Cat on Matt special: Meet the Picattos

Eric hopes to strike a pose at a new national pawtrait gallery

So, I’ve moved today because I heard about a fabulous group of Human Picattos and I couldn’t  t any of their pictures – or should I say ‘masterpusses’? – into my usual slot. They’re called the Society Of Feline Artists™ (they hadn’t registered their trademark, so I’ve gone and done it for them) and they like nothing more than painting cats. Better still, they’re all getting together later this month to put on a remarkable display of cat art. It is an event that promises to be even bigger than the Olympox. Indeed, according to the press release, 50 members of this prestigious Society will be convening in London and they have one thing in common – ‘they all love cats’.

Left: 2 Edvard Munch’s cat, The Meow, Toni Goffe, £250. Right: Bird’s Nest Hair Day, Tamsin Lord, £350

Now, I’ve never really understood Art, especially that man who takes animals and puts them in big  sh tanks full of formaldehyde (whatever that is). But the Society Of Feline Artists appears to have evolved art into something beautiful and, dare I say, useful – by making it all about me, or at least cats in general.

For years, humans have been barking up the wrong tree with their subject matter. They have been distracted by haywains and waterlilies, starry nights and even, shudder, each other. But feline artists such as Sara Butt, Jacqueline Gaylard, Natalie Mascall and Celia Pike have seen the light. For they have  nally realised that my species is considerably more beautiful than a pickled shark (Damien Hirst, that’s you), Marilyn Monroe (Andy Warhol) or even a lady with seven faces (Picasso), and that there’s little reason to sketch, etch, paint or print anything else.

Left: Cat Fight, Newlyn 3, Dominic O’Callaghan, £750. Right: The Yellow Book Cat, Lois Sykes, £480

Better still, visitors to the exhibition will be able to buy their work. I’m told more than 300 works will be on show, and with prices from £80 to £3,000, I may even be able to persuade The Man to invest in a couple. In fact, after this rather  ne celebration of their work, I’m rather hoping that the Society will honour me with a pawtrait of my own. Miaow for now!

The Society Of Feline Artists annual exhibition will be staged at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, 124-126 The Cut, London SE1, and runs from 23 August until 14 September, 10am to 7.30pm; closed Sundays and bank holidays: 020-7620 1322, www.lafp.co.uk