Same scene in different paintings.. fake? Pic imcluded

[mechanicalpencil]

Hello everyone,
Saw a painting we loved a while back and bought it..and since have been looking out for things by the same painter.
While on holiday in The Lakes came across another of his paintings, one we hadn’t seen before and bought it.
Have since noticed there is the exact same scene in both… a group of 5 people sitting at a table. The second one is a little blurrier but definitely the same scene which appears to have been “copied and pasted” in.

It seems a bit odd? Was wondering if it was a fake? Or maybe this is normal?!

Btw these aren’t expensive paintings!!

You can see the background has been changed…

It's not uncommon for artists to reuse compositions, look at Jack Vettriano.

That's a bit strange, although I don't think it's that unusual for an artist/illustrator to reuse elements, and it looks as though these aren't purely painted, is that right?

They look like blurred digital images - have they painted over a photo?

I didn’t know that!

I wouldn’t know how to tell!
The first “original “ painting seems to be authentic but the second one looks a bit off the more I look at it..

Now you mention it, the second one could be. There is something that doesn’t seem right about it.

Confirming it’s very very common for painters to do numerous different interpretations of the same scene. Certainly doesn’t mean it’s fake. They just explore a similar theme in a different way. Many artists have whole series like that.

The second one doesn't look like a painting, Google images suggests the artist is Richard Macneil, is that right?

Yes, that’s right!

This reminds me of the bbc1 news years ago when it came on.
The opening scene if you know what i mean.

My PiL live in the Cotswolds. There used to be an artist who’d set up by a particularly picturesque ford and paint versions of the same scene over and over and over, which sold imediately to the many tourists and day trippers to the village.

Are they actual paintings or prints?

I had a quick google too and found the two prints and they seem like that (in big retailers) so I will assume it’s how it’s supposed to be

I can't find any originals for sale on the usual original (non-reproduction) art sales websites, and not on his own website either. I presume yours are reproduction prints, not originals - i.e. you can't feel any paint texture when you touch it? The lack of originals available is unusual for a living commercial artist.

https://www.themacneilstudio.com/public/public-about_us.php
Looking at the many, many very commercial works they're licensing (under portfolio). I suspect he isn't a painter at all, and it's all digital art made for selling by the volume, where no one pays much attention to these details, a paint stroke filter is easy to apply, and copy pasting is frequent.

Doesn't mean it's wrong to like the image, just take it with a pinch of salt.

@Agapornis👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 this is the level of investigation I love to see

Upon checking out his website I agree with PP, you can’t actually buy any originals, just prints on his website + his whole business model is to license out images to be printed on Xmas cards / mugs / wall art so I am convinced there all digitally made

@TY78910 haha thanks - I love a scammy rabbit hole (and I'm avoiding doing other things tonight). I haven't checked Companies House...yet 😅

Re original/reproduction - if you have a look with a magnifying glass you may be able to see inkjet printing dots (not a guarantee though, it could be a lithography).

The second picture appears to be this one

https://www.wayfair.co.uk/home-decor/pdp/rosalind-wheeler-cafe-stroll-wrapped-canvas-print-u001038952.html?piid=1921742939

Listed by a different artist

I think that's just an error in the listing to be fair - the same seller (that well-known brand Rosalind Wheeler 😂) gets it correct here:
https://www.wayfair.co.uk/home-decor/pdp/rosalind-wheeler-cobbled-street-by-richard-macneil-print-on-paper-u000545584.html?piid=32427967

Rosalind Wheeler isn't the name of the artist it's a brand name for furniture sold by Wayfair. They must have bought the license to sell the image.

Weird that you can’t find any interviews etc with the artist. I think he doesn’t exist.

To me it's not the same at all. It just has tables and looks like the outside of a cafe. But the people are all different and the background, the angle etc. I'm guessing this type of setting is very common in paintings. Cafes and restaurants often have pictures that look like this.

The three people are exactly the same!

very impressed with the detective work!