How Michael Vaughan turned batting into an art form

Nov 24 2009 by David Whetstone, The Journal

OWZAT! Artwork by former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan is to go on sale at a North East gallery.

The batsman, who led England to a famous Ashes victory in 2005, has been praised many times for artistry on the pitch but whether North East artists will be amused by his artistic creations remains to be seen.

They were made using a technique he describes as “artballing” – essentially batting paint-daubed balls at a blank canvas.

He said earlier this year that he has always been interested in contemporary art and was inspired by similar pictures created by tennis star Martina Navratilova.

Comparisons have been drawn between his works and those of American abstract painter Jackson Pollock and also with Damien Hirst’s “spot” paintings.

Vaughan said he had developed an interest in art after being taken around London galleries with England team-mate Ashley Giles.

The art world may scoff but fine art publishers Washington Green have produced four of Vaughan’s creations as limited edition prints.

They will be going on display and sale at the Castle Galleries in Newcastle’s Monument Mall, Blackett Street, from November 28. Prices for the signed “artball” prints start at £299 for a work called Yes, No, Maybe?

A few original Vaughan artworks will also be on sale at about £1,000.