Barons Court Project's Bestselling Cards Are Back
Festive designs by the homeless are proving popular again this year
Dave Martin shows off one of his designs
December 12, 2022
Christmas cards designed by homeless artists from the Barons Court Project are once again proving best sellers in Hammersmith.
As well as being sold online, people were snapping them up at Hammersmith Christmas Market, which took place in Lyric Square and along a traffic free King Street earlier this month.
The Barons Court Project is the only day centre in the borough supporting people who are homeless and/or living with mental health conditions and the six artists are part of HomeLess Made, a social enterprise created by the project to back talented artists and help them make money from their artwork.
Cards by the six artists range from snowy local scenes painted by Guan Chow, cute penguins and playful puffins from Lui Saatchi, Mary Vallely and Michael Crosswaite, John Sheehy’s Christmas donkeys and Matisse inspired abstract designs from Dave Martin. Dave is also familiar to many Hammersmith shoppers as he sells The Big Issue outside Tesco in Brook Green.
A snowy local scene painted by Guan Chow
The Baron Court Project says all profits made by HomeLess Made are split 50/50 between the artists and the project, empowering each artist to earn income and raise funds for the services they use, and helping to ensure the sustainability of the HomeLess Made programme.
A spokesman for the project says: “ Even selling one card can bring a huge boost of self-esteem, which empowers an artist to take the next step in pursuing a creative career.
“We work with artists to create commercial opportunities for their artwork and offer the support they need to create their art - including materials and a safe, quiet space to work. If you're an artist who'd love to work with us - then get in touch!”
You can find out more and order Christmas cards and other items including T-shirts, tote bags and Christmas jumpers and penguin socks designed by Mary on the Barons Court Project website.
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