Steve Davis and his artwork of a Mandrill monkey

A SCAFFOLDER who picked up a colouring pencil for the first time in decades when he got Covid is among a group of artists exhibiting for the first time.

Steve Davis said it was a big deal for him to have his monkey sketch on show at the Holly Lodge Community Centre in Makepeace Avenue.

The 48-year old, who lives in Parliament Hill, said: “The kids are on the Playstation, the wife’s on Netflix – but I’ve found art gives me something to do.

“I’ve sold a few bits here and there, maybe for the lads at work if one of their cats has died or something like that.

“Normally my work is stuck up behind a cupboard. This is the first time I’ve framed anything, let alone put it on display. I know it’s not like the Oxo Tower or anything, but it’s a big deal for me. There’s going to be a cheese and wine night for all the artists and my wife is going to come along with me.”

Mr Davis said he used to draw a bit at school and remembered getting an A+ for a sketch of a unicorn before he got kicked out at 14.

He said: “I know it’s a bit of a sob story but I never really got the opportunity after that. You know life gets in the way … When I had Covid a couple of years ago that’s when I picked up some colour pencils for the first time, and it all just went from there.”

Mr Davis used to be a butcher but now said he mainly “drives the wagons” for a scaffolding company. He said his biggest critic was his 15-year-old son who always gave him an “honest opinion”, but had given the thumbs up for his mandrill monkey. Mr Davis can often be found doing his drawing out the front of his home near the Heath in Highgate Road.

Faith by Lynn Bindman

Apple by Pete Robbins

Josh Cedar’s artwork of the Assembly House pub

Talking of his technique, he said: “It’s quite methodical: take my monkey ­– that took about 40 hours. I do two hours here, two hours there. But some things they just seem to take me forever. What I’ve found though is that I don’t stop doing it until I’ve done it if you know what I’m saying. It takes a long time to get it right.”

Mr Davis is one of several artists – including a single mum and an 88-year-old – who are having their work exhibited for the first time at the Holly Lodge. Community Centre.

There are also established artists from the NW5 including organiser Josh Cedar, who is displaying his painting of the Assembly House in Kentish Town.

Mr Cedar, who has lived on the estate for 20 years, the said: “I put up posters last year to get people interested in being involved in a local art show. We got around 45 artists involved this year – they range from beginners to professionals, and the work from drawings and paintings to sculptures.

“We get about half the artists from round Holly Lodge Estate, and about half from the general Highgate / Gospel Oak / Dartmouth Park / Archway area.”

The exhibition is at the Holly Lodge Community Centre on April 22 and 23 between 11am-6pm.