Following our recent announcement, we are delighted to share the full details of Neil Helyard’s feature in Country Life magazine. In the September 30, 2026 issue, legendary musician and Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi selected Neil’s 2016 mixed media piece, Ballet 2, as his favourite painting.
Speaking to the magazine, the iconic guitarist explained exactly what drew him to the 21-inch by 21-inch artwork.
“This painting really caught my eye because of its beauty, mixing strength with gracefulness,” Iommi shared. “It’s serene and powerful at the same time.” He also revealed a fascinating real-life parallel that occurred long after acquiring the piece: “Ironically, years after I bought the painting, I had the honour of meeting Carlos Acosta and working with him and the Birmingham Royal Ballet on *Black Sabbath: The Ballet*. I had the pleasure to meet the dancers, watch them rehearse and see first-hand how incredibly hard they work and what the human body can achieve. Just like the painting– graceful, strong and beautiful.”
The feature also includes an insightful critique by art writer Charlotte Mullins, who beautifully captures the atmosphere of Neil’s work. Mullins observes that the dancers are depicted in a quiet, private backstage moment away from the bright lights of the main house. She highlights how the eye is drawn to the textured layers of tulle and net tutus, “where white paint scumbled over lemon and grey gives them texture and form.” The faces remain purposely muted to reflect the hardworking chorus line rather than the primary stars.
The column further explores Neil’s artistic journey, noting his deep admiration for artists such as Frank Auerbach, Edgar Degas, Leonardo da Vinci, and Gwen John. After putting aside his childhood love for art to work as an electrician, Neil returned to his passion later in life, studying part-time in the evenings at Hull College from the age of 38. Today, his varied figurative work is exhibited internationally.
To capture the authenticity of his atmospheric ballet series, Neil spent time sketching and photographing dancers at the Phoenix Dance Company and the Northern Academy of Performing Arts. Reflecting on the featured artwork, Neil notes, “In Ballet 2, you see the quietness of Gwen John and the cropped negative shapes used by Edgar Degas”.
Credits & Permissions
- Featured in Country Life magazine, September 30, 2026 issue. Link to full article here.
- Reproduction of the PDFs is limited to this one use, one time only, and must always be accompanied by a link to: http://www.countrylife.co.uk). Country Life magazine exclusively holds the rights to the layouts and copy it contains.
Posted on: 8th Oct 2026 09:14:35 by Admin
