Support our artist at the Affordable Art Fair!

Fans of Russell Loughlan, the illustrator behind our eye-catching logo and last summer’s hit show in Kentish Town, should head to the annual fair on the edge of Hampstead Heath this weekend. Once again, he’s exhibiting as part of Prince of Wales Road gallery the Beardsmore‘s stand.

Russell uses reclaimed objects and “borrowed” pop lyrics to create thought-provoking texts and images. “I try to attribute emotions to animals,” he says. And watching punters giggle as they snap the images on their smartphones underlines how his work connects with its audience.

The “schtick” at the fair is that everything must be priced at £40-£4K, whether that’s your idea of affordable or not: most of the pieces we liked at last night’s preview, however, hovered upwards of £500 (except Russell’s, of course, which can be picked up at a snip of that).

So, from the hundreds of paintings, original prints, photographs and sculpture, who else do we recommend? Michael Barratt, whose Notes from the Underground wittily depicts key London landmarks, Glasgow School of Art graduate Ryan Mutter’s moody depictions of shipbuilding, Paul Donaghy’s study of Marigolds and Richard Twose’s evocative oil, 2 Open Doors.

Oh, and when you’ve had your fill of culture, make sure you hit The Stag’s enormo beer garden for sunny cocktails.