About Tim Lee

My first brush with art as a commercial endeavour occurred after I won 'The Poster of the Year' Prize at The London College of Art and Design in Clerkenwell for 1976/7. I was delighted to see my poster in tube stations on my way to college (see it in the Gallery). I then spent 25 years working in my family printing business producing advertising and graphics in many forms until Mrs Thatcher took on the Unions and property prices plunged, and banks foreclosed on businesses who's premises were valued roughly the same as their overdraft. Shame, as we had been trading very acceptably for 100 years and had 65 staff. After a vertiginous dive into a dungeon of despair and divorce, when I mostly lived in attics or basements, I re-emerged from the desolation with a somewhat new style.

I do not cover any of the items that we make, paint, and sell at Shows, Festivals, and other events on this site. These are just a few photos of the more elaborately painted glass vases which I paint. For further details just contact me regarding all glass inquiries.

I exhibited for 20 years at the Glastonbury Festival and many of my regular buyers have become friends. I always painted large canvases which were displayed (and auctioned by bids) on my pitch. Very entertaining. No dust storm, tornado or deluge ever deterred Andy or I from opening our stand even though at times it seemed ludicrous to subject £10,000 worth of delicately produced glass and art to imminent meteorological disaster. Yet the most unexpected aerial onslaught was not weather related. Eros, the God of Love, in human form fell through the top of my gazebo from a passing carnival float and smashed £600 worth of my glass. Once the poor golden faced deity had mopped up a few wounds and picked up his broken bow, he disappeared off into the night and was never seen again. I have sold 50 or so large canvas commissions to festival goers featuring the arena. It's not my usual style but they are also viewable on the Gallery Page.

The Gambia never ever fails to offer unexpected challenges and adventures. For me, annual migration occurs at the start of January and the flight returns in April. In the compound of, and under the peerless supervision of Wassa and Fatou Kassama, I am able to produce hundreds of paintings. Small, Medium and Large. The largest of which just fit into my canvas suitcase, a logistical miracle. Please have a look at 'Migrant Ship' and 'El Dorado' which have been featured in National and Regional newspapers and magazines such as The Point (Gambia), The Standard (Gambia), The Big Issue and The Western Morning News in UK.

The 'Migrant Ship' Original Painting and Prints alone have so far raised enough money to supply over 1,000 school uniforms to needy rural community schools all made and delivered by 'Perfect Stitches' local tailors. The latest painting, very specific to The Gambia, is titled 'El Dorado'. It's a painting of a sinking 'Pirogue' (local fishing boat}and drowning migrants who attempt the perilous sea journey to The Canary Islands in search of a better life where the streets are supposedly paved with solid gold. 'Backway' irregular migrants, often teenagers just out of school, who remain missing forever. So the idea has been to turn the tide of tragedy into something that helps needy communities. Images of both paintings hang in The National Museum of The Gambia.

If you've got this far, don't hold back, make an offer for 'El Dorado' and you might end up having sponsored a lot of deliriously happy schoolchildren with a brand new school uniform!

I have been bestowed with a 'Friend of The Gambia' award, invited to write regular features for The Point National Newspaper. The features are all viewable on this site. Everything from meeting world famous music icon Youssou n'Dour on stage, world famous 'King of Kora' Jalibah Kuyateh in his compound, a collision with The Kankurang, and a most unfortunate experience on a gelegele, amongst many others.

I return there in January.

I have also produced five wonderful girls called Anna, Chloe, Alicia, Amelia, and Olivia. I have about 9 grandchildren.