Cheers as portrait unveiled by Market Drayton brewery
Market Drayton's Joule's Brewery is honouring craftsmen who helped build its headquarters with personal wooden portraits.
The latest portrait depicts Edward Chapman Smith as a monk, referring to the company's monastic origins.
It is the seventh in a series of eight portraits of craftsmen who built the brewery.
They were commissioned almost 10 years ago when the brewery on Great Hales Street reopened.
Artist Andrew Tift has previously painted Tony Benn, Ken Livingston and the late Eric Sykes.
Phillipa Machin from Joule's said: "Andrew is most known for his ability to read 'past' his subjects and to find the truth behind the person.
"Intimate, sometimes brutal and uncompromising honesty is the hallmark of his work.
Edward's likeness was unveiled by Market Drayton's mayor Mark Whittle.
Joule's director Steve Nuttall said: "We are very proud of this commission, and proud that Andrew agreed to do it.
Talent
"He is one of the foremost artists in the county and we were lucky enough to secure his commitment during his rise to national prominence.
"Andrew has a special talent to see beyond his subjects, these pieces are interesting studies of craftsmen bound by a common endeavour.
"Each have a narrative beyond the image, Andrew is the master at leaving hints and clues as to what he sees beneath, he has an extraordinary talent.
"For our town, they have even more relevance as they are all local people, and it really celebrates what we, as a town, achieved by believing in ourselves and working together.
"There were no big contractors, no consultants, we built the brewery from scratch and with people from our home town – it’s quite a legacy."
The 'monks' still work with Joule's today, and all of their portraits so far are available to see at the Red Lion near the brewery.
