Tim O’Brien exhibits his painting of the iconic Bingham red K6 phone boxes at Patchings Festival

Artist Tim O’Brien has exhibited his painting of the iconic Bingham red K6 phone boxes at Patchings Festival.

After a two-year break, the celebration of art, craft and design returned to Patchings Art Centre, Calverton, this month.

The artist, author and tutor Tim O’Brien exhibited his oil painting A tale Of Two Phone Boxes, about the two famous red K6 phone boxes in Bingham’s market place.

Tim grew up in Radcliffe, but has lived in Bingham for 22 years.

One of the two phone boxes, originally designed by the architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 to celebrate the silver jubilee of George V, was destroyed when struck by a car in 2019.

Reconstructed in November 2021, the famous phone boxes, one which has a defibrillator, were painted by the artist because he considered them an important landmark and part of the town’s architectural heritage.

“The payphone boxes are two iconic images of the town and the fact that they were originally designed for the jubilee back in 1935, and we are in the jubilee year, just seemed to be a nice picture to do and paint,” he said.

Festival-goers also had the opportunity to observe the artist in his own environment, painting a picture at his easel.

As a teacher once a week in Ruddington Grange Golf Club, Mr O’Brien has gotten more used to painting in front of an audience.

“It feels good in this post-pandemic world to participate in these kind of events,” the artist said.