The Story Behind a Very Special Commission
Sometimes the best projects come out of the blue, or from a throwaway comment at a party. That’s exactly how this special piece for Dame Kelly Holmes started.
A while back, I met Kelly through a mutual friend at a get together. We got chatting, and I found out Kelly already had two of my panoramic prints - both views from the Tate. She laughed and said, “I’ve got this one and that one... all I need now is a winter version to complete the set!” I joked that I’d get working on it. At the time, it was just that, a bit of friendly chat over drinks.
Fast forward to this year and I found myself creating something completely unexpected for her: a bespoke, personal piece packed full of details from her life. It wasn’t just a painting, it was like a visual version of This Is Your Life - little memories, moments, and milestones all layered into a scene she could explore. It’s the kind of piece I’ve started thinking of as a “Tom Butler X”, a commission that’s about the person as much as the place.
It was a serious challenge. These things take time. A lot of back-and-forth, gathering stories, finding out what really matters to the person: places they love, things they’ve achieved, even little in jokes or family nicknames. All the small things that make up a life. Then there’s the setting, now that took forever to settle on. I worked very closely with Kelly’s partner Louise to get all the inclusions and details just right, as well as the setting. In the end, we landed on Piccadilly Circus, but not before going through loads of options, changing our minds about light, angle, mood. It had to feel right.
One of the most important things, for me, was making sure the details didn’t overwhelm the picture. It couldn’t just turn into a jumble of clues. It had to stay playful, expressive, and full of energy, like the rest of my work. But wow — there was a lot to fit in.
Some bits made me laugh. Like the llamas. Yep, llamas in Piccadilly Circus. Apparently, Kelly did some trekking in Peru and even adopted a llama while she was there. So two llama heads made it into the painting, poking up out of the chimneys of one of the grand old buildings near the Circus. From a distance, you’d never spot them but when you get close, there they are, grinning away. It’s daft. I love it.
Then there was this brilliant moment of luck. On her Instagram, Kelly had posted a shot of herself in running gear and high heels, doing a mock sprint pose for the camera. When I saw it, I thought: that’s Eros! The statue right there in Piccadilly. The pose matched so well I just had to work it in.
Even the title came as a little flash of luck: “Holmes is where the heart is.” A nod to her name, her warmth, and everything she’s done, not least for charity and good causes. These things just seem to pop into my head when I’m halfway through a piece, and they usually stick.
The final reveal was brilliant. Kelly had no idea what was coming, she thought she was just visiting our mutual friend. The reaction was everything I hoped for: surprise, delight, proper emotion. That’s what makes these commissions worth all the head scratching and trial and error.
Will I do more of these? Maybe. They’re hard work — seriously time-consuming — and I couldn’t imagine turning them into a regular thing. But every now and then, for the right person, the right story... why not? It’s such a joy to watch someone see their life turned into art.
For now, I’m just happy this one came together. Llamas and all.
