“I believe that art can be made real by viewing it in a natural environment, instead of a stale clinical space. Art should be available to all people, be universal, accessible and true to its original concept. It should never be corrupted by practicality and limitations of popular acceptance. Art should live to provoke wonder, imagination and discovery, whatever its medium, so the viewer is momentarily transported to the world of the artist’s creation.”
To commission your own piece of personalized art contact Neil at info@neilhughes.co.uk
Fedde Le Grand was the first guest DJ to play Gatecrasher Birmingham, I decided to produce a cheekier theme for the first set of 2009 The Gatecrasher S&M Circus! Costumes, Make-up, Prosthetics, Stilt Character and Props all produced in house by www.NeilHughes.co.uk for a commission quote for your event e-mail me at : info@neilhughes.co.uk
The Ring Master was produced as the top character his face covered in pox from his years of debauchery his leather and snake skin Ring Masters jacket and gloves branded with the Gatecrasher logo shows he is top dog.
Accompanying the sadistic ring master are his Sexy Beasts captured from his tours of the world. His two henchmen Slap and Tickle are the sexist clowns that ever existed parading the cheeky Zebras around the club to give the revelers a Gatecrasher spank but always keeping them on their leashes for the safety of the public.
Then there are the giant ultra violet mirror-clown door creatures always ready to give respect with their glittered giant hands and lavish light up costume. Lastly there is Polly the Ring Masters most favored pet, when she is allowed to she flies down from her perch to prune and pose for her admirers.
The Circus comes to town
The Ultraviolet Mirror Clowns
Polly Parrot on her perch
Polly Parrot Posing
Zebra Slave Showgirls escape
Some of the production team clockwise - Adam (UV Painter), Zebra Showgirl, Neil (Designer), Clown, Russell (Metallic Painter)
The following costumes, wigs and make-ups were created for Gatecrasher Birmingham for their lavish Ice White Ball which took place on New Years Eve 2008. Two stilt walking glamour yetis, three frock coated Jack Frosts and four light up Snow Queens made up the nine club hosts who brought in the New Year in with style.
In September 2008 Gatecrasher opened their new five million pound styled venue in the heart of Birmingham UK. They wanted only the best for the venue, a new style of entertainment on a weekly basis that was full of phantasmagoria and wonder, something which was never seen before. I was commissioned to undertake the creative design of the entertainment and costume, to style and paint the now named ‘Hosts’ of the club. Each week my team and i produce the hosts as fantastical dream like creatures to entertain customers in the club and promote the clubs brand through social networking sites. Below is an exhibition of some of my fondest characters from 2008:
Me - December 2008Podium Angel - November 2008
Female Gold Angel Hosts - November 2008
Zombies - Halloween 2008
Cyclops - September 2008
Dryads - October 2008
Fop Bot - October 2008
Podium Angel - November 2008
Me as Mr.M - October 2008
Birmingham Style Awards After Party - October 2008
Currently i have a collection of new work in development working with the photographer Alex Shelley to produce a collection of twenty four canvases which feature the star signs of the zodiac painted onto twelve nude males. The edition of prints will be made available to purchase in the summer of 2009
You can also see my work weekly at Gatecrasher Birmingham Venue where my team and i produce elaborate characters onto the clubs resident hosts.
We have just finished this months premier of the ‘Candy Couture’ view them below!
Neil Hughes is the UK's leading body painter. He uses make-up, illusion and photography to create his art. Neil trained at The London College of Fashion for his degree in Costume and Make-up for the Performing Arts. He has since worked on numerous projects for film, theatre, commercial and performance art.
