Ed Sheeran launches exhibition of his Cosmic Carpark Paintings in London
Sheeran said: 'I started painting at the end of my Divide Tour in 2019 and it's something that I've used as a creative outlet ever since.
'When I was growing up, both of my parents worked in art, so I've naturally always been interested in it, and I always enjoyed studying art at school. I was back and forth on tour last year, and I used a lot of my downtime in the UK to paint.
'I'd run to a disused car park in Soho each morning, paint, then run home and I'd do that daily until I headed back out on tour again.
'I told my good friends Damien Hirst and Joe Hage about the paintings, and they encouraged me to put on my own thing.
'So I decided I'd use it as a way of raising funds for my Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports music education in the UK and helps fund grassroot music projects, schools and equipment, so all kids have access to music.
'I want to thank Damien and Joe for everything they've done for me on this exhibition and I'm delighted to be putting it on.'
In 2020, one of the Shape Of You singer's paintings was used as the single cover for his track Afterglow, with his latest collection being painted in a disused car park in London last year.
The paintings were initially designed to be gifted to the Halifax-born star's friends and family, however artist Hirst encouraged him to put on an exhibition to raise money for his foundation, giving the public their first chance to own his artwork.
Some 50% of the net sale price from each painting will be donated to the Ed Sheeran Foundation, with the works available on the Heni website between July 10 and August 1.
Admission to the exhibition is free.
Sheeran has had 14 UK number one singles and eight UK number one albums, his best known songs include The A Team, Lego House, Sing, and Don't.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Jade Thirlwall thought music icon was her mum as she makes candid admission
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall shared a 'fun fact' with her fans during her BBC Proms performance as she revealed a funny childhood memory Jade Thirlwall shared a hilarious confession during her impressive BBC Proms performance in her native North East. The Little Mix star, 32, treated her hometown to an excellent show alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at Gateshead's The Glasshouse. In between her flawless tunes, the South Shields-born star took time to give her fans an insight into her life growing up in the region. And prior to introducing her huge hit titled Fantasy, Jade shared a "fun fact". She told her adoring crowd: "My mam was always playing Motown music, specifically Diana Ross. Fun fact, I genuinely thought my mam was Diana Ross for a hot minute. To the point where she would go off to the bingo and she would be like 'I'm going to do a show' and I'd be like 'gag, that's my mam'. "At one point, do you know when you go to school and you take in a show and tell thing? I remember this, I took in a Diana Ross programme and the kids had, like, I don't know, Pokemon cards or some sort of toy. "And they would be like 'what's that?' and I would be like 'it's my mam'. Alas, it wasn't my mam, but I think my mam's just as special, if not more." She then went on to introduce a tune that was based from her love of Motown as she impressively sang "in my on Jadefied way". She admitted the tune was a way to tell her fans it is "okay to be unapologetically yourself" as she performed her own tune called Fantasy. Jade also treated those at the event that was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 to a number of other big numbers from her own repertoire. And she also showcased her huge talent with a number of cover songs, including Madonna's Frozen. Perhaps the cover of the night came in the shape of Sam Fender's Remember My Name. Paying tribute to the "King of the North," Jade produced a flawless and spine tingling version of the emotional tune. The number had fans in tears before Jade welled up too following its conclusion. She explained the sentimental meaning behind her choice and, with her voice breaking, she revealed the song had been played at a friend's funeral just weeks ago. The candid confession was met with huge support from the crowd, some of who shouted out to gush over their "Angel of the North". The show was a history maker as, as well as the broadcast on Radio 3 on the night, Jade's performance was also filmed to go out on television at a later date. It marked the first time the Proms had been filmed for television outside of London.
Leader Live
11 hours ago
- Leader Live
Two ‘incredible' new professional dancers join Strictly Come Dancing cast
American-born Alexis Warr and Australian-born Julian Caillon will join the hit dance competition series as it returns to BBC One and iPlayer this autumn. Warr, who is best known for winning the US dance series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022 and was crowned America's favourite dancer, became the first female ballroom and Latin dancer to claim the title. On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Warr said: 'I've admired Strictly for years, so joining this incredible family is such an honour. 'I can't wait to step into the ballroom, pour my heart into every moment, and share my love of dance with the UK.' Caillon, who specialises in ballroom and Latin American, has appeared as a professional dancer for three seasons of Australia's version of Strictly Come Dancing, titled Australia's Dancing With The Stars. He said: 'Joining the cast of Strictly really is a dream come true. 'I've watched it for years, especially cheering on all the amazing dancers I know and work with who've been part of it. 'I can't wait to get stuck in, have some fun, and be part of something special!' The newcomers will join the current cast of professional dancers, which includes Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer and Katya Jones. Neil Jones will also return in the autumn along with Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal. The new series, hosted by recent MBE recipients, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, will also welcome back Johannes Radebe, Aljaz Skorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola. Warr and Caillon will join the professionals each week for group routines, music acts, theme weeks and Strictly's annual trip to Blackpool. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas will also return to the judging panel. Sarah James, executive producer at BBC Studios, said: 'We've been big fans of Alexis and Julian for some time, so it's with great excitement that we now welcome them both to the Strictly family. 'They're two incredible dancers with bright futures ahead of them, and we know viewers are going to love getting to know them both.' Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, added: 'Alexis and Julian are the perfect additions to Strictly, and we can't wait for you to see them light up the ballroom this autumn. 'With our fantastic professional dancers, plus everything else we love about Strictly, the new series promises to be bigger, better and even more glitter-packed than ever before.' The news comes after the series faced a string of incidents this year, including Welsh tenor and former BBC Radio Wales presenter, Wynne Evans, being dropped by the broadcaster after he made an apology saying that he used 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing tour. Months later, EastEnders star James Borthwick was also suspended from the BBC after a video emerged of the actor using a disabled slur on the set of the dance programme. Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and iPlayer this autumn.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ed Sheeran reveals horror threat to daughters after crazed fans try to break into his home
Ed Sheeran has candidly opened up on the concerns he faces and the methods he has taken to ensure the safety of his wife Cherry Seaborn and their two young daughters Ed Sheeran has shared the terrifying threat crazed fans made towards his daughter after they broke into his home. The Shape of You singer, 34, shares daughters Lyra, four, and Jupiter, three, with wife Cherry Seaborn. And he admitted to Australia's 60 Minutes on Sunday night the extent he has to go to to make sure his family is safe. The pop star revealed his extensive security measures are necessary due to threats he has previously received. Opening up to the channel, Ed explained of frightening fan encounters that it's the things "people don't really even take into account". "Like kidnap threats and s**t like that," he said. "We've had attempted break-ins, things left on my car. It's way more sinister than just fans turning up and wanting selfies." He went on to say he now understands and has to accept that his family will always require a form of protection. Ed added: "We have a level of security that probably won't change until I pass away. That's just our life now." And he explained his protective ways see him refuse to let his young kids be photographed, adding it has caused "real arguments" with those who try. "I'm fine with taking pictures," he said. "But I just think it's weird with a four-year-old and a three-year-old." Candidly, Ed admitted he wished his family could have a more "normal" life as he opened up on the downside of his huge fame. "To be within the public sphere, you have to take it all, the good and the bad. But I think I would definitely want a more normal life for my kids." The update comes just a month after he had revealed to Louis Theroux how difficult it was to spend time with his kids in public. He said on an episode of the journalist's podcast that he has had to install 24 hour security at his home because of " weird things which have happened'. 'I was having a conversation with my wife about this actually, because I do think that there's a... there is a different kind of normal that is our business," he said on the episode of The Louis Theroux podcast. "So like, for instance, I have like 24-hour security on my house, I have security with my kids, I have security with me, I have security with my wife, just because there've been a couple of like, weird things over the years that have happened' When Louis appeared shocked at the admission, Ed added: 'Just, you know, there's lots of dangerous people out there. we've had like, you know, break in attempts and s***, just the stuff like… 'I've never seen that as normal(having security), but within my industry, that's completely normal. Like lots of people I know have way more security and stuff like that. "So I don't know, that's kind of like an underlying thing that, you know, no one ever really talks about, but that is kind of a part of the normal of being in the public eye, I guess."
