CityLife

The drag artist

MODERN art exhibitions can be such a drag.

But Gary Cartwright's latest show promises tiaras at dawn and handbags at 50 paces.

The Whalley Range artist has painted portraits of 15 of Manchester's best-known drag queens, including Foo Foo Lamarr.

And he has invited them all to the opening night of his show - Life's a Drag - based on Canal Street in the centre of the gay village.

Gary, who will be celebrating his 40th birthday on the first night, said the paintings are a tribute to the outrageous characters.

"Drag queens just inspire a party atmosphere," he said. "When you go round the gay village you always have a hostess at nearly every bar or club."

Each portrait has been painted with different materials from charcoal to glitter and will be sold on after the exhibition.

It is not the first time controversial artist Gary has dabbled in alternative art forms.

Curry was substituted for paint in his portrait of Gandhi, while more recently he tattooed a picture of a tree on to a human canvas.

His most well-known portrait - of Moors murderer Myra Hindley - was made with ropes and blood-stained carpets.

Life is a Drag runs from February 28 at Taurus Bar, Canal Street.