{{Short description|British artist}} {{Multiple issues|{{BLP sources|date=October 2018}} {{External links|date=March 2025}}}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox artist | bgcolour = | name = Pete McKee | image = Pete McKee.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Pete McKee taken in 2019 by Andy Willshire | birth_name = Peter Robert McKee | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|2|1|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Sheffield]], [[England]] | death_date = | website = https://www.petemckee.com/ | death_place = | field = [[Painting]], [[cartoons]] | training = | movement = | works = | patrons = [[Noel Gallagher]] | influenced = | awards = Honorary Doctorate of The Arts }} '''Pete McKee''' (born 1 February 1966) is a [[Painting|painter]] and commercial artist from [[Sheffield]], [[England]]. He is a cartoonist for the ''[[Sheffield Telegraph]]''{{'}}s sports section.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Pete McKee |url=http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/pete-mckee-1-441344 |newspaper=[[Sheffield Telegraph]] |date=16 September 2008 |access-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003013906/https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/pete-mckee-1-441344 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has exhibited regularly around the [[Northern England|North of England]]. Using bright colours, he depicts characters inhabiting a world of [[working men's club]]s, [[bingo (UK)|bingo halls]] and family trips to the seaside. [[Association football|Football]] is also heavily featured in his work although he regularly depicts fans from both halves of the footballing divide in Sheffield: [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] and [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], the team he himself supports.
== Biography == Peter Robert McKee was born on 1 February 1966 in Sheffield to steelworker Frank McKee and Marjorie McKee (née Bullas). He grew up on a [[council estate]] in the Batemoor area of the city with two older brothers and one elder sister. His mother died of cancer when he was eight years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=WgrJjZTWA4VcAu1qRDFGPg&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=15 March 2016|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref><ref name="About Pete">{{cite web |url=http://www.petemckee.com/pages/about |title=About Pete |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Pete McKee |access-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211100210/http://www.petemckee.com/pages/about |archive-date=11 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Jeeves">{{cite news |last=Jeeves |first=Paul |date=14 April 2013 |title=A city full of characters |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/arts/a-city-full-of-characters-1-5575977 |newspaper=[[The Yorkshire Post]] |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref>
Educated at [[Meadowhead School|Rowlinson Comprehensive School]], McKee aspired to attend art college, but he ended up working in a factory. He was able to find a creative outlet through music, and by designing logos and similar pieces of art. During that time, his primary goal was to find a record producer, and he continues to pursue that goal today.<ref name="About Pete" /><ref name="Jeeves" /><ref name="Givans">{{cite news |last=Givans |first=Laura |date=22 September 2005 |title='Coolest job in the world' |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2005/09/22/blast_pete_mckee_feature.shtml |publisher=[[BBC Yorkshire|BBC South Yorkshire]] |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> He currently plays in a ukulele band named The Everly Pregnant Brothers.
McKee began his career as a published artist by sending drawings to a Sheffield Wednesday [[fanzine]]. They offered him £50 which encouraged him to start drawing for the ''[[Sheffield Telegraph]]''.<ref name="Givans" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/pete-mckee-noel-gallagher-s-favourite-artist-1405846|title=Pete McKee : Noel Gallagher's favourite artist|date=6 June 2008|work=NME|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2004, McKee decided to concentrate on his painting, with a focus on emulsion on MDF boards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/drawn-to-dulux-1-2585167|title=Drawn to Dulux|date=19 August 2010|work=Yorkshire Post|access-date=6 October 2018|language=en}}</ref>
In 2007, McKee opened his first London show, entitled 'Lost Weekends'. He has also exhibited in [[Birmingham]] and [[New York City]] since then and was commissioned by [[Acme Studios]] to interpret characters from U.S. TV shows, including ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'' and ''[[Futurama]]''.<ref name="Givans" />
In the same year, McKee was also commissioned by [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] guitarist [[Noel Gallagher]] to paint him as part of [[Gibson Guitar]]'s "Guitar Town" show. McKee produced a portrait of the guitarist on a 10-foot fibreglass guitar which was displayed as part of the open air exhibition on London's [[South Bank]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/call-out-of-blue-puts-pete-over-moon-1-354420|title=Call out of blue puts Pete over moon|date=23 May 2007|work=[[The Star (Sheffield newspaper)|The Star]]|location=Sheffield|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 2009, he created artwork for the [[Arctic Monkeys]] boxed set ''[[At the Apollo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/feb/15/arctic-monkeys|title=Thirty-three and a third: I'll play this on my sounding board|last=Armitage|first=Simon|date=15 February 2009|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> [[File:"The Snog" by Pete McKee - geograph.org.uk - 5946089.jpg|thumb|"The Snog" by Pete McKee on Broad Lane, Sheffield.]]
In early 2010, McKee was invited to design a limited edition pair of [[C. & J. Clark|Clarks]] [[Chukka boot|Desert Boots]], using the original style template.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/28-january-2010/pete-mckee-has-designed-graphics-for-a-pair-of-ss10-clarks-originals/https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/28-january-2010/pete-mckee-has-designed-graphics-for-a-pair-of-ss10-clarks-originals/|title=Pete McKee has designed graphics for a pair of SS10 Clarks Originals|date=28 January 2010|website=Design Week|language=en-US|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> To celebrate the heritage of the original boot he created images featuring a group of Mods, for the men's boot, and Modettes for the women's.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/2009/11/23/pete-mckee-x-clarks-originals-desert-boots/#slide-3|title=Pete McKee x Clarks Originals Desert Boots|date=24 November 2009|work=Highsnobiety|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The boots were sold in selected Clarks stores, specifically in Paris, New York and Japan.
Later in 2010, McKee collaborated with fashion designer [[Paul Smith (fashion designer)|Sir Paul Smith]], staging an exhibition of his work at Smith's Tokyo store.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/after-a-life-saving-liver-transplant-artist-pete-mckee-on-his-new-collection-celebrating-the-working-classes-1-9055795|title=After a life-saving liver transplant, artist Pete McKee on his new collection celebrating the working classes|last=Burn|first=Chris|date=12 March 2018|work=Yorkshire Post|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en}}</ref> This saw the development of ''Teenage Kicks'' – a limited edition book celebrating the influence of music on youth fashion. Selected images were reproduced on Paul Smith clothing and bags specifically for the Japanese market.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/smith-of-the-star-pete-s-golden-touch-with-fashion-icon-1-856161|title=SMITH OF THE STAR: Pete's golden touch with fashion icon|date=22 April 2010|work=The Star|location=Sheffield|access-date=6 October 2018|language=en}}</ref>
In June 2010, McKee opened a dedicated [[art gallery]] "A Month of Sundays" on Sharrow Vale Road in [[Hunters Bar]], Sheffield.<ref name="Jeeves" /> After a number of years, the shop was renamed Pete Mckee.
About two years later, in 2012, McKee was invited to take part in a special project from [[Warp Films]] to celebrate its tenth birthday. McKee was asked to re-create ten posters from ten of their iconic films, including ''[[Dead Man's Shoes (2004 film)|Dead Man's Shoes]]'', ''[[Submarine (2010 film)|Submarine]]'' and ''[[This is England]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/warp-films-10-pete-mckee-poster-art|title=Warp Films at 10: Pete McKee's poster art|date=31 January 2014|work=British Film Institute|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.asff.co.uk/breaking-new-ground-10-years-of-%E2%80%85warp-films/|title=Breaking New Ground: 10 Years of Warp Films|last=Beesley|first=Ruby|date=1 December 2012|work=Aesthetica Short Film Festival|access-date=6 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>
More recently, he has also painted several murals around Sheffield.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/arts/muriel-in-a-mural-1-9225561|title=Muriel in a mural|date=28 June 2018|work=Yorkshire Post|access-date=6 October 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/video-sheffield-artist-pete-mckee-completes-biggest-ever-mural-1-7942095|title=VIDEO: Sheffield artist Pete McKee completes biggest ever mural|last=Hobson|first=Dan|date=1 June 2016|work=The Star|location=Sheffield|access-date=6 October 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/its-a-celebration-new-pete-mckee-sheffield-wednesday-mural-explained-as-jose-semedo-goes-up-in-hillsborough-4264649|title='It's a celebration'- New Pete McKee Sheffield Wednesday mural explained as Jose Semedo goes up in Hillsborough.|newspaper=The Star|location=Sheffield|date=22 August 2023|access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref>
In 2016, McKee was asked to design a limited edition record player with British manufacturer ''Rega'' for [[Record Store Day]]. Five hundred of these ''Club Rega'' turntables were created.
In 2018, his collaborative show, 'THIS CLASS WORKS', sold out, with more than 10,000 visitors coming to this exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |title=10,000 people visit Pete McKee's This Class Works exhibition |url=https://www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/news/10000-people-visit-pete-mckees-this-class-works-exhibition/ |website=Exposed Magazine |date=30 July 2018 }}</ref> In the same year, he also received an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pop artist to be presented with honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University |url=https://www4.shu.ac.uk/mediacentre/pop-artist-be-presented-honorary-doctorate-sheffield-hallam-university-0?filter=University-news |website=www.shu.ac.uk |publisher=Sheffield Hallam University}}</ref>
In the Summer of 2019, McKee decided to tour a collection of classic McKee artworks to three new cities: Brighton, Birmingham, and Nottingham. The pop-ups only lasted for a few days with thousands of visitors at each. There were three posters created to represent each city and he also held book signings and 'in conversation' events to sold-out crowds at each location.
Between 2021 and 2023, McKee was asked by singer and musician [[Rhoda Dakar]] to create the cover artwork for her album ''Version Girl'' and the single releases that accompanied it. Seven covers have been created all featuring Rhoda herself and were released by Sunday Best Records.
McKee has been an ambassador for [[Teenage Cancer Trust]] for more than a decade. He was introduced to the charity by [[Noel Gallagher]] after creating a gig poster for a performance by Noel at the [[Royal Albert Hall]]. For the last 10 years, McKee has collaborated with ''[[The Who]], [[Paul Weller]], [[Nile Rodgers|Nile Rogers]], [[New Order (band)|New Order]], [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Pet Shop Boys]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]],'' and many others on gig posters for their performances at the iconic venue. Each edition is signed and numbered by the artists performing as well as by McKee and sold to raise money for [[Teenage Cancer Trust]]. In addition to this, a Song Book was created to include all these lyrics and accompanying images.
In the autumn of 2023, McKee opened his new exhibition celebrating the life and love of two of his most popular characters ''Frank & Joy.'' Their story was told through the imagined pub ''The Buffer's Rest'' where all the important events in their lives unfolded. For this exhibition, McKee worked with set designers to build a pub within a warehouse in Sheffield. Visitors would enter the pub to view the couple's story within allocated time slots.
Speaking about the Frank and Joy pub exhibition, McKee stated: <blockquote>Frank and Joy first came to life in 2013 when I created the mural "The Snog" to promote my ''Joy of Sheff'' exhibition. To be honest, though, they had inhabited my world from the very beginning:
I just hadn't give them names. But once I did, they took on their own life force and I felt compelled to explore their relationship. I fleshed out their story for a one-day art experience I curated called "Pub Scrawl", where ten artists were paired up with ten pubs and people were invited to go on an "art crawl" to see them all. Fagan's was my pub, and for my installation I chose to tell Frank and Joy's story and their relationship with the pub.
The story of Frank and Joy is also a story of the pub they frequented since they first met. I wanted to show how we as a community use our pubs, how they fulfil such an important role. Just like in times past we might have gathered round a stone circle, the pub, like a meeting hut or a church, is a place to congregate, to reflect, to celebrate.</blockquote>In Summer 2024, McKee will move his longstanding gallery to the new [[Leah's Yard]] development in Sheffield City Centre.
==Exhibitions==
*Urban Legends (November 2004) *A Month of Sundays (January 2005) *The Boy with a Leg Named Brian (October 2005) *Northern Soul (November 2005) *Jumpers for Goalposts (July 2006) *Wish you were here (June 2006)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-14031923|title=McKee holiday snaps exhibition|date=6 July 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=6 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> *Loneliness of a Fat Distance Runner (October 2006)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/out-and-about/pdsa-shop-is-forced-to-shut-1-326133|title=PDSA shop is forced to shut|date=28 September 2006|work=The Star|location=Sheffield|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en}}</ref> *Lost Weekends (November 2006) *A Month of Sundays (June 2007) *33{{fraction|1|3}} (April 2008) *22 Views of Sheffield (November 2008) *Snooker City - Sheffield (April 2009)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/image_galleries/blast_pete_mckee_gallery.shtml|title=BBC - South Yorkshire - In Pictures - Pete McKee gallery|last=BBC|website=BBC|language=en-gb|access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref> *Great Moments in Music History - Manchester (October 2009)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffield/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8304000/8304567.stm|title=In pictures: McKee's Manchester|date=13 October 2009|work=BBC- Sheffield and Manchester|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> *Teenage Kicks - Tokyo (April 2010) *A Month of Sundays - Scarborough (March 2011) *The McKee Collection - The Biscuit Factory Newcastle (March - June 2011) *Great Moments in Popular Music - SNAP Galleries London (September 2011)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/pete-mckee-s-great-moments-in-popular-music-1407287|title=Pete McKee's Great Moments In Popular Music|date=5 September 2011|work=NME|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> *The Joy of Sheff - Blue Shed Sheffield (May 2013) *Thud, Crackle, Pop - London (May 2014) *6 Weeks to Eternity - Magna Rotherham (May 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/jul/12/pete-mckee-exhibition-this-class-works-noel-gallagher-paintings|title=The ex-postie whose paintings are loved by Noel Gallagher and the north|last=Drury|first=Colin|date=12 July 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-36293029|title=Artist evokes seaside holiday memories|date=14 May 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> *Marjorie - [[Herd of Sheffield]] (July - October 2016)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/herd-of-sheffield-charity-auction-raises-410-600-for-sheffield-children-s-hospital-1-8192954|title=Herd of Sheffield charity auction raises £410,600 for Sheffield Children's Hospital|last=Evans|first=Alice|date=21 October 2016|work=The Star|location=Sheffield|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en}}</ref> *This Class Works - 92 Burton Rd Sheffield (July 2018)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/creative-business/best-art-design-exhibitions-2018/|title=See the best art and design exhibitions in 2018|last=Harris|first=Miriam|date=22 May 2018|work=Digital Arts|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44779978|title=Swapping art for food bank donations|last=Youngs|first=Ian|date=12 July 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=3 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> *Don't Adjust Your Mindset - Hoxton Arches London (April 2022)<ref>{{cite web | title=Exhibition at Hoxton Arches V. in London | website=ArtRabbit | date=22 April 2022 | url=https://www.artrabbit.com/events/dont-adjust-your-mindset | access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> *Don't Adjust Your Mindset - Millennium Gallery Sheffield<ref>{{cite web | last=Hollingworth | first=Rob | title=Art: Sheffield artist Pete McKee shifts focus for new show Don't Adjust Your Mindset | website=The Star | date=5 May 2022 | url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/arts-and-culture/art/art-sheffield-artist-pete-mckee-shifts-focus-for-new-show-dont-adjust-your-mindset-3680973 | access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> *Frank & Joy a Love Story - Trafalgar Warehouse Sheffield<ref>{{cite web | last=Burn | first=Chris | title=Pete McKee: New Sheffield exhibition celebrating the British pub and 'Snog' couple Frank and Joy opens in city | website=Yorkshire Post | date=3 November 2023 | url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/pete-mckee-new-sheffield-exhibition-celebrating-the-british-pub-and-snog-couple-frank-and-joy-opens-in-city-4397277 | access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McKee, Pete}} [[Category:20th-century English painters]] [[Category:English male painters]] [[Category:21st-century English painters]] [[Category:Artists from Sheffield]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:20th-century English male artists]] [[Category:21st-century English male artists]]