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Unframed: 10.03 x 12.36 in | 25.48 x 31.39 cm
Books
Art Consultation
James McQueen’s A Beautiful Waste of Time (2026) expands upon the narrative of his previous sold-out catalogue from the solo exhibition, If You Ever Leave Me I’m Coming with You (2023), marking a bold evolution in both the artist’s scale and ambition. Offering an immersive insight into McQueen’s evolving practice through signature titles, new artworks, and photographs of the artist’s studio, this illustrated book captures an artist embracing complexity, humour and vulnerability with renewed confidence and ambition.
Spanning more than 440 pages and featuring over 130 of McQueen’s new artworks, the book reflects a body of work that pushes beyond the familiar framework of vintage book covers into richer, more layered territory.
Many of McQueen’s signature phrases sit here alongside new declarations that humorously incorporate themes of love, hope, vulnerability and defiance. While previous works sought to examine these universal themes, in A Beautiful Waste of Time we find deepened conversations within his recognisable graphic language. Colour is highly assertive and the surfaces of these paintings are more tactile and textured than ever.
With influences ranging from Pop, street and contemporary artists, McQueen’s increasingly direct engagement with art history is evident –absorbed into his visual vocabulary, this results in works of art that push the boundaries of what is possible in visual art. Conceptually, language remains central to McQueen’s works, but his phrases now sit within deeper textures, created through sanding, layering and erasure to give each work a near sculptural presence.
Find out more about James McQueen here or shop more artworks here.
Delivery & Returns
Production & Delivery
All our artwork is made to order in Birmingham, UK, ensuring top quality. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery. Each piece is carefully crafted to meet our high standards.
If you order multiple artworks, they may arrive separately for efficiency.
Returns
We offer a 14-day cooling-off period so you can view the artwork in your home. If it's not right for you, we’ll collect it free of charge or you can return it to one of our galleries.
For international orders, the same policy applies—contact us to arrange collection.
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A Beautiful Waste of Time
Sale price€136,00
The artist
James McQueen
You should never judge a book by its cover, and McQueen is keeping his firmly under wraps. The elusive artist, who operates under a name as fictitious as the titles he paints, has so far launched one collection of his book-themed Anthology works, three collections of his Non-Fiction works with Castle Fine Art and, the most recent Special Edition collection. They proved to be a page-turner with our collectors, and McQueen's limited edition captivating works are extraordinarily popular and in incredibly high demand - with the Non-Fiction collection selling out in just hours!
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Frequently Asked Questions
At checkout, you'll have the option to have your order delivered to your home or to collect it from one of our galleries across the UK. For more information on delivery, visit our delivery page here.
Yes, Castle Fine Art is based in the UK, but we ship internationally. All of our international orders are delivered via DHL.
To ensure a secure transit, every artwork is handled with utmost care. We take precautionary measures by using foam around the piece for added safety during transportation, and then the artwork(s) are packaged in double-walled, reinforced cardboard boxes that offer superior protection. All of this ensures that your artwork arrives safely.
Most artwork orders will need to be professionally mounted and framed before being dispatched, so delivery can take up to four weeks from the date you placed your order, but we do strive to deliver your order as soon as we can.
Books and gift cards are delivered within 2-3 working days. Please note, if multiple artworks are purchased within the same order, they may be delivered separately for efficient delivery.
The majority of our originals and limited editions are hand signed by the artist themselves. On some occasions where we have limited edition sculptures, this is hand written into the mould before production. If you're unsure, please contact us.
30 years of fantastic art
In 1995, we opened our first-ever gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon. With just one goal in mind - to make our art accessible to all - our fledgling company began to spread its roots.
Craftsmanship and Quality
Every piece of art is mounted, glazed or framed by hand, with our bespoke framing service selected by our creative department.
Built to last
Our foundations are built on a passion for art, and many of our staff (and collectors!) have been with us from the very beginning.
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