Seagull-eyed regulars will have spotted a new painting hanging on the walls of our café from the talented Birdham-based artist Shazia Mahmood.
Known for her dynamic scenes of this coastline stretching from here in Bracklesham Bay to West Wittering, this time Shazia has included Billy’s in the picture.
We were so amazed and proud of the finished piece that we wanted to share the love by turning it into a postcard to raise money for our neighbours, the Selsey Lifeboat Station.
Sussex artist
It’s the first time Shazia, who is one of our regulars, has ever put a building into one of her pictures but she jumped at the chance when we asked her.
“It’s good for artists to try something different and it was a lovely thing to be offered this challenge,” she says. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, but I’m surprised and thrilled at the result.”
Shazia usually uses a mixed medium of acrylics, sprays and oils but to create the café, she turned to collage.
Work began in October when the mum of two brought her sketch book, paint palette and camera to the beach to capture the scene in various lights – fuelled by the occasional Billy’s on the Beach coffee!
The photos and drawings were transformed into the final artwork back in her Birdham studio and the result is breath-taking – capturing the changing environment of this part of the coastline from our café right across to West Wittering.
Bracklesham photo shoot
When the A5 postcards arrived recently, we invited local professional photographer Dan Tidbury along to do a photo shoot with our Brett Dyson, Shazia and Terry Healy, a volunteer crew member for Selsey Lifeboat Station (another of our regulars).
It was a fun afternoon and a great way to launch the A5 postcards which are now available to buy for £1 from our café.
Pop in and buy one – you too could have a lovely local piece of art, and a piece of Billy’s, on your wall, or post a note to your nearest and dearest while at the same time raising money for a good cause.
*You can see more of Shazia Mahmood’s work by visiting her website www.shaziamahmood.com
