Love Padlocks on a bridge in Florence, Italy.

Acrylic on textured acrylic paper.
Image size: 37 x 27 cms.
Framed size: 60 x 51 cms.
Professionally framed in a dark wood frame

While visiting Florence, I became intrigued with these padlocks which were attached to lampposts, chains and window grids in the city.
This cluster had grown around a bicycle lock which someone had attached to one of the lampposts on a bridge over the river.
Couples had customised their padlocks, attached them to the cable and thrown away the keys.
To the passer-by, they appear to lie rusting and forgotten - but to the owners, they are 'precious metal'.

I was thrilled to have been awarded 'Highly Commended' for this painting when I entered it into an Artist of the Year competition with The Artist magazine. It's still one of my favourite paintings - and as it is built up in many layers of acrylic washes it's also one of the most time consuming too!