Warwickshire artist Andy Farr with his portrait of Steve, an Orbit resident from the city who attended the 1987 FA Cup Final where Coventry beat Tottenham Hotspur. For Steve’s painting, Andy wanted to immortalise the 1987 FA Cup victory. The painting features a pop art version of the winning goal, alongside Steve and his treasured FA Cup Final Scarf.
The Portraits of Coventry Project is a series of paintings by Warwickshire artist Andy Farr, depicting the lives of Orbit residents who live in Coventry. Some have lived all their lives in the city, whilst others came to find sanctuary or employment.
The paintings are based on conversations Andy had with the participants and each focuses on memories of their life in Coventry.
The portraits of 12 Orbit residents were first exhibited as part of Coventry City of Culture in 2021.
The exhibition now includes three new paintings: Peter, who has a lifelong connection to the Cathedral, Polina, who recently arrived in Coventry to escape the invasion of Ukraine and Julia, a Coventry based fashion designer.
The project was funded by Orbit and the final exhibition was held at Coventry Cathedral between 2nd – 30th August 2022.
Emily Brunsdon, Place Area Lead at Orbit, said: “Orbit was founded in Coventry and the city has remained our home ever since, which is why we were delighted to offer our support to Andy Farr and the Portraits of Coventry Project. Providing support to improve wellbeing and independence is a key theme of our customer promise, particularly amongst our older residents. This project has helped address feelings of loneliness and isolation amongst some of these residents and has brought different Orbit communities together from across the city.”
Andy Farr, Portraits of Coventry artist, added: “The Portraits of Coventry Project is a series of paintings in collaboration with Orbit, based on conversations with people who live, or have made their home, Coventry. I wanted to celebrate their heritage and memories to address some of those feelings of isolation or marginalisation and ensure that their stories were heard.
“I have been blown away by the variety of stories that emerged from my conversations with Orbit residents, from discovering a talented but secret pianist, to hearing about sheltering in the cellar of a pub during the Coventry blitz and learning about the City’s vibrant amateur boxing scene in the 70s.”
