In August 1977, 35 year old Ian Dury or flippant about his talent. “I was good teaching art and started a family, before released his first solo record, a 7" vinyl enough to know I wasn’t going to be very eventually being “sidetracked” into what single, whose title Sex & Drugs & Rock good” being a typical remark made once would become his best known work. & Roll . It became a term of common successful elsewhere. usage and is still part of our vocabulary Fast forward to 2012, Ian’s daughter today. Within the next two years his Viewing the work 40 plus years later, one Jemima Dury, former confederate debut album New Boots and Panties!! can see considerable strength, wit and Kosmo Vinyl and one time would spend 89 weeks on the British direction. In retrospect, it would appear art director, Jules Balme (Vegas Design) Album charts. His third single Hit Me that Ian was down playing one side of have joined together to present an With Your Rhythm Stick, became a U.K. his talents, to keep the focus on another. exhibition of Ian’s artwork. number one in January 1979, selling 970,000 copies. That same year he was It has been said that Ian was “rescued The work to be exhibited dates from voted Music Personality of the Year by by art” and that might well be the case, 1961 to 1972 totalling more than 30 Daily Mirror readers (who numbered in the late ‘50’s the prospects were not pieces, most of it coming from the Dury over 3 Million at the time). great for a polio victim with a pronounced family archive, with some loans from limp and an even more pronounced Ian’s friends and collectors. The artist On stage and on record, in print and dislike of authority. In 1959 Ian Dury was , a former student, band on television, Ian Dury captivated and accepted by School of Art, member (Kilburn & The High Roads) captured a huge audience, not only in where he first encountered a significant and life long friend of Ian’s, has agreed Britain, but across Europe and Scandi- influence - his teacher, Sir Peter Blake, to supervise the framing of the artwork. navia. Part Vagabond, part who would remain a life long friend. Bohemian Docker and part Dickensian Such an exhibition has great appeal to Fairground Teddy Boy, he presented to By October 1963 Ian entered the Royal many different types and generations - the public a unique character, both College of Art along with many of his not only those who witnessed Ian’s articulate and irreverent, profound and Walthamstow alumni and the time spent unlikely rise to fame via music, but also profane, familiar with cultures high and there should not be confused with the many people of Ian’s own generation low, appreciative of both the art and the convenient “stop gap” that many guitar who would be interested in seeing where artful (as in Dodger). For the next twenty wielding, future rock stars, ambled his interests lay in those formative years. years he would continue to make regular through. During this time Ian Dury Add to that, a younger generation, who appearances as either a musician, developed from serious art student, with aware of both the unusual affection felt actor, TV presenter, voice-over artiste a strong work ethic, into an artist, albeit for Ian and his influence on the British and writer. an insecure one uncertain of what music scene (, The medium to pursue. In 1967 he was a Streets, the Grime genre in general and When Ian died of cancer, aged 57 in featured artist in the I.C.A’s group show many others), are curious to learn more. 2000, he was mourned by many, not only Fantasy & Figuration. After the Royal Fun for all the family? Jemima, Jules and family and fans, but fellow musicians, College, Ian had some success as a Kosmo think so. actors, artists, journalists and politicians. freelance illustrator, working for amongst The feeling was that someone really others, and London In view of Ian Dury’s special place with special had been lost. Life magazines. Marrying a fellow artist, both the British public and the media, painter Elizabeth Rathmell, he took up it is not hard to imagine that such an Since 2000, Ian Dury has been the exhibition will be well received. Not subject of two biographies, a stage only does it create another page in a show, a musical and a film. His life story very unique story, it also presents an is known to many - Harrow born of opportunity to present some extremely working class father and bohemian strong work. Add to that the additional middle class mother, raised in Essex, interest that will be generated by many polio victim at 7, art student, struggling of Ian’s friends and admirers. Its safe to and then successful lyricist, performer say that this exhibition will be attended and vocalist. It is well known that Ian by numerous celebrities from the art, attended Art School and that he wore music, film and television arenas and his membership as a badge of honour, could easily turn out to be the “must yet at the same time was very dismissive see” London show of the summer.

IAN DURY More Than Fair Paintings, drawings and artworks, 1961 - 1972

Exhibition: July 22nd to September 1st, 2013 , Kensington Gore, London SW7 Hours - Open 11am - 6pm except Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. Closed Mondays Enquiries to: Jules Balme on 07976 426682. Email: [email protected] or Jemima Dury on 07879 854935. Email: [email protected]