A book, a glass of wine and a peaceful garden. Minou would like to make a small amendment: more Minou. The Attention Seeker by Patricia Mooney S.O.F.A. celebrates an affectionate cat whose invitations tended to arrive just when the artist was settling down to relax.
Patricia met Minou while visiting a friend on holiday. The cat adopted the visitor, in the way cats sometimes do, and made a lasting impression through her determined requests for attention. A photograph from that visit became the starting point for this pastel painting.
The finished portrait gives us a black cat with a direct gaze, set against a garden scene that includes colourful chairs and a glass on the table. It is easy to imagine the next interruption in an otherwise quiet afternoon.
If you have ever read the same paragraph several times because someone furry needed your hand free, Minou’s story may feel familiar. This framed and mounted work turns that everyday negotiation into an affectionate portrait.
Explore the Winter Exhibition
The exhibition closes on Sunday 15 November 2026.
