A FORMER make-up artist who worked on Vogue and Massive Attack video hits will put on a solo exhibition in Swindon this month.

London-based artist Cathy Lomax worked on Vogue, ID magazine and the videos for some of the biggest music makers of the early 1990s.

But she made the jump from make-up artistry to fine art around the turn of the millennium, studying at some of London’s top art schools.

Cathy, who is director of an artist-run gallery in East London, will open a new exhibition of her work at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery later this week.

The exhibition, called The Blind Spot, features around 25 paintings inspired by some of film’s most famous female faces – including Swindon’s very own blonde bombshell Diana Dors.

Cathy said: “The exhibition is about looking and being looked at. I’m really interested in film. There’s a strange thing about it – you’re watching these women playing intimate moments.”

Diana Dors features among the portraits on display. “She sums up a certain period in film history, with that amazing blonde bombshell look,” said Cathy, who is currently studying for a PhD in film studies at Queen Mary, University of London. “I find her really intriguing.”

The exhibition came as a result of artist Cathy winning the inaugural Contemporary British Painting Prize last year for her portrait Black Venus.

“It felt amazing to win – and very unexpected,” said Cathy, who had previously only ever made it to awards shortlists.

Among the prize-winner’s perks was an exhibition at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. The Bath Road museum is said to have the best collection of contemporary British painting outside London.

All of the paintings for the exhibition, which opens on Wednesday September 6, were created especially for the museum by Cathy.

The artist will speak about her work at a special talk on Thursday September 28, at 7.30pm. Museum curator Sophie Cummings will give a free lunchtime talk about the exhibition on Wednesday September 6, 12.30pm.

The Blind Spot by Cathy Lomax is at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery until Saturday September 30. Entrance is free.

For more, visit: www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk.