Button Sketches -

by Richard Ellis

About the artist:

Richard Ellis is a local artist who has always loved and admired creativity through sketching linked with live music and from a very early age. He was encouraged to take up violin, but struggled with it, so instead, continued singing for many years as a boy chorister at his local church until his voice broke! Sticking with his art, he would take his pocket watercolours on holidays, painting postcards to send back to family and friends. 

His older brother Charles was also a big influence. He was the entertainment secretary at his College and he would search out new talent and book them for end of term and other special interim performances. Richard would often sit with him and help sketch out ideas for posters to help advertise events. 

In more recent years Richard has continued with his watercolour art and has become an active member of Macclesfield's urban sketching group that meet weekly. A couple of years ago he started to attend the live Mic nights at Button Warehouse that was the nearest thing to those wonderful nights with his brother. Sadly his brother is no longer with us, but these music nights brings him closer and his admiration for local talented musicians through Button Warehouse grew. Richard's burning desire is to "capture these special moments" of the performers through his art. Slowly becoming known as "The Resident Artist" here, he has sketched 200+ performances! He doesn't claim them to be a perfect likeness, but does try to capture the spirit of the acts and the ambience of Button Warehouse with its wonderful listening loyal audiences. Following many enquiries, he now wants to share his art with you more. Through the sale of these sketches from the Tuesday Live Lounges, Sunday Sessions and Special show cases, it is hoped that money can be raised through the profits for local charities. Your support in this is very much appreciated.