The Art Behind The Christophers: Iona Sanders’ Work on Steven Soderbergh’s New Film

At that stage, Iona knew very little about the project, except that it centred on an artist. Still, the opportunity was intriguing enough to say yes. It was only when the script arrived that the scale of the project began to sink in.

“Initially, I was just sent an email saying, would you be interested in working on the film, and if so, we will send you the script. When it came through, that was when the excitement became real,” Iona said, during our catch-up just a few days before the film’s UK premiere.

The Christophers, directed by Steven Soderbergh, features a star-studded cast including Sir Ian McKellen in the role of Julian Sklar, an iconic British artist turned cancelled curmudgeon, who hires an assistant to catalogue his belongings for appraisal while he films Cameo-style videos for cash. (Mandi Brierly for Galerie)

Michaela Coel, creator of HBO’s I May Destroy You, plays that role, Lori: a skilled artist and forger who has, in fact, been employed by Julian’s estranged adult children, played by James Corden and Jessica Gunning, to secretly complete their father’s series of unfinished portraits.

For director Steven Soderbergh, an artist himself, and screenwriter Ed Solomon, the son of a painter, it was no surprise that authenticity mattered. That instinct runs throughout the film – from the performances to the carefully built interiors, and the props and artworks that give the artists’ studios their lived-in, working atmosphere.

And this was where Iona came in.

The film’s set designer, Antonia Lowe, spoke to Galerie about Lori’s studio and original art, which receives plenty of screen time: “For her paintings, it was trying to find somebody that was quite contemporary and that was much more colourful,” Lowe says. “I wanted it to feel like there was a lot more joy in her work, not as tortured as Julian might have been at points.”

Set decorator Kimmy Hussey drew on her local knowledge of the St Ives art community and found a natural match in Iona Sanders.

“I collaborated really closely with both Antonia and Kimmy. I was sent various briefs for paintings, all of which were to be bright, energetic and colourful – but no still life, which was interesting for me, as I was quite well known for my still lifes at that time” explained Iona.

“So that was really great for me. I just sort of went mad! I had to produce a mixture of work – the majority of which were part-done, works in progress – which were then selected from the studio, taken to London and put into Lori’s studio apartment in Camden.”

A huge part of Lowe and Hussey’s design was the creation of spaces that felt genuinely inhabited. As part of Iona’s involvement, she loaned a selection of her own studio props – brush pots, coffee cups, tablecloths, paint-covered clothes and overalls – the kinds of ordinary, intimate details that tell you an artist is fully immersed in the space.

These objects can be spotted throughout the film in Lori’s studio.

Iona was then invited to authenticate the set herself.

“They had made this amazing studio within Lori’s apartment – and I painted in there and did loads of drawings for the day. I just had to use the space like it was my own and move things around like I would if I was actually working in there.”

For anyone familiar with Iona’s work, it is easy to see why her paintings felt right for Lori’s world. Vibrant, playful and full of energy, her work often begins as a response to her surroundings. Working mainly in oil and acrylic, and often incorporating mixed media, Iona has developed a style that feels instinctive and alive – qualities that made her work such a compelling choice for the set décor.

“I created several original artworks. One especially is a key piece that runs throughout the film, so I did several variations of it. This is the only piece in the film that you will see finished.

“The rest are a mixture of works in progress, and a mixture of paintings and drawings that I already had.”

“I’m really excited for the launch. I have seen the screening already, but I’m really looking forward to seeing it again, as it is such a great film and there is so much to take in.”

The Christophers officially launches in UK cinemas on Friday 15 May – and reviews are already in, including five stars from Time: “The kind of movie only a master filmmaker could have made.”

For a comedy-drama full of art and character, head to a cinema near you to watch The Christophers.

Congratulations to Iona on this exciting project.