Karen Neale: MCC Cricket Artist 2005
Date released: 18 November 2004
Karen Neale has been appointed as the next MCC Cricket Artist.
She succeeds Natasha Ramjoorawon, who covered England's tour of the West Indies earlier this year. (Examples of Natasha's work are now on display in the MCC Museum at Lord's.)
Unlike other MCC Cricket Artists - who, like Natasha, have covered England's overseas tours - Karen will concentrate on events at Lord's, including next summer's Ashes Test match (in July) and Bangladesh's first visit to the 'home of cricket' (in May). She will also cover the on-going refurbishment of the Pavilion, and its subsequent re-opening (in the spring).
As well as being added to the MCC Collection and displayed at Lord's, a selection of Karen's work will appear in a new MCC publication, "A Year at Lord's", which is to be written by Stephen Fay - the distinguished journalist and former editor of "Wisden Cricket Monthly".
Work has already started on this publication, which will cover Tom Graveney's twelve month MCC Presidency.
Commenting on Karen's appointment, Adam Chadwick, MCC's Curator, said: "I am delighted that Karen has been appointed as MCC's Cricket Artist 2005. Her talent is obvious and her enthusiasm is infectious. I am sure she will provide us with a memorable record of an exciting and eventful year at cricket's 'headquarters'. Indeed, I'm particularly pleased that A Year at Lord's will enable a record number of people to enjoy our Cricket Artist's work."
Karen Neale commented: "I am delighted to become the latest MCC Cricket Artist, and I feel a little in awe of my prestigious predecessors. From their work, they appear to have found the post professionally invaluable, as well as personally enjoyable. It will be an exciting challenge to follow in their footsteps, and I hope to emulate their achievements. I feel particularly fortunate to have been appointed to this post for 2005, which looks like being one of the busiest and most historic years - on and off the pitch - in the long history of Lord's."
An architect, as well as an artist, Karen was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2001, which enabled her to sketch World Heritage cities and sites in countries as diverse as France, Iran, India, Uzbekistan and Nepal. She subsequently spent time in Cuba, where her work was exhibited at the British Ambassador's Residence in Havana.
Karen has since enjoyed a spell as 'artist in residence' at the Athenaeum Club on Pall Mall. In December, an exhibition of her work on World Heritage sites will be held at the Palace of Westminster - itself a World Heritage site - where she has been sketching over the last two years, and from which a painting for HRH The Prince of Wales was commissioned.