy wearing a striped jumper. In 1997 at the age of 46 Brian died, leaving a contribution to the art world which ranks him among the leading artists in the country.

Condition: Excellent. Canvas re-lined for stablity, re-framed in a modern British style frame.

Country of Origin: England

Artist & Painting: Brian Shields (aka BRAAQ), British (1951-1997) – “The Factory” – oil on board.

Provenance: Private collection North Yorkshire, UK.

Signed: Signed “Braaq” Ann, lower right.

Dimensions of Canvas: Height 20.00 inches (50.80cm) Width 24.00 inches (60.96cm)

Price: £20,900