WHEN Mick Addinall first started showing his portraits in Oxford, they were mistaken for photographs, and you can see why.

It was a mistake he was happy for people to make.

The tattooist turned fine artist had been drawing portraits all his life, but this month he opened his first gallery in a room at Oxford Gentleman’s Barbers on Between Towns Road, Cowley.

To launch it, he also held a charity auction of some of his work, including signed portraits, at Templars Square shopping centre.

The portraits included pencil and charcoal sketches of former Doctor Who actor David Tennant, boxer Mike Tyson, actors Anthony Hopkins, and Christopher Lambert and singer Kylie Minogue.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Addinall's picture of Elvis Presley

A picture he drew of Prime Minister David Cameron is currently hanging in the Prime Minister’s constituency office in Witney.

Mr Addinall copies the pictures first from photographs and then asks friends to get them signed or sometimes tracks down the celebrities themselves to get the signature.

The 53-year-old, who lives in Cowley and formerly worked at Heaven and Hell tattoo studio in Hollow Way, said: “It caused confusion when I first opened the gallery because people thought they were seeing photographs – it was a really good week.”

Oxford Mail:

Another one of his portraits, Jimi Hendrix

The ever-growing collection of portraits also includes many of Cowley residents.

Mr Addinall sells prints for £10, but he can earn hundreds of pounds for comissions.

His artistic career began when he was growing up in Hull, and he got his first tattoo from a friend age 13, using a needle and ink, not a machine.

Mr Addinall added: “I like doing the portraits, that is what I do in my spare time, then you have got the tattoo side as well.”

Oxford Mail:

Derek Jacobi is the subject of this drawing

The charity portrait raffle was part of the Templars Square Christmas celebrations, which also included a visit from the Snow Queen on Saturday and a walk-in snow globe which is open every day until Christmas, with donations being taken.

All the donations will be given to Maggie’s, the support charity for cancer victims which is building a new support centre at the Churchill Hospital in Headington.

So far £78has been raised.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Addinall's picture of John Lennon

Templars Square manager Aaron Bayliss said: “Mick approached us with the idea of the raffle and we were able to find him a slot, so it was an ideal opportunity for both of us.”