Accidental Hero
Dan Toomey remembers a mentor he never met and celebrates a different type of career in cricket.
In this post Dan, Cricket Et Al’s Graphic Artist, celebrates the work and professional life of the late cricket artist Paulette Farrell. Dan creates his own graphic artworks at Fisher Classics and plays cricket (against Gideon’s team) at the Royal Park Reds.
‘Good artists copy, great artists steal’
Pablo Picasso may have said something like this but Steve Jobs definitely popularised in reference to creativity. They both probably loaned it from TS Elliot who said "Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal."
Snooping around the internet and picking up little tips and tricks from shameless self-promoters has been a bit of a cornerstone of my own digital collage work. Little hacks here and there from photoshop tutorials mostly. I’d been looking around for styles to imitate.
At the end of a scroll-a-thon of digital painting tutorials I rolled the dice.
Laughingly I typed ‘Cricket Art’ into the search bar and awaited a playlist of Damien Martyn’s cover drives or Jack Leech running a single.
What I was served was the YouTube channel of English artist Paulette Farrell. Video after video of brushing and sketching techniques – the subjects were world famous cricketers.
I knew that I had found something special. This ‘immature poet’ had found a ‘mature poet’ doing all the things I wished I could do.
On examination, professionally Paulette had done it all in terms of making cricket art. Famous clients, commissions, an award from the ICC, art fairs, working with players and teams.

I found myself pouring over her videos and artworks looking closely at the technique. Following her on twitter and giving almost each post a like. This appeared to be someone doing all the things I desired, with a great deal more experience and skill.
After following along and imitating all that I could, there was a shocking post from her twitter account.
Paulette had passed away after a year long battle with cancer.
***
Paulette Farrell’s art blends mystery and detail masterfully. She captures the dynamism and unique athleticism of cricket. Her pieces don’t just depict the action—you feel the shot, the delivery and instantly recognise the player. Every movement and every emotion leaps off the canvas, drawing you into the moment.
‘She adored cricket’ said cricket writer Melinda Farrell (no relation). The salience of her figures indicate Paulette was truly a cricket person.
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