This is the final master painting in the series ‘Ephemeral’. "TWIST OF FATE" evolved through a series of wandering, scratching and sketch studies with hard graphite. Wallpaper paste was used as a volatile shading tool, pulling people from beyond the séance sessions into view. As it dried the darker patches are photographed in various moments of birth to death, captured and concealed within the final stopping point of arrival. The journey is recorded in live camera action which documents the evolution of the art. Bob Dylan the poet and music man, sings his ballad, “Simple Twist of Fate”. As the sailors come to port and the prostitute marches through the dock, a blind man at the gate observes the theatre.

Oil paint, acrylic, graphite, table salt, red lentils and coffee granules on gesso primed mdf panel. Artist signed and dated on bottom right-hand corner and on reverse, David Shaw Nicholls.

Never exhibited outside the artist’s studio, closely held privately.

Date of origin: 2021

Size: 50 x 36 in. (127 x 91 cm). 

Provenance: Property of the artist.