Dales artist shunned by critics quits to live in US By Paul Stokes (Filed: 21/07/2001)
http://www.editionsltd.com/mackenzie_thorpe/images/inthewoodsfn.jpg
AN artist whose paintings of square sheep were used on William Hague's Christmas cards is quitting Britain for the United States after being cold-shouldered by London critics.
Mackenzie Thorpe is famous for his cartoon-like images of the Swaledale sheep which populate the Dales around his gallery in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
His work found favour with hundreds of art lovers, including the outgoing Tory leader but London galleries declined his exhibitions and critics failed to review his work.
Mr Thorpe, 45, once claimed it was his Middlesbrough
accent and bone structure which turned the London set
against him and Michael Woodward, his agent, said they
regarded him as "too popular, too prolific, and hasn't got
any O-levels".
The artist, who is setting up a home and studio near San Francisco, said: "I plan to be away for two years at least. I was distressed that no one in London seemed to take me seriously, but I am past that now.
"I wouldn't quite say it's two fingers to the Establishment, but I am off to where people like my work."
When he staged an exhibition in Birmingham last February, 15 American gallery owners attended and 100 paintings were sold in 20 minutes. Since then he has been inundated with requests for exhibitions and appearances on television in America.
Mr Thorpe, one of seven children from a rough area of Middlesbrough, was once written off by teachers because of his dyslexia. He got his first break at 21 when he won a place at the Byam Shaw Art College in London.
He later returned north to Richmond where he opened an artists' material shop. A lack of customers led him to paint to relieve the monotony and he produced his first square sheep 12 years ago.
He put it in the shop window as "a self-portrait" and was
not well received by locals who thought he was being
sarcastic. Similar works now sell for £35,000 a time.
-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001