Visitors to the arts centre can now view and buy paintings and prints by the Wapping-based creative
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Serendipity played a part in bringing Ed J Bucknall’s art into The Space Bar.
Specialising in capturing views of east London, his native Wapping and especially the Thames, he’d painted The Grapes pub for co-owner Sir Ian McKellen, a work that now hangs in the actor’s riverside watering hole.
That same image caught the eye of Andrew Finnegan, bar board chair at The Space Bar, who saw it on Ed’s stall at Wapping Docklands Market next to Shadwell Basin and decided it would make the perfect present for a friend.
“He drinks regularly in The Grapes and he’s a keen cyclist,” said Andrew. “The painting had a bike outside the pub, so it was the ideal gift.”
Having made the connection and, keen to forge local partnerships for mutual benefit, Ed was duly invited to exhibit some of his work at The Space Bar – the hospitality arm of the Westferry Road arts centre on the Isle Of Dogs.
Completely coincidentally, its patron is Sir Ian.
an amazing building
“It’s an exciting venture for me because The Space is such an amazing building and one that’s not particularly well-known outside the area,” said Ed.
“The bar now has some of my original works on the wall as well as prints that are available, framed or unframed.
“People are buying about one a week at the moment.
“With this collaboration, what I’ve tried to do is capture the local area – pubs, the historic cranes, Millwall, the dock and the Docklands Sailing And Watersports Centre as well as other locations along the Thames.
“My watercolour of The Space itself has already sold and prints have gone off round the world.
“I’ve got loads more pictures in the pipeline and – working in this area, I’ve been introduced to other buildings and other pubs – so this is the start of something that I hope will continue to be a real success.”
from architecture to painting
Originally an architect, Ed found the increasing digitisation of the profession less than satisfying and began selling his paintings at Wapping Docklands Market in 2021.
He also trades at its sister markets in Canada Water and Tower Hill and sells his paintings through Skylark Galleries on the South Bank, working full time as an artist.
“My work appeals to different people – locals who have lived in the area for many years, people moving into the area, those moving out and tourists visiting,” he said.
“Commissions are a big part of my income too.
“Only this morning, I was talking to a boat-owner about doing a painting of their boat, which is fantastic.
I also recently delivered a big order to Tower Bridge’s gift shop, which is their fourth in the last couple of years, so it’s all going really well
“Thanks to social media I’m now selling work internationally, which I never thought would happen. I’m always out drawing and painting with my sketchbook.
“It’s like when you’re out walking a dog, people come and talk to you and you get a lot of feedback that way.
“I’m planning to do more panoramic views of the Thames which are popular and have already painted the oldest pub on the Isle Of Dogs – The Ferry House – and places like Burrells Wharf, which is where Brunel’s ship The Great Eastern was built and launched from.
“That sold within 24 hours of going up at The Space.”
Ed’s signed prints start at £50, with original paintings available from £295.
These can be purchased at The Space Bar or online via Ed’s website.
key details: Ed J Bucknall at The Space Bar
You can find out more about Ed’s work here and more about The Space Bar, which incidentally does the most incredible chicken burgers, here
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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
