Artist's proof of a limited edition print of a head and shoulders portrait of the theatre director and actor Steven Berkoff, b.1937

Limited edition litho print of a painting of the head and shoulders of the theatre director Steven Berkoff, against a black background. The face is predominantly painted in pink and white with cross-hatching in red and black, with white highlights, and white gouache and black watercolour for the hair. His left hand is raised to his mouth, and his grey eyes are looking pensively out of the picture, to his left.

Given by Harold Pinter, CBE

The artist sent Cathy Haill the following information on this print:

'The original for the print was acrylic on canvas and completed in 1994. The print was made in August 1996. There were two images on the one plate, one Pinter and one Berkoff. I sent copies to each of them. Although I retain copyright on the original as artist, I felt I wanted to inform or even ask permission of them. Harold Pinter owned the original of his, and I had had an ongoing dialogue with Steven Berkoff, including sittings.

Both images were completed from video from television interview. Video of drama or interview has proved to be the best way of catching the undercurrents and contained life apparent in these intriguing theatrical people. Since then I have worked a lot from contemporary dance in Britain and movement forms in India (martial arts and Kathakali) were I have used my own films as a source of reference.

All the prints are 'Artists Proofs' as the run never got made due to financial and marketing considerations which I could not deal with at the time. There were less than 15 of each of these. Two however are owned by (and to my knowledge still displayed at) the Queen Mary and Westfield College in Mile End.' Janine Creaye, 24 March 2002. Janine Creaye later gave the litho print of the Harold Pinter print (S.50-2003).

Artist's proof of a limited edition print by Janine Creaye. Head and shoulders portrait of the theatre director and actor Steven Berkoff.

S.121-2002