Queen Victoria has been stripped of her clothing in a nude pub sign that's appeared outside a Bristol ale house. The Victoria pub in Clifton has unveiled the cheeky new signage, which will only be in place temporarily as part of a national campaign.
The traditional signage showing the monarch in a regal gown has been reimagined by Bristol artist Samuel Rees Price, keeping her crown and veil but showing a lot more skin. It's part of an eleven-piece series called the Pub Renaissance, which has seen pub signage around the UK stripped back - with even King Charles' torso tastefully on display at 'The Kings Head' pub.
Stella Artois has curated the collection, featuring works from renowned artists including Reuben Dangoor and Heath Kane. Pub landlord and former model Jodie Kidd is also supporting the campaign, by posing in the buff for a new sign that will temporarily hang outside her West Sussex establishment The Half Moon.
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The lager brand's campaign is in direct response to the threat facing pubs across the country during the cost of living crisis, with many struggling to pay bills as energy prices surge. Data from charity Hospitality Action has revealed applications for financial support are up by almost a third on the previous year.
All of the nude pub signs are available for online auction for a limited time only, with more affordable posters are also available to purchase. All profits will be donated to Hospitality Action to assist pubs with rising energy bills, and Stella Artois will match funds raised of up to £50,000.
Meg Chadwick, senior brand manager at Stella Artois, said: "As bastions of British culture, pubs deserve to be valued as much as any piece of art hanging in a gallery, which is why we wanted to use this traditional medium - albeit with a cheeky twist - to support them. We want to raise as much money as possible so art and pub lovers - buy nude art, help pubs."
The nude theme is inspired by the recent launch of Stella Artois Unfiltered. Pub landlord Jodie Kidd said she was proud to back the campaign, adding: "As a landlord myself I’m very aware of the struggles that pubs and the whole of the hospitality industry are facing.
"My pub is fittingly called The Half Moon, and I can’t wait to see the new sign in all its glory - all for a good cause." The series includes ‘The Cricketers’ reimagined by Reuben Dangoor to star a batsman with a strategically placed bat as well as:
- Bernadette Timko x Duke of Wellington
- Emma Wesley x The Bricklayers Arms
- Becki Gill x Britannia
- Samuel Rees Price x Queen Victoria
- Alice Tye x The Plough
- Mattia Guarnera x Horse & Jockey
- Natasha Klutch x George & Dragon
- RYCA x Robin Hood
- Enigma x The Cannon
- Heath Kane x King’s Head
The original works will be sold via The Auction Collective, with online auction closing on April 5. The Bristol artwork currently has a guide price of £500-£1,200, with dimensions of 74cm x 57cm x 1 cm.
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