One Hundred and Twenty-Six Days Behind Schedule

It’s the first day of July for you, but for me it’s the first day of March.

I have been documenting each year, by stitching newspaper faces to cloth, for a decade, give or take.

I am thrilled to say that my sitters for January and February are now in place. One hundred and twenty-six days behind schedule, but thrilled nevertheless. 

Below are the ‘faces’ so far, if you’re interested…

* The photo credits are as they appear in the articles from which the ‘sitters’ were cut. For the record, I don’t accept the name of a company as a photography credit. There was an actual person behind the camera. If you are that person, or know them, please give me a shout. Also, the information in the articles may be fabricated. I use the Metro and London Standard newspapers because they are free. I couldn’t afford to make this piece if I bought a more reputable publication every day.

Day 1: Unnamed woman

Afghanistan's 'women are banned from playing cricket - one of several repressive laws imposed by the Taliban.’  i Daily 3.1.25. Article by Kate Maltby. Photo: Getty*.

Days 2 + 3: Jess Phillips + Elon Musk

Musk said Phillips 'deserved to be in prison' for not pursuing an enquiry on grooming gangs. She said he should 'crack on with getting to Mars'. It's a 'diplomatic nightmare' for the UK.

Cut from i Daily 3.1.25. Article by Eleanor Langford. Photos: Uncredited (Jess), AFP* (Elon).

Day 4: Michael J Fox

Joe Biden has given him the US Presidential Medal of Freedom. Metro 6.1.25. Photo: AP*.

Day 5: RIP Shigemi Fukahori, 1931 - 2025, Nagasaki atomic bomb survivor and peace advocate.

Metro 6.1.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 6: RIP James Lee Williams/ The Vivienne, 1992 - 2025, TV star and West End performer.

Metro 7.1.25. Article by Ruth Lawes. Photo: Leigh Kelly/ BBC. 

Day 7: Damien Nettles

Has been missing for 28 years. His mother, Val, says the charity 'Missing People' has been a lifeline.’ 

Metro 7.1.25. Article by Kirsten Robertson. Photo uncredited.

Day 8: RIP Mukesh Chandrakar, 1991 - 2025, journalist found dead (in a septic tank, buried and covered in cement, his heart ripped out) after he uncovered corruption in India's construction industry.

Metro 8.1.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 9: Jonny Huntington

The 'first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole'.

Metro 8.1.25. Article by: Lynn Rusk. Photo: PA*.

Day 10: RIP Leon Heywood, 1979 - 2025, dancer and choreographer. Metro 10.1.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 11: RIP Jimmy Carter, 1924 - 2025, the 39th US President. Metro 10.1.25. Photo: Getty/ AP*.

Day 12: Paris Hilton

Raging fires burn across Los Angeles. '5 dead, 150,000 evacuated, A-listers lose homes to flames', one of which is Hilton. Metro 10.1.25. Article by Gergana Krasteva. Photo uncredited.

Day 13: Unnamed woman, London

Commuter who took part in the annual 'No Trousers Tube Ride'. Metro 13.1.25. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA*.

Day 14: RIP Tony Slattery, 1959 - 2025, actor and comedian. Metro 15.1.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 15: RIP Linda Nolan, 1959 - 2025, singer. Metro 16.1.25. Obituary by Brooke Johnson. Photo: PA*.

Days 16, 17 + 18: Keith Scovell, Ant cake + Dec cake

Two cakes modelled on Ant McPartlin (17) and Dec Donnelly (18)  by 'amateur' baker, Keith Scovell (16) who 'lets his imagination run wild’. Metro 16.1.25. Photo: SWNS*.

Day 19: Saif Ali Khan

Bollywood star, in intensive care after being stabbed in his home by an intruder.

Metro 17.1.25. Article by Brooke Johnson. Photo: Rex*.

Day 20: Ruvimbo Kaviya

Had a head tumour removed by keyhole surgery through the eye socket, a UK first.

Metro 20.1.25. Photo: PA*.

Days 21, 22 + 23: Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher + Romi Gonen

Released from hamas captivity after 471 days. Metro 20.1.25. Article by Danny Rigg. Photo: PA*.

Day 24: Dave Fishwick

Set up Britain's first new high street bank in over 150 years, having left school with no qualifications and no money. Metro 22.1.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 25: Lewis Hamilton

Chases his 'eighth world crown and Ferrari attempt to end an 18-year wait for one'.

i Daily 25.1.25. Article by Kevin Garside. Photo: Getty*.

Day 26: Ivor Perl

Entered the gates of Auschwitz when he was 12, and still sees 'Josef Mengele in his mind's eye every day'. i Daily 25.1.25. Article by Emma Barnett. Photo uncredited.

Day 27: Esse Loewenthal

Has been told 'he needs to sell 1,000 more copies of his book to take the Guinness World Record for youngest author'. Metro 27.1.25. Photo: SWNS*.

Day 28: Unnamed woman, Gaza

A 'mum with a bag of belongings leads her young family' back home. Metro 28.1.25. Photo: AP*.

Days 29 + 30: RIP Selena Lau and Nuria Sajjad, c2017 - 2025, killed when someone crashed through the fence of their school. Metro 29.1.23. Photo uncredited.

Day 31: Marianne Jean-Baptiste

A film review (by Larushka Ivan-Zadeh) of 'Hard Truths', directed by Mike Leigh (cinematography by Dick Pope, 1947 - 2024) in which Marianne (Bafta, but not Oscar, nominated) is 'majestic'. Metro 31.1.25.

Day 32: Hari Budha Magar

The first double above-knee amputee to climb the seven highest peaks in each continent.

Metro 3.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 33: Claudia Sheinbaum

Mexico's president rejected 'White House Slander' that 'her government had alliances with criminal organisations'. Metro 3.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 34: Tommy Brown

Had spinal surgery, before being born, and 'nobody can believe how well he is doing'.

Metro 4.2.25. Photo: SWNS*.

Day 35: Jenni Hermoso

The World Cup winner was forcefully grabbed and kissed on the lips by the president of Spain's Football Federation. Afterwards, he denied any wrongdoing and she was sent death threats.

Metro 4.2.25. Article by: Tom Sanders. Photo: Getty/ Reuters*.

Day 36: RIP Harvey Willgoose, c2010 - 2025, stabbed at school. Metro 5.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 37: RIP The Aga Khan, billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader. Metro 6.2.25.Photo uncredited.

Day 38: RIP Vadim Strokin, 1966 - 2025, musician and critic of Putin who 'jumped from a ninth-floor window' during a visit from Russian security services. Metro 7.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 39: Unnamed protester, Bangladesh

Protesters in Bangladesh set fire to the former family home of ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled the country for 20 years. Metro 7.2.25. Photo: Shutterstock*

Day 40: RIP Irv Gotti, 1970 - 2025, record producer. Metro 7.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 41: RIP Sam Nujoma, 1929 - 2025, freedom fighter. Metro 10.2.25. Photo: Uncredited

Day 42: RIP Jaysley Beck. A soldier, who took her own life in 2021 at the age of 19. An inquest found the Army did not take enough action after she was assaulted by a senior sergeant. Her family is fighting for an independent body to handle serious complaints in the military.

Metro 11.2.25. Article by Sam Courtney-Guy. Photo uncredited.

Day 43: Dionne Warwick

The six-time Grammy Award winning singer is still touring at the age of 84.

Metro 12.2.25. Article by Danni Scott. Photo uncredited.

Day 44: RIP Brian Murphy, 1932 - 2025, actor. Metro 5.2.25. Photo: ITV*.

Day 45: RIP Rosie Prior, c1980 - 2025, off-duty police officer killed whilst trying to help at the scene of a road crash. Metro 14.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 46: Samuel L Jackson

Dressed as Uncle Sam at the Super Bowl and introduced Kendrick Lamar's half-time show.

Metro 11.2.25. Article by Pierra Willix. Photo uncredited.

Days 47 + 48: Lindsay and Craig Foreman

Detained in Iran while on a round-the-world motorcycle trip, accused of making unspecified security-related offences. Metro 17.2.25. Article by Brooke Davies. Photo uncredited.

Day 49: Martin Diver

Received an apology 35 years after being dismissed from the army for being gay.

Metro 19.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 50: RIP Francesco Rivella, 1928 - 2025, inventor of Nutella. Metro 19.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 51: RIP Paquita la del Barrio, 1947 - 2025, Mexican music legend and feminist.

Metro 19.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 52: RIP Rick Buckler, 1955 - 2025, drummer and member of The Jam.

Metro 20.2.25.Photo uncredited.

Day 53: Anastacia

Is 'set to receive the Global Recognition Award at the first Metro Pride Awards'.

Metro 26.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 54: Gisèle Pelicot

Six of Pelicot's abusers 'set free just weeks after sentencing'.

Metro 18.2.25. Article by Sarah Hooper. Photo: AP*

Day 55: RIP Bill Fay, 1943 - 2025, singer-songwriter. Metro 24.2.25. Photo uncredited.

Day 56: RIP Kate Mitchell, c1979 - 2021, charity worker murdered in a hotel room.

Metro 26.2.25. Photo: PA*

Day 57: Kevin Kennedy

No longer playing Curly Watts, he is currently touring with, 'Punk Off - The Sounds of Punk and New Wave'. Metro 27.2.25. Article by Rachel Corcoran. Photo uncredited.

Day 58: Auzzy Blood

Swallowed swords on 'Britain's Got Talent', resulting in 700 Ofcom complaints.

Metro 27.2.25. Article by Charlotte McLaughlin. Photo: ITV*.

Day 59: RIP Henry Kelly, 1946 - 2025, broadcaster and journalist. Metro 27.2.25. Photo uncredited.

'Lying Naked' Rides Again

For the second time in seven years, ‘Lying Naked’ is out in the wild.

In 2018 it was sentenced to under-bed prison, after being hung in the National Gallery (for one night) when it reached the shortlist of the Evening Standard Art Prize. It didn’t win. Costly framing was out of the question, so I nailed it to a lump of wood. Last April it was released, as part of  ‘(a contemporary) phantasmagoria’, a group show which coincidentally also had work by Matthew Collings who was one of the judges on the art prize. And now that group show rides again. In Liverpool.

‘(a contemporary) phantasmagoria 2’, continues until 29th April, 2025. Cornerstone Gallery, Liverpool Hope University, L6. 9 - 5 weekdays, 9 - 4 weekends. Hours may change at Easter. Curated by John Bunker and Ken Turner.

Lying Naked, 2018

Hand-stitched newspaper to cloth

38 x 51cm.

Left to right:

1 The Lion Man of Ulm, thought to be about 40,000 years old. Carved from mammoth ivory and discovered in Germany in 1939. Cut from the London Evening Standard, 6.9.18. Photo: Oleg Kuchar/ Museum Ulm. Taken from a book review, by Douglas Murray, of ‘Living With The Gods: On Beliefs And Peoples’ by Neil McGregor (Penguin, 2018). Also a Radio 4 series.

‘Pink Pussy Hat’ from the anti-Trump marches. Cut from the London Evening Standard, 4.9.18. The photographer appears to be uncredited, however, there is a photo of Ian Hislop on the same page credited as J Fernandes/ D Hubbard. Maybe this credit also applies to the hat photo? It was cut from a review, by Melanie McDonagh, of the British Museum exhibition, ‘I Object: Ian Hislop’s Search For Dissent’. I saw this exhibition. The hat was displayed in a glass cabinet as if valued, but the knitter was not named. I would’ve almost accepted ‘we tried to find the maker of this piece’, but nothing.

Feet of Boris Johnson, London 2012. From that photo when he was on the zipwire with a Union Jack in each hand. Barcroft Media*.

2. Torso of Donald Trump with the arm of his granddaughter, Arabella. Cut from the London Evening Standard, 30.7.18. Photographer uncredited.

‘Busting out the moves’ legs of Theresa May, Metro 31.8.18. PA*.

3. Jeanne Hébuterne as Nu couché (sur le côté gauche) by Amedeo Modigliani, 1917. Sold at Sotheby’s in New York for £116m. Cut from the Guardian, 12.5.18. Article by Rupert Neate. Photo: AFP/Getty*. Additional article by Miranda Bryant, London Evening Standard, 15.5.18.

Prosthetic leg with leather boot of Frida Kahlo. London Evening Standard, 17.5.18. Advertisement for ‘Making Herself Up’ exhibition at the V&A. Photo by Javier Hinojosa.

4 Torso of AJ Cook as JJ Jareau (Special Agent Jennifer Jareau) in ‘Criminal Minds’. Cut from the TV schedule page of the London Evening Standard, 29.3.18. Photographer uncredited.

Legs of Kendall Jenner ‘in feathers’ by designer Rick Owens. Photographer uncredited.

5 Torso of Kim Jong-un on a visit to a teacher training college in Pyongyang. London Evening Standard, 17.1.18. Photographer uncredited.

Skirt and left leg of Serena Williams, U.S. Open, 2018. ‘The 36-year-old wore a dress, designed by Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh, as she beat Polish player, Magda Linette, in straight sets’. London Evening Standard, 28.8.18. Photographer uncredited.

Right leg of Natalie Portman, who ‘transformed herself into a punk for her film Vox Lux, in which she plays a musician called Celeste’. London Evening Standard, 1.3.18. Photographer uncredited.

*The photo credits appear as they did in the publication from which the images were cut. For the record, I don't accept the name of a company as the credit for a photograph. There was an actual person behind the camera. If you are that person, or know them, please let me know. Also, the information in the articles may be fabricated. I use the Evening Standard and Metro newspapers because they are free. I couldn’t afford to make my work if I bought a more ‘reputable’ publication every day.

Evening Standard Art Prize, National Gallery, 2018

Print Pricing

It’s not the done thing, but I thought it might be interesting to show how the £100 spent on my ‘I Have No Thoughts On This Matter’ print, ends up as £34 in my pocket.*

£78.00 shop price (30cms x 30cms)

- 23.48 bespoke printing = 54.52

-7.80 postage = 46.72

-10.00 Certificate of Authenticity = 36.72

-5.00 Arts Emergency donation = 31.72

-2.32 PayPal or 1.32 Stripe fee = £29.40 or £30.40 profit

£100 shop price (50cms x 50cms)

- 40.84 bespoke printing = 59.16

- 7.80 postage = 51.36

- 10.00 Certificate of Authenticity = 41.36

- 5.00 Arts Emergency donation = 36.36

- 2.90 PayPal or 1.60 Stripe fee = £33.46 or £34.76 profit

*I have not deducted photography or general day-to-day business costs. The annual fee for my Squarespace shop is £288.

Currently, I donate £5 from every print sale, and 5% of original art sales, to Arts Emergency. At the end of the financial year, I’m going to change that to a blanket 5% for everything.

Archival standard giclée print, in two sizes, with fade-resistant ink. Limited edition of 50, with a Certificate of Authenticity. Printed by Klein in Manchester on FSC-certified Hahnemühle 290gsm acid-free (and vegan) paper. During paper production, the wastewater is uncontaminated and returned to the source, and the electricity comes from 100% renewable sources. The staff at Klein are treated well and paid fairly.

Find out about the original piece here.

This is what I think I learned from my first foray into printing last year.

Buy a print here.

Photo by Ian Bruton.

Copyright: Alison Aye, 2024