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Café owner Steve Hawkes and artist Lewis Campbell |
New café serves up the food that’s good for your art
A FORMER Islington primary school teacher has launched a new café which gives artists the opportunity to paint the walls.
Tina, We Salute You, is the brainchild of Steve Hawkes, 35, who taught at Thornhill primary school in Barnsbury, and Gayhurst in London Fields until he gave up the profession to fulfil a lifetime’s dream last year.
Mr Hawkes, who began his catering career with a cupcake stall in Brick Lane, before launching the Tina in King Henry’s Walk, said: “People think it’s a tribute to singer Tina Turner, but Tina is actually a painting by kitsch artist JH Lynch. It’s just a bit of fun.”
So far four artists have produced work on the walls of the café and the next will be an Australian graffiti artist in October. There are also plans to run illustration courses for local youths.
“The art café was always my dream,” added Steve, “and I’m really enjoying it. One day I want to get someone to paint the outside wall.
“I get a lot of children from the schools where I taught who come along with their parents. It’s a very friendly atmosphere.”
Royal College of Art-trained artist Lewis Campbell, 31, was pleased to have his illustrations adorning the walls for the next two and a half months. He described his work as an urban fantasy which took three days to complete.
“I’ll be a bit sad when it all gets painted over,” he said. “But at the same time, I like the concept of the café and at least I’ve got the photos. The really enjoyable part was creating the work.”
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