Seven artists are chosen for Paul O’Grady Commissions News Seven artists will share a £12,000 fund to create new artworks commissioned as part of a major retrospective commission in Birkenhead, Wirral, this year celebrating Paul O’Grady. You Gotta Get a Gimmick: The Paul O’Grady Story will open at Williamson Art Gallery on 11th December 2026, and run until late 2027. After an Open Call this summer, artists from Wirral, Liverpool City Region, the North West and wider UK have been selected. Their new works will be displayed as part of the exhibition. The Open Call was divided into geographical areas for commissions. The artists selected are; Wirral Commission Illustrator Sebastian Roberts, along with Tom Stockley and Wirral Hive Youth Zone, will create a zine exploring Paul O’Grady’s life and work. The project will be inspired by Paul’s lifelong commitment to activism, community care and children’s literature, while also featuring stories from young LGBTQ+ people in Birkenhead. Liverpool City Region Commission and Artist-in-Residence Ben Youdan will create two separate portraits that function as a single artwork: one of Paul and one of Lily. The main images celebrate Paul and Lily as icons within popular culture, while the background collage will reveal the private individuals behind their public personas in an intimate and evocative manner. Ben said: Artist Ben Youdan says “To be commissioned to make an artwork for this unique and exciting project is an incredible honour. From seeing Lily Savage on stage as a teenager and being inspired by Paul’s punk, richly colourful and unapologetic approach to his life and art, this genuinely represents a full circle moment for me. “I am thrilled to have been selected to be the next artist in residence at the Williamson art gallery and I am certain this will result in a new and vigorous creative period for me. The gallery’s inherent ability to think outside the box and embrace the unconventional aligns perfectly with my own artistic aspirations.” North West Commission Alison Friend will paint a portrait of Buster. With a nod to Lily Savage the painting is a tribute to Buster, Paul’s little shadow and to Paul’s dedication to and compassion for rescue dogs. Alison said: “To be selected for this commission means such a lot. We loved Lily in our house. I mean what an icon! I have such fond memories of visiting my mum and we’d sit and watch For The Love Of Dogs together. As dog lovers and big fans of Paul, I don’t think we missed an episode. I never imagined years later I’d be making a painting for this show celebrating his life. “My mum would have been so excited and so proud. My piece is a portrait of Buster. With a nod to Lily Savage the painting is a tribute to Buster, Paul’s little shadow and to Paul’s dedication to and compassion for rescue dogs.” UK Commission Mark Wardel will make a portrait of Lily Savage,I’m a big Lily savage fan and keep hearing her voice in my imagination saying …”you’d better make me look like Kim Novak” Ceramics Commission Chris Turrell, will make a pair of Staffordshire style ceramic mantelpiece dogs. One will represent Lilly Savage and the other, as Paul. Lily Savage and Paul were very much “part of the furniture” for many years and this seems a rebellious and nostalgic tribute to the two sides of Paul’s life that we all enjoyed. Two artists will share in Micro Commissions. HRH Afrodite I, also known as Harry Smith and the Artist in Residence, will create The Savage Beauties, an ode to Lillian Maeve Veronica Savage and her enduring legacy within Merseyside’s drag community. Through a series of six portraits, Lily’s Northern glamour and sartorial legacy will be deconstructed and reappropriated by contemporary drag artists from her home county. Joni Brown, will create a textiles banner, with prose stitched and embroidered on to it. It will uncover lesser known local LGBTQIA+ stories from around Merseyside, drawing from archival collections and the tales of the area. Each of the artist proposals created an artistic response that celebrates and preserves Paul’s legacy, life and contribution to British cultural life. While rooted in his importance to LGBTQIA+ history, the commissions may also explore his impact as a broadcaster, performer, author, campaigner for animal welfare, advocate for children and literacy, and champion of working-class voices. The commissioned artwork will join the Williamson Art Gallery’s permanent collection, exploring Paul’s lasting impact on British culture, LGBTQIA+ representation, animal welfare, children’s creativity and reading, broadcasting, performance and community life. The commissions will engage with the themes of the exhibition and Wirral’s wider LGBTQIA+ heritage. Andre Portasio, the husband of the late Paul O’Grady, is Creative Director of the exhibition, “One of the things that matters most to me about Paul’s legacy is that it should continue to inspire and create opportunities for others. Paul had an extraordinary ability to connect with people from every walk of life, while always remaining completely himself. He gave visibility to voices and communities that were too often overlooked, and showed that you should never be afraid of who you are or where you come from. That is why I am so proud to support these artists and to see them respond to Paul’s life and legacy through their own creativity and experiences. I’m incredibly grateful to the Williamson, the artists and everyone who has made these commissions possible. Knowing that these new works will become part of the Williamson’s permanent collection feels particularly special – Paul’s story inspiring new voices, new ideas and new work that will live on beyond the exhibition. I think he would have loved that.” You Gotta Get a Gimmick: Paul O’Grady Story will offer the first glimpse into Paul’s extensive archive, contextualising him as an LGBTQIA+ icon, award-winning broadcaster, performer, author, campaigner, and passionate advocate for both people and animals. From championing LGBTQIA+ visibility and equality to encouraging children to read, supporting charitable causes and transforming attitudes towards rescue dogs, Paul gave a voice to those often unheard and became one of Britain’s most beloved cultural figures. From Tranmere to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the “blonde bombsite of Birkenhead” to Battersea Dog’s Home, the exhibition will present Paul O’Grady as one of Britain’s most cherished, and significant cultural figures. Alongside Paul’s personal belongings and archive, the exhibition will feature an oral history collection of LGBTQIA+ stories, a Reading Club in local libraries celebrating Paul’s children’s books and passion for literacy, projects exploring his lifelong commitment to animal welfare, and a heritage trail through Birkenhead Park, Oxton and the riverfront. Commissioned by Switchflicker, Wirral Council and DuoVision. Creative Director: Andre Portasio. Creative Consultant: Joan Marshrons. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.