A sketch of Dadd by myself

I have a deep love and appreciation for the Victorian fairy painters. The body of work from that brief period of time has inspired much of my work.

One of the most enigmatic and well known artists from that time is Richard Dadd. His life is as well known as his work- as he was a suspected schizophrenic and he also murdered his father. This had him committed to a psychiatric hospital. It was here that he produced his best known works. A head steward of the hospital commissioned Dadd to produce a fairy painting- which would take nine years to complete.

This painting was “The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke,” a painting of staggering and minute detail- verging on 3D.

Each of the characters have a name and back story, all of which is detailed in an accompanying surreal poem Dadd wrote which you can read here if you have the patience!

A couple of months and I really start to feel a bit bonkers over a painting- but nine years?! He also believed the painting to be unfinished!