Somerset Cricket Museum – Sport and Art

Cricket and Art are both incredibly rich and diverse forms of expression. Cricket has inspired numerous artists to capture the beauty and intensity of the sport through various mediums such as paintings, sculptures, and photography.

Painting shows a forward drive from Viv Richards batting for Somerset at Taunton. Artist: Michael Tarr

From lovely scenes of the Somerset County Cricket Ground to portraits of legendary players, art has played a significant role in immortalising the spirit of and support for cricket in Somerset.

The parallels between cricket and art are vast, as both involve skill, strategy, and a deep sense of passion. Whether it’s the meticulous strokes of a bat on the cricket pitch or the intricate brushwork on a canvas, both cricket and art continue to enchant and inspire individuals.

Harold Gimblett striding out to bat. Artists: Michael Tarr

Many pieces of art in Somerset Cricket Museum collection and displayed in our online gallery, were painted by Michael Tarr, who studied at Somerset College of Art during the 1960’s, and thereafter worked for 12 years in an Architect’s practice. Since then Michael has worked as a freelance professional artist, combining graphic design, illustration and painting, concentrating on the latter for the last 25 years.

During that time he has produced many cricket paintings and illustrations, examples of which are in the Cricket Museum, as well as the various pavilions of Somerset County Cricket Club. Michael has had work on 3 occasions in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and paintings in the RWA and London exhibitions regularly.

You can see more of the Somerset Museum Art Collection in their new online gallery due to launch on February 1st.

A line drawing of the County Ground Taunton c 1910.

All images by artist, Michael Tarr. Photographed by Alain Lockyer