VINNIE Jones has often been described as hard as nails - and now the football legend-turned Hollywood actor has been immortalised entirely in nails by Bingley artist Marcus Levine.
The painstakingly detailed portrait took Mr Levine weeks to complete, and was unveiled at a fundraising dinner for the Cervical Cancer Trust.
Now the portrait, called Hard as Nails, is to be exhibited at a game fair at Harewood House from July 31 to August 2.
“The title was such a good pun, I thought it would be a great thing to do," said Mr Levine. "I'd wanted to do a portrait of Vinnie Jones for ages, so it was quite a surprise when the call came from his tour management company asking me to do a portrait of Vinnie to sign at the Leeds event.”
Now the artist is creating a portrait of movie star Al Pacino and plans to do one of singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.
A former pupil at Fulneck Boys School, Pudsey, Mr Levine went to art college with Damian Hirst and worked as a graphic designer in television before becoming a professional artist.
MORE ART HEADLINES
He uses nails to create three-dimensional sculptures of life studies, abstracts and public art. He drives nails into wooden panels at various heights and distances, creating the effect of shading.
His nail art includes a portrait of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, made from 14,400 nails, and a re-creation of what was once the world's most expensive handbag, with his version made from Swarovski gem stones glued to the heads of nails.
He also exhibited artwork at Cartwright Hall made from thousands of nails, to stimulate the senses of touch, smell and sound. Called Brad Nail Study VI, it accompanied his nail sculpture, Hung Out To Dry, made with 28,000 stainless steel nails supported between two 5m high nails, which was on display in Lister Park in 2011.
