Video: Making a splash with bathroom tile art

Away from decorating kitchen and bathrooms for his customers Mr Butt, of Birstall, dedicates his time to patiently creating mosaics in a garage in his garden.

The hobby has grown into a creative project, known as Icon Mosaics, in collaboration with fellow art fan, Rita Gav, a single mother from Batley, and their dedication has paid off - by securing a first public exhibition of their work in Liverpool next month.

Each of their 30-strong collection of intricately detailed mosaics consist of about 2,000 pieces of tile and portray a celebrity figure from the worlds of stage, screen or sport, from footballers Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, to music icons Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix, and movie stars Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando.

The subject matter is borne out of their own interests.

Dewsbury-born Mr Butt developed a passion for mosaics as a teenager and, inspired in particular by the work of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, he became a tiling apprentice.

He has gone on to run his own business, either side of a stint working in the music industry, managing Yorkshire-based bands such as Vanishing Point.

“I just started making mosaics of things I really enjoyed, from The Beatles to Pink Floyd,” he said.

“Rita’s the same. She loves The Stone Roses.”

Ms Gav developed a love of art during her schooldays.

She said: “I wanted to go on to art college but my mother, knowing the difficulties of bringing up a family as a single parent, wanted me to learn a skill I could always depend on. So I was sent to secretarial college to do shorthand and typing and office practice.”

In between typing classes Rita’s interest in art grew, inspired by Salvador Dali, Picasso and, like Mr Butt, her all-time hero Gaudi.

She did finally sign up for a course at Batley Art College in her late 20s but dropped out after a while, realising she had already developed her own distinctive style.

“It was then that Allan saw my work and we decided to collaborate in mosaic art. We both shared the same passion for the colours and vibrancy and the fine detail in the creation of mosaics.”

While Mr Butt picks up the hobby by retreating to his garage after work, Ms Gav, 42, turns her hand to the art form from home. Both possess a keen competitive streak, Mr Butt said, which sees them drive one another on to commit extra hours to their work.

Each mosaic can take between 70 and 80 hours to complete and after hundreds of hours dedicated to their creations, the pair are ready to test the public’s enthusiasm for their work at independent art gallery and music venue, View Two Gallery in Liverpool.

“I’m excited,” says Mr Butt.

“There’s been lots of press interest and I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground.

“I don’t want to sound big headed, but we know how good they are.

“We are taking an old art form and bringing it into the 21st century.

“I want to do it full-time and hopefully after the exhibition, if it goes well, that’s something I can do.”

They already have a big fan of their work in Liverpool, the owner of View Two Gallery Professor Ken Martin, a former head of architecture at what is now Liverpool John Moores University.

Professor Martin, who is a professional artist, says he was amazed when he saw the mosaics for the first time when the pair called into the gallery.

“When they uncovered their work it was unbelievable.

“I’m convinced once people see the artistic quality of these works, they will be in demand. They left a handful of works with me and they have already been sold. This will be one of the most remarkable debut exhibitions we have ever staged.”