The British Prime Minister Theresa May has gifted President Xi of China two first edition prints by our principal, artist Rob Pepper. The gifts were given on her recent visit to China where she travelled to Beijing to meet with the President. The artworks which depict the cityscapes of both Beijing and London were given to celebrate a “Golden Era” between the two countries.

Rob Pepper has been travelling between the two countries over the past five years capturing Chinese cities through his drawings. His artworks depict the architectural heritage of both London and Beijing. Pen and ink creates an intimate line, that is then emblazoned with bold geometric shapes and colours giving a contemporary vision of these iconic skylines. The two 70cm wide works were mounted together with a plaque commemorating the visit and gifted alongside a hand written note from Rob.

Of the experience, Rob said ‘It’s a huge honour for my artwork used as a symbol of friendship and connection between our two great nations. As an artist I’ve long admired the clarity of Chinese mark making and in my own work I look to interweave a similar finesse with a contemporary western sensibility. British culture is highly influential and well respected in China and there are many possibilities for artists and creatives. I foresee ever increasing cultural exchange and as an artist I’m excited about future projects between China and the UK. I’m excited to be exploring the potential of creating new art schools in China which will further enable a partnership between Chinese and British artists and students.”