Burlesque Art

Nottingham-based artist Charlotte Thomson is turning a few heads in the art world with her exhibition Femme Fatales at the Top Gallery with even a few talent spotters travelling up from London to grab a peek.



"I draw a lot of burlesque performers, I do a lot for the entertainment industry but my favourite work is portraits for women," she says, feeling particularly proud of her re-imagining of Eva Herzigova above. "It's celebrating how they want to see themselves - being sexy, cheeky and fun."

Charlotte is now able to support herself full-time with her art and gives this advice to fellow budding artists: "You've got to get some attention. Get your stuff online - even if it is just a MySpace or a Facebook site. Start showing it to people. If people like your work they'll start commissioning things. You've just got to have the guts to do it."



Charlotte's quite clear about what it is that attracts her to the femme fatale image. "It’s the glamour," she says, "It appeals to both men and women. That’s one of the main things. People probably assume most of my clients are men, but they aren’t – they’re women. Even if it’s a couple it’s usually the woman who say ‘Can we buy this darling?’ It’s women who love the glamour, they love the fashion, they love the clothing, and they love the make up. They just love that glamorous, empowered female image. It’s sexy, but it’s not a submissive image, and it’s not the kind of imagery you’d get in a lot of men’s magazines. People just like that sultry female image don’t they, and woman see it in themselves as well."

The one with the skull ribbon in her hair is very cool!