25/08/2026
On a recent train journey on Avanti West Coast from London to Manchester I decided to draw an illustrated portrait of Sister Rosetta Tharpe as a huge thank you to my friend, broadcaster and social historian Karen Gabay who has worked tirelessly and selflessly in honouring this incredible music icon with a blue plaque in our city.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe performed in Manchester in 1964 as part of Granada TVs ‘Blues and Gospel Train’ show and her standing in music culture as an influence for the likes of Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry amongst many others is a legacy that deserves to be celebrated. This is just my nod to a black music and cultural icon and a thank you to Kaz for her amazing work in gaining recognition for a woman who changed history and played a part in shaping so much of the music we all know and love today.
My illustration was initially just going to be a pen line drawing as the images show and as it developed I decided to shade and add a little more detail. Drawing on a moving train is never easy but I’m proud I have managed to gain a likeness in a couple of hours and today after cleaning up the paper and adding more detail and highlights I have a portrait that captures this wonderful black music icon.
