Newlyn painter Iona Sanders created the art for Michaela Coel’s character in The Christophers

Most people watching The Christophers will assume the vivid paintings on screen came from a props warehouse. They didn’t. They came from a studio in Newlyn.

The artworld drama, directed by Steven Soderbergh and released in full on 15th May 2026, has revealed that Newlyn-born and based painter Iona Sanders was the “ghost artist” behind the work attributed to Michaela Coel’s character on screen.

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

A Cornish painter in a Soderbergh film

Filmed in London, The Christophers stars Ian McKellen as Julian Sklar, a retired and cynical artist. His estranged children, played by James Corden and Jessica Gunning, hire a talented, reclusive painter, played by Michaela Coel, to secretly finish his abandoned masterpieces for financial gain.

Coel’s character is named Lori Butler. And the paintings that appear as Lori’s work throughout the film are all by Iona.

Iona is a contemporary painter from West Cornwall whose work is strongly influenced by the Cornish coast, domestic interiors, native landscape, family members and everyday objects. Her paintings are known for their expressive brushwork, vibrant colour, and relaxed, intuitive style. She works mainly in acrylic, oil pastel, and mixed media, and is part of the celebrated tradition of artists working from the area.

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

How a West Cornwall artist ended up on set

The connection came through Cornwall’s arts community. Set decorator and fellow artist Kimmy Hussey first met Iona through the St Ives School of Painting and Penwith Gallery. When Kimmy was contracted to work on the film, alongside production designer Antonia Lowe, she learned that Soderbergh is an artist himself and a major art lover.

So he had requested that “real” artists were found to create all the key pieces, as well as background studio art, rather than using a traditional art provision company, as is the norm. Artist Barnaby Gorton, who provided paintings for the Harry Potter film series, was selected to provide Julian Sklar’s work, including “The Christophers” themselves. But for Coel’s character, the producers wanted a more colourful and contemporary artist.

Kimmy and Antonia both recommended a number of painters for the ghost artist role. Soderbergh chose Iona. She offered options from her back catalogue, a number of which he selected, and he also commissioned a larger version of an abstract piece called Untitled #7, which is a key feature of the character’s work throughout the film.

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

They recreated her studio, then invited her to dress it

The set decorators came and photographed Iona’s Newlyn studio to use as inspiration for Lori’s working space. Then they took the unusual step of inviting her to the set in London to use her own painting kit, overalls, pots, tablecloths and accessories to dress the space.

Iona spent the day there, writing on the chalkboard and creating a number of sketches and in-development pieces on paper and on the walls, making sure every detail carried the authenticity and lived-in quality of her own working studio in West Cornwall.

“This whole process has been so creatively inspiring, exciting and quite thrilling and I am so grateful to my fellow artist Kimmy Hussey for putting me forward for this unique opportunity,” Iona says. “To be selected was so exhilarating, not only to have my work in the film, but because of the authenticity commitment of Steven Soderbergh, Antonia Lowe and the team to the detail of real working artists and their creative practices.”

She adds: “To be given the opportunity to ensure that ‘my’ Newlyn studio was fully recreated was also a major opportunity. To take my own paints, paintbrushes and studio set-up to London, and actually create sketches on the walls and respond to the set decorator’s brief in the space was such an enjoyable experience. It’s been so intriguing to see all of the behind-the-scenes work and decision making that goes into not only the selection of the various artists and the pieces that appear on the screen, but also the artistic set creation and all of the totally realistic detailing. I’m hopeful that other future opportunities will result and so grateful to have been involved.”

The Christophers is in full release from 15th May 2026. Iona Sanders is available for gallery visits and commissions via her Instagram page. Her work is also available through various galleries and her regular shows at those locations.

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius

📷Photo Credit: Claudette Barius