Deborah Azzopardi to appear at the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead

One of the joys – indeed, the entire point – of the Affordable Art Fair, which returns to Hampstead Heath next week, is that normal people like you and me are given the chance to get our hands on an original piece of artwork, something that might normally be beyond our reach.We get to browse the work of both up-and-coming artists and established names in a very relaxed and fun environment, and could find ourselves investing in the next big art sensation or picking up a bargain from someone who’s already made it big.One exhibitor whose stand is sure to be swamped for the whole four days of the fair is world-renowned artist Deborah Azzopardi, whose pop art-esque acrylics have earned her the description of ‘the UK’s answer to Lichtenstein’.Deborah, who lives in the London Borough of Barnet and whose paintings can sell for up to £15,000, will be showcasing a selection of limited edition prints on paper, with the Hampstead-based Cynthia Corbett Gallery.“I did these prints especially for the fair,“ explains Deborah, 55, who has been honing her distinctively flirtatious and carefree style for almost 30 years, “because I really like the Affordable, it’s my favourite one. How lovely that people can have an original.

“I think there’s going to be quite a lot of people that want to see me.“

If you’d like to meet Deborah face-to-face bookings can be made via the Cynthia Corbett Gallery, but if you aren’t able to make an appointment you can simply enjoy browsing her collection, much of which might be familiar to you – published by Rosenstiel’s, the suppliers of fine art prints and posters, Deborah’s images appear in IKEA in more than 50 countries around the world, and her originals are sought after by international collectors.“I’m described as pop art, but I’m not really,“ continues Deborah, who is self-taught as an artist, “this is really my own Azzopardi style, we call it the Azzopardi Way because my work is easily identifiable as an Azzopardi.“I’m inspired by friends, family, things I see, things I do and hear – I’m inspired by everything. I think it’s the humour that attracts people, I’m just having fun. While I’m painting, I’m not painting meaning or thought, I’m just having a giggle.“It’s light, it’s a celebration of life.“The Affordable Art Fair takes place at Hampstead Heath, Lower Fairground Site, East Heath Road, Hampstead, from Thursday, June 12 to Saturday, June 15. Details: affordableartfair.comArticle by Rosy Moorhead, http://www.times-series.co.uk/➟ POP a couple of these AZZOPARDI ART blog posts in your mail. ➟ Sign up for updates… It’s FREE!