Oil on Canvas - 25cm X 20cm
The Animal Handler was selected for exhibition in the BP Portrait award 2009. The portrait is of Edges grandfather ‘Jed Edge’ who worked as a porter at Smithfield’s meat market for over forty years. In his spare time he was a woodcarver and animal Handler. His council flat where he lived in Sutton, South London was also home to his collection of exotic pets. Including snakes, spiders, lizards and scorpions. Locally he was known as the ‘Sutton snake man’ and throughout his life he also had pet monkeys and chimpanzees as well as anacondas, komodo dragons and on one occasion a tiger that had been leant to him by a friend who worked in the circus. His passion for animals took him to amazing places when he worked on films such as ‘Raiders of the Lost ark’ (Where he supplied the snakes for the famous snake pit scene) and music videos for the likes of Motorhead and Phil Collins (where he makes a cameo appearance walking his dog in the music video for the song Sussudio)
Oil on Canvas - 30cm X 20cm
This is a portrait of Ben Edge’s father ‘Steve Edge’. Known locally as ‘Lord Shoreditch’ for his eccentric style of dress and for his design studio ‘Steve Edge Design’. Before becoming a Graphic designer he has worked as an Apprentice Jockey as well as working on the film Star Wars and the India Jones movie ‘Raiders of the lost ark’ where his pet monkey Snuff played a major roll in the film. Steve Edge also made a cameo appearence himself when he shaved his legs and wore a dress and became a stunt double for the lead actress during the snake pit scene.
