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Ben and Jan Williams with one of the commissioned paintings of Robbie. (Photograph by The Sentinal)	One of the commissioned paintings signed 'with love Robbie' by Robbie Williams.

"Robbie's mum loves portraits so much... she flies them out for LA signing"

A PORTRAIT of Robbie Williams by a North Staffordshire artist is in his LA mansion after it caught the admiring glance of his mother.
Jan Williams spotted the painting at Manor Furniture Gallery in Station Road, Kidsgrove, where Audley-based artist Ben Riley used to exhibit. The 27-year-old, who specialises in paintings of cult celebrity figures, had created a black and white portrait of Robbie which he was selling for £280.
Jan was so impressed, she arranged for four copies to be shipped out to America for Robbie to sign them.

One of the signed paintings has been auctioned off and raised £1,050 for the Blurton-based Douglas MacMillan Hospice. Of the remaining three, one has yet to be sold for charity, one has been kept by Mr Riley and the other is shortly to be put on display at Robbie's American home.
Jan said:
"I noticed Ben's work in a furniture shop which has now shut down. It really caught my attention. I liked the fact he was a local artist and obviously had talent. He captured Robbie in a certain light and the style was appropriate for modern times. The last time I was with Robbie in April, the painting was propped up and ready to be hung. It has yet to be assigned a place, but it is the sort of painting that would look good anywhere."
Jan said Robbie had also been impressed with Mr Riley's work.
She said:
"Robbie likes the painting. He likes the fact that he is a local artist. As a family we feel very strongly that if you have talent, you should work very hard to achieve your dreams. It was very difficult for Robbie to achieve his dream and took a lot of hard work and determination, although many people don't realise that."

Mr Riley, who went to Clayton High School, has also done paintings of Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley and Madonna. He has had work commissioned for bars, cafes, nightclubs and gallery exhibitions in America. He said having his work admired by Robbie had been a massive boost for his confidence.
Mr Riley, who works from home in Audley, said:
"Jan has been saying how much she thinks of me and my work. I keep thinking of how many artists must have done paintings of him and he has singled me out. It has made me feel really good, as I was put down by my art teacher at school. Jan has said she sees a likeness between myself and Robbie. She said she sees something in me that she saw in him.
My aim now i to be successful in my field. I'd like to become more financially stable so that I can help young people with their art work."
Karen Rose, director of fund-raising for the Douglas MacMillan Hospice, said:
"We are very grateful and honoured that Jan Williams chose to auction off one of these four paintings for us. It was a lovely painting and a very modern design. It is likely to be worth a lot of money for whoever buys it in the future."

Click the symbol below to listen to Jan Williams talking about Ben's painting!

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Ben Riley's work gets featured on ITV Central Television News!

Ben's artwork was featured on ITV Central News Television on the 4th November. Some of Ben's stunning art works were displayed as he got interviewed about his style, the thought behind his work and the background to his talent. After which he was asked on the spot to create a painting within just a matter of hours of ITV's news reporter Victoria Davies whilst getting filmed painting it!
Ben Said:
"It was good getting featured on the news and getting the coverage. It was a bit of a shock being asked there and then to do a painting of Victoria, but even more of a shock hearing the deadline that I had to do it by, but I think it turned out well in the end".

In the studio, Ben with Victoria Davies from ITV Central news.

(left) The painting of Victoria
(right) The photograph of Victoria that Ben worked from

Read more about Ben Riley and his artwork....

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