How much are we bid for a night out with a difference in the West End?
TV presenter and auctioneer Natasha Raskin Sharp is hoping quite a lot.
The star of Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip is hosting a live-streamed auction next week.
The evening event takes places at vegan cafe Serenity Now on Great Western Road.
Going under the hammer are paintings by talented Glasgow artist Kirsty Lackie who has a connection to another West End venue.
Her wall painting 'Picnic' takes pride of place at the popular Partick diner Zique’s on Hyndland Street.
A study of that work is among 23 paintings being sold on the night.
Anyone is welcome to go along to view the lots, bid and watch the auction.
'Great evening'
The event is Natasha’s third online sale since she launched her Exhibit Auctions platform earlier this year.
“It’s going to be a great evening - and something I have never done before.
“The idea when we launched Exhibit Auctions was to live-stream the auction from the artists’ studios.
“But Kirsty’s studio was so small we had to find somewhere else and Serenity Now cafe was ideal.
“I don’t think it is something they have done before.”
A graduate of Glasgow School of Art, Kirsty has exhibited across the UK.
She was shortlisted for GSA’s prestigious Newbery Medal and was awarded the Cromarty Arts Trust Student Residency Prize in 2018.
She says of her work: “My art is about storytelling.
“I’m interested in blurring the line between illustration and fine art where I enjoy testing perceptions of reality and fantasy.
“I take inspiration from poetry, film and human encounters to parse upon the quotidian and attempt to conjugate a sense of performance often with surreal interactions.”
Natasha said of Kirsty’s art: “I really love her work which I think is something quite distinctive and quite different.
“I love the way that she handles the medium of oil pastels and acrylics on paper and on panels. She is an exciting and wonderful talent.
“To receive that commission from Zique’s during lockdown was a big deal.
“And I know there has been a lot of interest in that one painting ahead of the sale.”
It’s going to be a great evening - and something I have never done before
Natasha Raskin Sharp
Natasha is a familiar face on BBC daytime TV, as host and contributor to a number of popular antique shows.
She also presents a regular music slot on BBC Radio Scotland.
She brings her presenting skills to her live auctions which are streamed over the internet to bidders around the world.
Her first auction this year was for her father, the world-renowned artist Philip Raskin.
Natasha said: “We’re really looking forward to the night.
“I will have my special portable auctioneer’s rostrum with me which I set up behind the bar.
“It’s going to be great fun.
“Anyone can come along and get a closer look at Kirsty’s oil pastel and acrylic works before the bidding begins.
“There’ll be a glass of wine waiting for those who do.”
