Drawing: Simon Russell Beale on stage

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Described by The Independent as ‘the greatest stage actor of his generation,’ Simon Russell Beale is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed talents in British theatre. He performs under his full name, as there was already a Simon Beale registered when he joined Equity. Winner of three Olivier Awards (1996, 2000, 2002) and two TV BAFTAs, Simon was also nominated for a Tony in 2004 for a revival of Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers on Broadway.

In October 2011 he returned to The National in London to star as Joseph Stalin in the premiere of Collaborators for which he won Best Actor at the 2012 Evening Standard Awards. He played the title role in Timon of Athens from July to October 2012 before taking on the role of Captain Terri Dennis in Privates on Parade – the first play in Michael Gradage’s new West End season at the Noël Coward Theatre from December 2012 to March 2013.

In January next year he will play King Lear at the National, directed by Sam Mendes.

Simon signed my sketch at the stage door of the Noël Coward Theatre in early 2013.

Drawing: Barbra Streisand

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

One of the most commercially and critically successful entertainers, Barbra Joan Streisand holds the record for the most top ten albums of any female recording artist – a total of 32 since 1963.

The 71 year old has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammys, five Emmys, and a Special Tony Award. She signed my sketch at a recording session in New York in the late 1980s.

Drawing: Elisabeth Moss

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Elisabeth Moss made her West End debut as Martha Dobie in Lillian Hellman’s play The Children’s Hour, which opened at the Comedy Theatre in London on 02 January 2011.

At this week’s Emmy Awards she received two leading actress nominations – one for her role as secretary-turned-copywriter Peggy Olsen on the series Mad Men and the other playing detective Robin Griffin in the miniseries Top of the Lake, written and directed by Oscar winner Jane Campion.

Elisabeth signed my sketch at the Comedy Theatre in February 2011.

Drawing: The Highwaymen: Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson toured New Zealand as The Highwaymen in 1991. Playing three city gigs, I saw Johnny in his hotel cafe in Wellington and asked him if he would sign my caricatures and possibly get the others to do the same. He was more than happy to do so.

A few days later the signed sketch was mailed back to me – fully ‘graphed.

Drawing: Kim Cattrall and Seth Numrich in Sweet Bird of Youth

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Kim Cattrall and Seth Numrich starred in Tennessee Williams’ revival of Sweet Bird of Youth at the Old Vic this year. Both Kim and Seth signed my sketch at the theatre in August.

Drawing: Helen Mirren

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Dame Helen Mirren is a great signer. Depending on the usual equation – the demand divided by the time allocation – she either signs her quickies, which are “H Mirren”, or, if you’re lucky, you get the full “Helen Mirren”.

Over the years she has signed a number of my sketches. On this occasion it was the European Premiere of Graham Greene’s classic crime thriller Brighton Rock at the Odeon West End in February 2011.

My previous drawing of Helen Mirren in theatre as the Queen is here.

Drawing: Amanda Seyfried

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Actress Amanda Seyfried was in London recently to promote her new film, the biopic Lovelace. She spoke at the Apple Store and attended the film’s gala screening at the Mayfair Hotel. On both occasions I missed her, mainly because I didn’t go to the venues! Instead, I mailed my sketch to her and received it back ASAP.

In 201 she made People Magazine’s Most Beautiful With No Make Up list, moving up to Most Beautiful at Any Age list in 2012. She also has a taxidermy collection that includes a baby horse, fox, owl, moose and two butterflies

The Interactive Design Institute interviewed me

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Check out the whole interview here

Drawing: Hayley Mills

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills found fame at the age of 13 in Walt Disney’s Pollyanna. She won a special juvenile Oscar for her role and went on to make five other films for Disney to become one of the most popular actresses of the early sixties. Despite her long and successful career, Hayley isn’t sure she would have made it in acting had she not been a child star. “I started work at the right time. At 13 I was still spontaneous and unselfconscious.”

She mad an early stage debut as well, in the 60s West End revival of Peter Pan, as the title character. Her Godfather was the playwright, actor and singer, Sir Noël Coward. In 1992 she toured New Zealand, Australia and the UK in his play Fallen Angels with her sister Juliet. It played my home town of Invercargill, New Zealand, and I was lucky enough to meet them both at the stage door of the Civic Theatre.

Hayley signed my sketch in London, at her agent’s office in 2010.

Drawing: Patrick Stewart in Shakespeare

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Cut Bar at the Young Vic is a popular theatre restaurant. Named after the street location rather than the state of its patrons…. mostly, it provides a convivial place to wait for the talent as they slip through to the stage door and the bar’s western hall.

I had heard that Sir Patrick wasn’t likely to sign going in, so left this sketch of him in his role as William Shakespeare in Bingo at the theatre rather than suffer a rejection in person. I was finishing a quiet ale in the aforementioned establishment, when Captain Picard walked past me. I was sketching at the time and he complimented me, we exchanged some pleasantries, but I decided not to mention my request. The Shakespeare sketch was returned, signed.