Paul Smith hosts pencil exhibition in-store

Eccentric British designer Sir Paul Smith is not one to shy away from the chance to display something unusual in stores. Therefore it comes as a little surprise that he is hosting an exhibition entitled "Secret Life of the Pencil" at his store in Albermarle Street, London.

The walls of the store are plastered with enhance close-up photographs of the pencils used by artists, including Sir Smith himself as well as the likes of Celia Birtwell, David Bailey, Henry Holland, Thomas Heatherwick and Sir Quentin Blake. "So many of us use computers nowadays it’s so delightful to see the sheer volume of people who still use pencils," said Sir Smith during the opening of the exhibition to WWD.

Dreamed up by product designer Alex Hammond and photographer Mike Tinney, the images are currently being auctioned off by Paddle8 for charity. The majority of the funds raised will be donated to Children in Crisis in the UK, a charity which aids children affected civil conflict and war, with remainder of the money going towards funding a traveling exhibition.

The duo wished to pay homage to the writing tool which has become "unassuming, unsung, and 0.02 percent the cost of an iPad." Hammond and Tinney added: "Our faithful friend continues to lead its many secret lives alongside much more complex technology but at the heart of our most decisive and moving creators."

Sir Smith added that although his writing tool of choice is a "propelling pencil," better known as a mechanical one, he also keeps a number of pens in bright colors inside the pockets of his jacket, just in case.

Images: Mike Tinney