National Gallery commission fires up Walsall artists
A ceramic fruit display created by two Walsall entrepreneurs is to form a part of a high-profile display at the National Gallery in London. Penkridge Ceramics' heritage apples project was backed by innovation scheme Winning Opportunities in Walsall (WOW) prior to its commission.
The fruit display is the work of entrepreneurs Nicky Smart and Lorraine Taylor. They will be presented in conjunction with a painting entitled 'Adam and Eve' by Flemish artist Jan Gossaert.
Backed by support from WOW, the duo’s Penkridge Ceramics business has targeted new commissions in galleries in both the UK and overseas.
Smart said: “The Adam and Eve picture is owned by the Queen so to have our work featured is a tremendous honour and one that will boost our reputation with purchasers and commissioners even further.
“This particular project was one of the most prestigious we’ve undertaken during the last 25 years, with the choice of ‘heritage apple’ reflecting our ongoing interest and exploration of traditional British varieties of fruits.”
The company, originally established in Staffordshire, moved to Walsall in 1993 to expand its range of products that are now purchased by buyers in Australia, Europe and the United States, the company said.
