In pictures: Timmy Mallett swaps mallett for palette
- Published
Timmy Mallett is known for his colourful outfits on children's TV show Wacaday and his number 1 hit Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Now instead of Mallett's mallet, visitors can see the results of Mallett's palette at an art exhibition in Windsor.
Mallett, who studied history of art as part of his university degree, says he admires the great Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. Both artists were also inspired to paint the view of the Thames seen in Mallett's Jubilee Barge painting.
"I've always been interested in art ever since I was a youngster," says Mallett. "My dad encouraged me to paint and to talk about colours. You realise suddenly there's a million different shades of brown or blue or grey."
The 58-year-old paints every day in his studio in Cookham, Berkshire. "I'd take a box of watercolours with me on Wacaday filming trips. The crew would like it as when I got the paints out it would mean they'd have 20 minutes for a cup of tea."
He does not see a contrast between his life as a mallet-wielding celebrity and life as a painter. "I see it [painting] as part and parcel of what I am and what I do," he says. "It's about expressing yourself, and I express myself with a mallet and with the paint."
Mallett has also painted public art including Ring-A-Royal - a phone box opposite Windsor Castle painted with images of the Royal Family including The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Modern Impressionist exhibition runs from 12 to 15 December 2013 at Artique Galleries, Windsor.