Barr artist gains appreciation from Hancock society
Steve Lilly from Pomeroy Road has been asked to launch a merchandising deal and become directly involved with the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society (THAS).
Steve's 15 minutes of fame is looking more like half an hour as the success of his exhibition at the Birmingham Comedy Festival has led to avid interest in his work.
"At the moment I am not making enough to give the day job up but the Hancock Appreciation Society said they were interested in merchandising my cards and prints and possibly commissioning a picture," Steve said.
"I have been invited back to the Old Joint Stock next year. In their words it went really well."
The president of THAS, Dan Peat, is very keen to get Steve involved with the society.
"I did see him in Birmingham and I thought his pictures were very good. I thought they were excellent, the best we have seen," he said.
"We will work together on something. We want to involve him in the society and can do a lot with him."
By day Steve works for a gold bullion dealer in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, by night he works all hours on his graphite pictures.
"I am doing commissions at the moment for Christmas. Pets, babies and children, that kind of thing. I am near enough full but there is always room for one more," he said.
But the artist's passion lies with his comedy pictures and montages.
"The classic comedy subject matter is from my memories of childhood. That is where my interests come from and that is what I enjoy," Steve said.
Steve's work is currently being exhibited at The Little Cake Shop in Boldmere High Street, Sutton Coldfield.
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