https://maddybuttling.com/2020 2025-04-25T17:54:46+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7a84db6d4fdede45fdd9ec03ab33b1551613412f0bedf1e5b767d0593c87277a/DSC_0082.JPG bonne nuit, pierre oil on plywood, 14 x 16 cm A self portrait with Pierre, completed after her death. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/16afb8a0b8ce08295fc5e7ae7975376b6616e943c0bbb00384f86ae9526132a7/DSC_0111edit.jpg schatzi! oil on floorboard, 17.5 x 24 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32e28891e3abfbb108801caf7922b3cc29cab00c08b8150b671919c25bd9f957/DSC_0552_cleaned_edit.png hamster under a ceiling fan meme oil on floorboard, 15 x 19.5 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/390d714a207bb610c20587f8fe16e5154ebfef0ea2054120e20679fc603d9260/DSC_0626_cleaned.png goodbye mitsubishi oil on plywood, 15.5 x 20.5 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c3a366234800ccbf189016a72e76370fa2ed497762e8c3bcd4bca5f60c67ed03/IMG_4328_cleaned.png my dogs try on halloween costumes 3 oil on plywood, 14.5 x 26 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c7fa3193dbef493ef3fb10544afa3a229332b636f523c16120574a89abd8f1b2/IMG-6392_cleaned.png abra sofa oil on plywood, 20 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0878e6568c22017e066ec7c5e420e192794e8fd83e727b841eec2e611021dc25/DSC_0077.JPG penne pierre enamel on plywood, 10.5 x 15.5 cm Pierre steals some penne, sat on a glass table top. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/820726674437fbe49cf457a6b4bd3be6d9d78ff9f0226b5f5f85998e11be1abd/IMG_3730.jpg dead pierre oil on plywood, 13.5 x 14.5 cm When my pet hamster, Pierre, was dying, I took a photo. I photographed, drew, and painted her often throughout her short life, so it felt as though such an event should be no exception. As soon as I put my camera phone down, she was dead, so the image I worked from is the very moment she died. At the time, I was writing my dissertation on the concept of ‘The Rainbow Bridge’, a sort of backdoor into heaven for pets. I wondered, if a heaven exists, would Pierre be ascending, or suspended mid-air, in hamster limbo. https://maddybuttling.com/2021 2025-05-12T15:48:34+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fc42fd23e99023ab56201dfcb1fc64bb936675f8b4a098406c4cfe5af389389c/DSC_0008edit.jpg dead godot in a turmeric gold tea box oil on plywood, 17.5 x 11 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7c96c2974b2e02cf6d7ad6cd552f1f1cdaa95ced6317f32925a31bf167b854e9/DSC_0820.JPG mr. bones oil on plywood, 15.5 x 17 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/848572dd8b56a33d3a3c66a2899edade03a554dc9ce216f5e0d83eb25dc6e783/DSC_0951-edit_cleaned.png bon the snail oil on floorboard, 10 x 21cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bfa6ff63b7c7e695fccba4782d86f00e8c6b9bb6893a5ee19080b3848b590718/DSC_0585_cleaned.png whippets at crufts oil on plywood, 19 x 30cm https://maddybuttling.com/2022 2025-04-25T17:20:32+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8fa6c5e4a824268e752aa427855454ffae0842b52f862a38813935034d576263/DSC_0621.JPG diva, diamond, delicious, and daddy oil on plywood, 12 x 20 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/14dc8b39750a546cc38d68f096df96420fa1b19df5c4c029cf38d2393ac2b7bc/DSC_0623_cleaned.png abra pheasant oil on mdf, 14.5 x 20 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ff69fb0f1f82ca21e6c09b0e4f3d2a58d1c9ff717cd90f395f65e4a5629349c3/AdditionalWork10_Goat-Simulator_25.5x40.JPG goat simulator oil on canvas, 25.5 x 40 cm https://maddybuttling.com/2023 2025-05-12T15:44:28+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f03ba7f18e20ef59eb43b95f7c5a902d7ba1a495972a026089c40b2756e200b7/DSC_0046-2.jpg ham clogs enamel on swedish hasbeens, uk 7 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/60bab97e9a492126a33983b9e2b1d4e7bb8a71494494e32925d462fe3073a57f/DSC_0659-2.jpg big cat small dog oil on plywood, 14.5 x 20 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/33ff9abb06967f1bd416525b83bc254a72c2f71a14be1f568da3687b95bd045e/DSC_0952-5.jpg jasper oil on canvas, 30.5 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2e9103272cc21249d19e30ec838b542964de090d02a6f8d9776634fb23964270/DSC_0963-1.jpg bertie and jasper oil on canvas, 20.5 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9b9469dafaf1e30fb797dc6b5d0b23c8e9af0e91f6bebb5b43ac01c5c0d63cb1/He-s-Smiling.jpg he's smiling oil on plywood, 13cm x 23cm In this scene an infant monkey is being collected from a breeder by his new owner. The owner remarks that he is to be named George as she holds him up in the air to get a good look at him. "He's smiling and raising his eyebrows, and doing all kinds of things" she chuckles. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a46de5359746cf42de35e5b4f3fd767f72b58b6de0e5457150a746f6c5774d33/I-m-a-Monkey-Mom.jpg i'm a monkey mom oil on plywood, 13cm x 23cm 66 year old Audrey attempts to coax her monkeys, Cleo and Lacey, out of their air-conditioned cage. She states "I’m a monkey mom, that’s my identity. I don’t have an identity, I’m just a monkey mom. They’re not animals to me, they’re like little hairy people". https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/31a2a49c55f8887280ebbd820441fd74e1b564888dbda346cf0f697026eb765c/I-m-Happy-Just-to-be-With-my-Monkeys.jpg i'm happy just to be with my monkeys oil on plywood, 13cm x 23cm Pet monkeys become aggressive once they reach adulthood, and will act out by attacking those around them. This particular monkey is attached to a lead to prevent it from hurting its human siblings. The owner kisses her monkey as she states: "keeping people away isn't a big deal for me because I'd rather have them just to myself anyways. I'm happy just to be with my monkeys" https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/62b7715c393ef19054503d25803b8708676e9d4280db794e34e7fdc08031d149/The-Monkey-Whisperer.jpg the monkey whisperer oil on plywood, 13cm x 23cm "Primate trainer Lisa has been showing monkey moms how to look after and tame their mon-kids for the last sixteen years. A legend in the mon-kid world, 45 year old Lisa is often called the monkey whisperer." Lisa's own pet monkey travels with her everywhere, and in this scene they are leaving the airport on their way to visit a client. While monkey trainers claim they can tame pet monkeys, wild animals cannot be trained like domesticated animals. Fear based, domination tactics are all too often used. And even after a degree of successful taming has occurred, monkeys may still lash out at their owners, causing life-threatening injuries. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/17459e68b8995c0818e895e5eaf97f4995ee37fdb325404e526eb98a57ce674e/You-Like-Dressing.jpg you like dressing oil on plywood, 13cm x 23cm The camera follows a monkey named Lacey as she is brought home from a check up at the vet’s. It was bad news, Lacey has diabetes and her owner has been told she must stop feeding her junk food. For dinner that evening, instead of serving the monkey her usual pasta, she hands her a plate of salad. She says “how about some dressing, you like dressing” and squeezes a bottle over Lacey’s meal. https://maddybuttling.com/2024 2025-10-24T14:27:20+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5f0ccd3b1e13bdc7dd5e115d654814491997d576e82aa33d989a7bac432cf3cf/DSC_0009.JPG can we hold feet pastel pencil on canvas, 6.5 x 8.5 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7b5255e29e464730dfa1a78990ce10ef56eceefc5f3cf5f62037ece118c3193c/DSC_0017.JPG flower carpet pastel pencil on canvas, 6.5 x 8.5 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/273a6dceedde075595c6bff895649d918af12df9a0cfc325742eac0b88d73401/Maddy-Buttling---Sleeping-Hand-copy.JPG hotel hands pastel pencil on canvas, 6.5 x 8.5 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/85e1f6983ee8ab5aab1c86f8ca6c2711696ceec0871750a62ea235ed8bbf437b/DSC_0036-2.jpg the monkey whisperer oil pastel on khadi paper, 9 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/586ef55fe9488fc3c9f139803793097af29f2710f0ace998b2a1b976380dda1e/DSC_0039-2.jpg he's smiling oil pastel on khadi paper, 9 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2320cdd1cfe1dacc2add42cf18f8e96ba432380d2569a61ab215904392e03009/DSC_0043-2.jpg lacey has diabetes oil pastel on khadi paper, 9.5 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fd67c8b28c5a46d33bcace37151d6f093f86bfb27109960aacdacd8d5d201347/DSC_0406-3.jpg ken kearsely's room enamel on canvas, mounted on plywood with engraved milliput edges, 15 x 16 cm (painted in craft enamel on top of a demonstration painting of 'starry night' I made during one of the many paint and sip classes I teach as a part time job). A man called Ken Kearsley used to rent out my now studio as a tenant in the 60's-70's. He owned a toy soldier shop in Angel and he would sit at the same desk I use today to paint his soldiers. Looking through my omi's photo albums I found some pictures she had taken around that time of his room after she had renovated it with new curtains and fresh paint, and an odd looking sink in the corner which has since been replaced. My view from the window is of the garden, where some of the first photos of my family in this house were taken, on the day of my aunt's christening soon after they moved there in the 60's. They're all lined up in the garden and my opa is holding his daughter in the air, her lace white gown billowing around her, floating out from the picture like a ghost in high contrast black and white https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2bf4fdfb1947052c7f4e471c6694d65a05504c2a0794995a3cf5cc649813dc5f/DSC_0360-2.jpg ken kearsely's room enamel on canvas, mounted on plywood with engraved milliput edges, 15 x 16 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe9da9fad5e6fecb08dadeeb317c5d4bee6f0c8dda27423a83fbdcf2ad7caf07/DSC_0409-2.jpg in a while crocodile oil on canvas, 21 x 15 cm From a dream where I walked into my grandpa's old bedroom and was surprised to find him there (he's been dead for many years now) sitting in his armchair. He was slumped to one side and breathing roughly, I stroked his head and pecked his brow and he was quite suddenly revitalised, popping upright and chatting away as he did. We used to always say goodbye with 'see you later alligator', 'in a while crocodile'. With how faded my childhood memories of him are, this remains a sort of catchphrase of his. I scratched this into the paint, copying his handwriting from a draft of his father of the bride speech for my parents wedding https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3f358f42529b119b83b8f793e35a147a210ff91da849e5347268ab47d9e966db/DSC_0299.JPG ken kearsely's soldiers enamel on reworked canvas, layered on enamel on plywood, 21.5 x 15 cm Soldiers found by my Omi in a small wooden box inside a drawer in her bedroom, gifted to her by Ken, who ran a toy solider shop in Islington, many years ago https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e12c188b4bc644b58ef5b5a87889b9f7479bbdd2b724831d929ba3f05ad9796f/DSC_0312.JPG ken kearsely's soldiers enamel on reworked canvas, layered on enamel on plywood, 21.5 x 15 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2bd58cb69017465c03b13d2d9a9491fc42a88ae51e763a07ff7d2877d2867aec/DSC_0328-2.jpg ewan's flower carpet oil on linen, 30.5 x 40.5 cm When Ewan took me home to his dad's house up north and I finally got to see the legendary flowery carpet in his childhood bedroom. I had him pose on the floor for a photo with it https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cab34c90545e91caceacfc97c310e449b7750bee66256a4be1f68d0b70c1b03c/DSC_0384-3.jpg omi and opa expecting their first child, 1962 framed 25.5 x 31.5 cm A frame I made for this drawing of my grandparents, using the handles from their kitchen cupboards which recently collapsed after decades of use! Half of the handles had been carefully sanded down with the intention of giving them a fresh coat of paint before re-using them, but this idea was abandoned once new cupboards were sourced https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0d7cc1124b5fe0c3274155d364a9e3d9873f27fe45de7f8f64406007468ed9e6/DSC_0107-3.jpg omi and opa expecting their first child, 1962 collage made from graphite rubbings, unframed 15 x 21 cm I've been using my grandma's spare room as my studio space for a couple of years now. In the last few months I've started to notice the house surrounding the room slip into my practice. Omi and I look at family photos together in her bedroom sometimes, and as I walk back to my studio room I run my hands along banisters, light switches and doorknobs. I painted the walls of my little working space white, but the rest of the house is a sage green with wallpaper trimmings. My grandpa had an accident that left him brain damaged in his middle age, so he slept in a separate room. When I knew him, he spent most of his time, aside from meals, in that room, surrounded by clocks, counting his coin collection and tinkering with other oddities. In the years after he died, the room became a study, but the fixtures remain the same, the little lamp is still hanging above where his bed used to be. Visiting their house as a child I would be sent up to his room to talk to him, and I remember the feeling of running my fingers along the embossed doorknob leading to his room more so than I do his words, which were quiet and strained from Parkinson's. He had a wild imagination and told many stories, although the only one I can still recall was something involving a washing machine. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3296c2e6a36472cc123aba4707876f2c19d57de082d1287bfcd1d7512167822d/20250430_143517.jpg flower carpet pastel on canvas board, 10 x 10 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f0946084129cfabcb3baa4d18c8138f69522081f62dd2ab25867d531cc024b38/DSC_0121-3.jpg agnes oil on canvas, 17.5 x 9 cm https://maddybuttling.com/2025 2025-11-22T18:56:17+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/aabcf1874d03e8babee7c19298d3a6055430341ef1c27917f002c5ddea0634c8/DSC_0392nail-less-colourdone.jpg sleeping ewan oil on canvas board, 13 x 18 cm https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bdf9d06dd894795594489cd16835fd7d7083e455ab156b431fa106300016da11/DSC_0411-1.jpg and we had a german shepherd acrylic and oil on canvas board, 15.5 x 22.5 cm I write my dreams down every morning, when I can remember them. For many years I have kept an in-depth digital journal of them, which is an insightful document to search through in moments of reflection on reoccurring themes. I can 'ctrl-f' for the name of a specific person, place, object, and see how often that word has popped up, as far back as 2017. This painting combines three dreams, had recently, just a few nights apart. Somehow they lend each other to an almost cohesive story. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dd9c10e0378b2f373dfbeec48046a65b6167d6a1fbf6718b47c6501a2ea0ba62/DSC_0418-copy.JPG oh you've ruined it now oil on plywood, 13 x 17 cm Painted from a memory https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/15507eec5698adaf703bf03f2947a199655a62faafcc262f61b4fba4f2f00f06/DSC_0457-edit2crop.jpg antm cycle 8 (2007): the makeover episode oil on canvas, 18 x 24 cm America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8 (2007), the makeover episode. Jael was assigned a long brunette sew-in weave, for which she endured a painful day-long installation process. Once this was complete, a message from show host Tyra Banks informed the hair team that Tyra believes the new long hair has made Jael look 'less edgy', and that it should be removed and cut short that same day. The screen-capture that I used as reference for this painting was just as Jael's hair was being taken out. This episode was titled 'The Girl Who Cries All The Time', after one of the other girl's reaction to her makeover. It was somewhat legend throughout each season that the girls would cry during their makeovers - which they were arguably coerced into by the prospect of prize winnings. As the show went on the makeovers would often get more and more dramatic, garnering more and more dramatic reactions from the girls, who often felt they had no choice but to say yes to them. https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dddb9cb6ac4ee2bedb54231e2fd4f2fa9d671c5da7096004099d5faa3c26d958/2025-11-22-contact-lenses.png the contact lenses i leave behind everywhere i sleep watercolour on linen, 11 x 11 cm Sometimes I sleep at home, sometimes at my partner's house, and sometimes at my grandma's house where my studio is. Little curled up dried plastic lenses that have been pressed into different shapes at the end of the day don't always find the bin (I've got really bad eyesight, -6.00, and get through daily contact lenses like water). I once apologised for the contact lens cases I left behind the last time I was there and was reassured they're like a little friendly footprint of my presence. https://maddybuttling.com/about 2025-10-22T10:56:46+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9b881ad5962a66828c3ffba6278cf03979a16d59be93bc5b434ed59862b4748/DSC_01992.JPG https://maddybuttling.com/2026 2026-01-17T19:12:49+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e7f0dd3c1eb8ab7c48634631b2c81602eb6dc090b26bc7efc78e210c988b25f7/DSC_0470-minus-nails-bright.JPG frida at omi's oil on canvas board, 12.5 x 18 cm https://maddybuttling.com 2026-01-16T15:51:14+00:00 always 0.5 https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9e727e50668e752f5245b0dde1019a6b127b4c3fb14a7aa1b0fcff0f25faa183/Abra-loop.png https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4a723d9d2ee4e5da8c684d7e92190ce46c0e15d3584b3ee9104a5290126034b2/DSC_0399-loop-crop-flip-satur.jpg https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/027bdd97325362aef2ba6629c38e6c47543e9e1539f6b49c59da42322ff83439/Dead-Pierre-loop-crop-bright.png https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb32744755bcfbb68697b176952b0151e4f7cb2aed2de2a288cabe2cc0c09834/diva--diamond--delicious--and-daddy-loop-crop-bright.png https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f8c07dc48403de9798cdb3f2fc0ea6fe8a7dec033d1c4e02c097ed9a5af1ca50/DSC_0585_cleaned-loop-cropneat-cropclean-bright.png https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c8c055ecaa3ae600ffcab248f9934d7177f10770b5bebb7cf235f54f10b85b6/DSC_0992-bright.png https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/749aba7da5c5dc48356eef9052197cf06e7884cd82ace647c0e88a11692beb74/DSC_0105crop2.jpg