August 2011 Monday 1.8.11 Up earlier than usual to do the brief Breakfast Show interview for BBC Radio Gloucester. Steve Kitchen starts off by saying he saw one of my horses at 4.30 am gleaming in the early morning sunshine on Montpellier Roundabout. Another call from Rob saying his client is perhaps interested in three works. Tuesday 2.8.11 Working on compositions of the two new paintings. Wednesday 3.8.11 Ditto Thursday 4.8.11 Ditto Friday 5.8.11 Miranda comes from Brian Sinfield Gallery to discuss forthcoming exhibition. Saturday 6.8.11 We’re working away busily in afternoon when the doorbell rings and surprise surprise it’s Nathan and Ruth who have driven down from London with belated birthday presents for both my Mum and me. In the evening all travel down to Bristol to go to a lovely party that Nick Park is throwing at the end of a shoot for a music video. We had been invited to the latter part of the shoot during Saturday afternoon but unfortunately had been rather busy, which is just a s well since it meant we were here for the surprise visit. Nick’s house is beautiful and combines the best of old and new. It’s lovely to see so much of his collection of toys. He takes us on a bit of a guided tour and points out the artist Kate Rose whom we had met with her husband Martin in London last year. It is their son, Joe, who is the singer. She tells us that Ester, who is also in the band, studied in Bristol at the same time as Nathan and Ruth and Nathan and Ester remembered one another. Nick also introduces me to Zennor who is a painter and Steve Box who co directed and co wrote the Curse of the Were-Rabbit with Nick. They have some interesting conversations with Nathan and Ruth too; also chat to Peter Lord who was one of the co founders of Aardman. We also chat to dear friend Martin Kiszko and lovely lovely Sarah and her beau. Sunday 7.8.11 My Mum comes round for lunch as Nathan and Ruth have belated birthday presents for her too. After a lovely evening with N and R Nathan films Ruth and I singing through a mask like paper construction he’s just designed for a film project next week! Monday 8.8.11 Nathan and Ruth leave just after midday then we start to prepare for this evening’s supper party. Sophia Wilson from the Museum and Caroline Fisher the journalist arrive about the same time as do Laurence and Jackie Llewelyn Bowen, looking very tanned after their holiday in Majorca, bearing a pot of Jackie’s delicious looking raspberry jam sporting a beautiful witty label that Laurence has designed for her as a birthday present. From Madam’s Marmalarder with a charming winged portrait of her; also a magnum of Pol Roger. Shortly afterwards Mark and Julia Hurrell with sunflowers and Sir Nicky and Karin Mander with Owlpen elder flower cordial. Mark is very charming and serves the champagne. Nick Park comes through the door with his long time friends the artists Kate and Martin Rose and composer, and green poet Martin Kiszko. It’s such fun, they are all excellent company and seem to get on very well. I take them all over to the studio to see the place in which I work and somehow the party continues there until we go back over for supper where dear Martin has been working away with Richard in the kitchen. Richard’s prepared roast tuna and monkfish, a tian and lentils after a mushroom starters, followed by bread and butter pudding or a beautiful fruit salad prepared by Martin and ice cream. Lots of interesting and funny stories over the table. I go into the kitchen and make a surreptitious call to Martin pretending to be his daughter Zita; people are slightly startled of course when he asks them if they can quieten down a bit as its his daughter and look a little aghast but as usual he does it his performance of the three poems brilliantly to a loud round of applause. Interesting conversation with Laurence who says he was at Tate Britain making a TV programme and how sad it was that there were only three pre Raphaelite paintings on exhibition even Millais’ exquisite Ophelia languishes in the vaults. Particularly so as they are very much back in vogue and it is such a popular painting. He and Sir Nicky compare notes on the visits they have had from Grayson Perry recently who has been filming their homes in Gloucestershire - he doesn’t seem to have been in drag at either location. Some lovely stories from Nick, Jackie and Laurence and some ghostly encounters from the other end of the table between Karin, Caroline, Julia and the two Martins. Caroline (journalist) says she would like to go and spend the night at Owlpen to try and catch a glimpse of any of the five ghosts that linger there. Tuesday 9.8.11 Back to work in the studio on Night Owl for the show in November with Brian Sinfield. My eyes fill with tears when I hear news of the riots and the brave and noble father whose son was knocked over by a car in Birmingham and died from his injuries along with two other young men who were brothers, whilst they were trying to protect their community and property from the rioters. Also the man in London who was beaten for trying to put out a fire in a bin. It all seems so futile and pointless. The main purpose seems to have been to loot and destroy but for what? All they will incur will be anger from the public and punishment from the judiciary; there surely are better ways of bringing attention to their plight, though perhaps we don’t always set the best example as a society with corruption in the press and media, politicians expenses and greedy uncaring banks. But they don’t seem to have an effective or eloquent spokesperson to represent them which makes them seem like a dishonest rabble. Wednesday 10.8.11 Continue work on Night Owl Thursday 11.8.11 Nice thank you card from Caroline Visit from Joanne and Tony who have come to collect their picture. Such a delightful couple. Joanne did live in Cheltenham for six months when she worked here during the eighties. Tony is a fascinating man who managed to achieve his own fashion house in the East End of London but moved on to film and video rental during the last recession. Then pop for a meeting with Diane and Jackie at their pottery to discuss the logistics of firing some ceramics for me. They are really helpful and would I think be very good to work with. Have been working on Night owl for the last two or three weeks. Richard had thought it would be good to use in the ad for the Brian Sinfield show but it’s nowhere near the stage I think it would look good enough in the ad so I decide upon a smaller work that Miranda had particularly liked - Eclectic Sheep - and spend the night working further into it. Friday 12.8.11 R takes Eclectic Sheep to the Darkroom to be photographed and scanned as today is the final day. Phone calls from Charles who has a patient who collects circus memorabilia, which sounds quite fantastic and includes five Dame Laura Knight paintings and a large preserved elephant-man! Apparently the collection is so vast that it is stored in many places. He’s interested to see reproductions of my circus paintings. Saturday 13.8.11 Lovely letter from Nicky Mander thanking us for supper; he is so full of generosity and writes exquisitely. And pretty thank you card from Sophia who is now on holiday. Go to dinner with the Dobbins. It was Wallace and Morag who bought Nick’s Wallace and Gromit painting from the StarArt exhibition (and the Elizabeth Blackadder). They live in a beautiful old farmhouse which was very run down when they bought it ten years ago. Morag as reclaimed field and turned it into beautiful gardens where she also keeps bees, chickens and a couple of sheep. Very interesting guests including Steve and Ellie and it turns out that Steve plays squash and cricket with Revd Malc. Suzi and John also live in the same area and Suzi started sculpting animals about four years ago. Morag takes me round the garden to see how she and her gardener have planned it. There’s a magnificent monolith of a stone from the Forest on Dean at the end of a beach alley. A delicious meal, artichoke starter, sea bass with sun dried tomatoes followed by a delicious summer pudding, all prepared in the beautiful kitchen with its glass roof and walls. In the sitting room I spot my painting The Food of Love which Morag and Caroline came and bought from m London exhibition last September. A most enjoyable evening with good company and conversation. Sunday 14.8.11 Good day working in studio. Write a little press release for the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum garden party at Highnam Court, which should for only £5 be A Grand Day Out. Monday 15.8.11 pretty Card from Jackie Llewelyn Bowen. Working on the Cirque de la Lune and Liberation. Tuesday 16.8.11 Up early so I can pick plums from the tree in the garden for R to take to Henrietta, Kev and the boys when he delivers my Mum to them today. My Mum looks bright and chirpy with the excitement of this holiday. After R’s done this and built some Lego with Samuel (who’s sitting on his knee) he goes to the Gallery to take back a painting I’d borrowed for the Paris show and chats to Mikhail who takes him over to look at their other (newly acquired) gallery in Cork Street. He then goes on to Cornelissens to pick up some Plaster of Paris, some red oxide and more gesso. Meanwhile I’m busy in the studio working on Liberation. Wednesday 17.8.11 Go into Cheltenham to be photographed with Nightmare minus her tail. A quick dash into House of Fraser then pop into the Sue Ryder shop to buy some hat boxes and I’m delighted to be recognised by one of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. Then its back to the studio to continue work Thursday 18.8.11 Over to BBC Radio Gloucestershire (in Gloucester) to record five thoughts for the day to run through next week I think then into another studio to do a piece about the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum’s ‘Grand Day Out’ on Sunday. I’m rather pleased as both the presenter and the producer tell me I’ve sold it to them and that they will try to make it. Back to the studio to continue work Friday 19.8.11 Continue with Circus by Moon light and Liberation. Saturday 20.8.11 Ditto Sunday 21.8.11 Over to Highnam Court getting lost on the way. It’s very exciting when we arrive as we can see there are lots of people here and are delighted to be greeted by Roger Head who is one of the Friends and has very generously allowed us to use his beautiful garden for the event. He is such a nice man who founded the Pied Piper Appeal charity twenty years ago for which he also opens his gardens. He takes us to see the sculpture he told me about that he had the sculptor carve from a deceased tree; its magnificent and such fun - three horses leaping upwards on their hind legs. He explains that the artist had to adapt his ideas as one side of the tree had gone rotten. Even the exposed roots have been shaped into a seal and seal heads which he had made to commemorate Prince Charles’ first visit there. It’s lovely to see so many people enjoying all the hard work and effort put in by the committee of the Friends who had made this happen. There’s something for everybody including Mr Colywobbles with his Punch and Judy show, Daphne Neville with otters - she and her lovely husband are river conservationists and as well as doing shows like this they give talks on the otter and the importance of its survival. Otters have now been seen in every county. I ask her if she might be interested in coming to the National Star College. Jamilla Gavin the Whitbread Award winning writer (for Coram Boy) who read stories to the children and also got our guest Martin Kiszko who she has known for many years, to do an impromptu performance of three of his poems. There were exotic dancers and drums, craft stalls, pot and cake decorating for children as well s fabulous food including 500 scones made by the W.I.. I get the honour of pulling out the winning ticket for the beautiful quilt that has been raffled over the past few months and some of the proceeds will go to the Japanese Tsunami Fund. I also get the thrill of being the fortunate bidder in the silent auction for Jenny Whiskerd’s woodcut ‘The Hoss and the Hedgehog’. I’m delighted when she introduces herself and I’m able to thank her for donating it. She tells me she often takes her students from the University to the Museum to draw. We also enjoy sitting in the beautiful orangerie with Wallace, 95 yo George a prolific artist who Wallace has brought from Banbury and Martin who has driven up from Bristol. Monday 22.8.11 Working intensely on Liberation and Circus by Moonlight. Tuesday 23.8.11 ditto Wednesday 24.8.11 Rob and Sandra arrive about 2.15 but we’re still sitting chatting (as he is such a wonderful storyteller) when Bob and Sylvia ring the doorbell; they also look very well and have just arrived back from a holiday with their son and daughter in law and grandchildren in a caravan in Torquay. They have come to see the Ballet Dancer painting that Bob commissioned for Sylvia’s birthday and I have painted for my National Star College Fund. Rob and Sandra come in whilst the are there to look at the two new paintings. Phone call from Nathan who’s on a night shoot and will be again tomorrow night, from which they will go straight to the airport early Friday morning as he’s been nominated for best art director in the MTV music video awards for Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’. He doesn’t think he’ll actually get it as the other four are all expensive American productions and very high tech with special affects, whereas his has an exquisitely beautiful quality using simple elements like water, fire, earth and wind. But of course to be nominated is fantastic. Richard and Ronald set off in the big van for Paris at about 1. 15 am. Thursday 25.8.11 I’m making an intensive effort to create a new composition whilst R is away so don’t do much e mail correspondence and luckily the phone doesn’t ring....... Friday 26.8.11 ....by 3 am I think I’ve managed it R and Ronald arrive back after 4 am. Saturday 27.8.11 It’s Nathan's Birthday phone him long distance to sing Happy Birthday. Brian Sinfield rings to discuss my forthcoming exhibition. And e mail from Rob again asking for titles, sizes and prices of the paintings he’s taking to London next week. Help! it’s getting increasingly difficult to create enough work. Up to the upstairs studio as we are trying to collect together works for the Michael Heseltine Gallery in Chenderit (which opens on the 7th) in the downstairs studio. Work a bit on Liberty Horse. Sunday 28.8.11 Working in studio until late, anxiously anticipating the MTV awards, which is rather strange for someone who doesn’t really DO telly as you only get each minute once. But as Nathan has been nominated for Best Art Direction in the MTV Awards I am a little anxious. Having watched all five nominated videos I know from the art angle that his is the best but he tells me that the others, which are all American have had very very much more money spent on them and re full of special effects etc. So he doesn’t really expect to get it but is very pleased to have been nominated. He’s in Los Angeles with Ruth who was his assistant on the Adele ‘Rolling in the Deep’ video though she is an art director in her own right. I text him in the evening to wish us luck from us all - he texts back that he is already at the centre where it is very exciting but very chaotic. We call it a day at about 3 am. I’m suddenly awakened by a voice gently telling me “he’s done it PJ!!” as low as you can when you’re excited. Richard had read a tweet saying the show had come to an end so looked on Wikipedia and low and behold there is Nathan's name for Best Art Direction. We are over the moon and text him congratulations. He rings shortly afterwards obviously very surprised and very excited. Monday 29.8.11 There is more work to do on Liberation and Circus by Moonlight than I had anticipated! and Rob is collecting them on Wednesday! Tuesday 30.8.11 Intense concentration on the areas that don’t normally show like the sides tops and bottoms. work through till 6 am. Wednesday 31.8.11 R takes the two paintings to the photographers to be photographed but when I get up he tells me they have just asked if he can take them back as the transparencies are too light due to the filter having slipped . He takes one at a time so that I can work on the other. R is still there when Sandra rings at 1 pm. to say that Rob is already at junction 14! I explain that there is still more I want to do so R delivers them at 8.30 in the evening!

Monday 1.8.11

Up earlier than usual to do the brief Breakfast Show interview for BBC Radio Gloucester. Steve Kitchen starts off by saying he saw one of my horses at 4.30 am gleaming in the early morning sunshine on Montpellier Roundabout.

Another call from Rob saying his client is perhaps interested in three works.

Tuesday 2.8.11

Working on compositions of the two new paintings.

Wednesday 3.8.11

Ditto

Thursday 4.8.11

Ditto

Friday 5.8.11

Miranda comes from Brian Sinfield Gallery to discuss forthcoming exhibition.

Saturday 6.8.11

We’re working away busily in afternoon when the doorbell rings and surprise surprise it’s Nathan and Ruth who have driven down from London with belated birthday presents for both my Mum and me. In the evening all travel down to Bristol to go to a lovely party that Nick Park is throwing at the end of a shoot for a music video. We had been invited to the latter part of the shoot during Saturday afternoon but unfortunately had been rather busy, which is just a s well since it meant we were here for the surprise visit. Nick’s house is beautiful and combines the best of old and new. It’s lovely to see so much of his collection of toys. He takes us on a bit of a guided tour and points out the artist Kate Rose whom we had met with her husband Martin in London last year. It is their son, Joe, who is the singer. She tells us that Ester, who is also in the band, studied in Bristol at the same time as Nathan and Ruth and Nathan and Ester remembered one another. Nick also introduces me to Zennor who is a painter and Steve Box who co directed and co wrote the Curse of the Were-Rabbit with Nick. They have some interesting conversations with Nathan and Ruth too; also chat to Peter Lord who was one of the co founders of Aardman. We also chat to dear friend Martin Kiszko and lovely lovely Sarah and her beau.

Sunday 7.8.11

My Mum comes round for lunch as Nathan and Ruth have belated birthday presents for her too. After a lovely evening with N and R Nathan films Ruth and I singing through a mask like paper construction he’s just designed for a film project next week!

Monday 8.8.11

Nathan and Ruth leave just after midday then we start to prepare for this evening’s supper party. Sophia Wilson from the Museum and Caroline Fisher the journalist arrive about the same time as do Laurence and Jackie Llewelyn Bowen, looking very tanned after their holiday in Majorca, bearing a pot of Jackie’s delicious looking raspberry jam sporting a beautiful witty label that Laurence has designed for her as a birthday present. From Madam’s Marmalarder with a charming winged portrait of her; also a magnum of Pol Roger. Shortly afterwards Mark and Julia Hurrell with sunflowers and Sir Nicky and Karin Mander with Owlpen elder flower cordial. Mark is very charming and serves the champagne. Nick Park comes through the door with his long time friends the artists Kate and Martin Rose and composer, and green poet Martin Kiszko. It’s such fun, they are all excellent company and seem to get on very well. I take them all over to the studio to see the place in which I work and somehow the party continues there until we go back over for supper where dear Martin has been working away with Richard in the kitchen. Richard’s prepared roast tuna and monkfish, a tian and lentils after a mushroom starters, followed by bread and butter pudding or a beautiful fruit salad prepared by Martin and ice cream. Lots of interesting and funny stories over the table. I go into the kitchen and make a surreptitious call to Martin pretending to be his daughter Zita; people are slightly startled of course when he asks them if they can quieten down a bit as its his daughter and look a little aghast but as usual he does it his performance of the three poems brilliantly to a loud round of applause. Interesting conversation with Laurence who says he was at Tate Britain making a TV programme and how sad it was that there were only three pre Raphaelite paintings on exhibition even Millais’ exquisite Ophelia languishes in the vaults. Particularly so as they are very much back in vogue and it is such a popular painting. He and Sir Nicky compare notes on the visits they have had from Grayson Perry recently who has been filming their homes in Gloucestershire - he doesn’t seem to have been in drag at either location. Some lovely stories from Nick, Jackie and Laurence and some ghostly encounters from the other end of the table between Karin, Caroline, Julia and the two Martins. Caroline (journalist) says she would like to go and spend the night at Owlpen to try and catch a glimpse of any of the five ghosts that linger there.

Tuesday 9.8.11

Back to work in the studio on Night Owl for the show in November with Brian Sinfield.

My eyes fill with tears when I hear news of the riots and the brave and noble father whose son was knocked over by a car in Birmingham and died from his injuries along with two other young men who were brothers, whilst they were trying to protect their community and property from the rioters. Also the man in London who was beaten for trying to put out a fire in a bin. It all seems so futile and pointless. The main purpose seems to have been to loot and destroy but for what? All they will incur will be anger from the public and punishment from the judiciary; there surely are better ways of bringing attention to their plight, though perhaps we don’t always set the best example as a society with corruption in the press and media, politicians expenses and greedy uncaring banks. But they don’t seem to have an effective or eloquent spokesperson to represent them which makes them seem like a dishonest rabble.

Wednesday 10.8.11

Continue work on Night Owl

Thursday 11.8.11

Nice thank you card from Caroline

Visit from Joanne and Tony who have come to collect their picture. Such a delightful couple. Joanne did live in Cheltenham for six months when she worked here during the eighties. Tony is a fascinating man who managed to achieve his own fashion house in the East End of London but moved on to film and video rental during the last recession.

Then pop for a meeting with Diane and Jackie at their pottery to discuss the logistics of firing some ceramics for me. They are really helpful and would I think be very good to work with.

Have been working on Night owl for the last two or three weeks. Richard had thought it would be good to use in the ad for the Brian Sinfield show but it’s nowhere near the stage I think it would look good enough in the ad so I decide upon a smaller work that Miranda had particularly liked - Eclectic Sheep - and spend the night working further into it.

Friday 12.8.11

R takes Eclectic Sheep to the Darkroom to be photographed and scanned as today is the final day. Phone calls from Charles who has a patient who collects circus memorabilia, which sounds quite fantastic and includes five Dame Laura Knight paintings and a large preserved elephant-man! Apparently the collection is so vast that it is stored in many places. He’s interested to see reproductions of my circus paintings.

Saturday 13.8.11

Lovely letter from Nicky Mander thanking us for supper; he is so full of generosity and writes exquisitely. And pretty thank you card from Sophia who is now on holiday.

Go to dinner with the Dobbins. It was Wallace and Morag who bought Nick’s Wallace and Gromit painting from the StarArt exhibition (and the Elizabeth Blackadder). They live in a beautiful old farmhouse which was very run down when they bought it ten years ago. Morag as reclaimed field and turned it into beautiful gardens where she also keeps bees, chickens and a couple of sheep. Very interesting guests including Steve and Ellie and it turns out that Steve plays squash and cricket with Revd Malc. Suzi and John also live in the same area and Suzi started sculpting animals about four years ago. Morag takes me round the garden to see how she and her gardener have planned it. There’s a magnificent monolith of a stone from the Forest on Dean at the end of a beach alley. A delicious meal, artichoke starter, sea bass with sun dried tomatoes followed by a delicious summer pudding, all prepared in the beautiful kitchen with its glass roof and walls. In the sitting room I spot my painting The Food of Love which Morag and Caroline came and bought from m London exhibition last September. A most enjoyable evening with good company and conversation.

Sunday 14.8.11

Good day working in studio.

Write a little press release for the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum garden party at Highnam Court, which should for only £5 be A Grand Day Out.

Monday 15.8.11

pretty Card from Jackie Llewelyn Bowen.

Working on the Cirque de la Lune and Liberation.

Tuesday 16.8.11

Up early so I can pick plums from the tree in the garden for R to take to Henrietta, Kev and the boys when he delivers my Mum to them today. My Mum looks bright and chirpy with the excitement of this holiday. After R’s done this and built some Lego with Samuel (who’s sitting on his knee) he goes to the Gallery to take back a painting I’d borrowed for the Paris show and chats to Mikhail who takes him over to look at their other (newly acquired) gallery in Cork Street. He then goes on to Cornelissens to pick up some Plaster of Paris, some red oxide and more gesso.

Meanwhile I’m busy in the studio working on Liberation.

Wednesday 17.8.11

Go into Cheltenham to be photographed with Nightmare minus her tail. A quick dash into House of Fraser then pop into the Sue Ryder shop to buy some hat boxes and I’m delighted to be recognised by one of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum.

Then its back to the studio to continue work

Thursday 18.8.11

Over to BBC Radio Gloucestershire (in Gloucester) to record five thoughts for the day to run through next week I think then into another studio to do a piece about the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum’s ‘Grand Day Out’ on Sunday. I’m rather pleased as both the presenter and the producer tell me I’ve sold it to them and that they will try to make it.

Back to the studio to continue work

Friday 19.8.11

Continue with Circus by Moon light and Liberation.

Saturday 20.8.11

Ditto

Sunday 21.8.11

Over to Highnam Court getting lost on the way. It’s very exciting when we arrive as we can see there are lots of people here and are delighted to be greeted by Roger Head who is one of the Friends and has very generously allowed us to use his beautiful garden for the event. He is such a nice man who founded the Pied Piper Appeal charity twenty years ago for which he also opens his gardens. He takes us to see the sculpture he told me about that he had the sculptor carve from a deceased tree; its magnificent and such fun - three horses leaping upwards on their hind legs. He explains that the artist had to adapt his ideas as one side of the tree had gone rotten. Even the exposed roots have been shaped into a seal and seal heads which he had made to commemorate Prince Charles’ first visit there. It’s lovely to see so many people enjoying all the hard work and effort put in by the committee of the Friends who had made this happen. There’s something for everybody including Mr Colywobbles with his Punch and Judy show, Daphne Neville with otters - she and her lovely husband are river conservationists and as well as doing shows like this they give talks on the otter and the importance of its survival. Otters have now been seen in every county. I ask her if she might be interested in coming to the National Star College. Jamilla Gavin the Whitbread Award winning writer (for Coram Boy) who read stories to the children and also got our guest Martin Kiszko who she has known for many years, to do an impromptu performance of three of his poems. There were exotic dancers and drums, craft stalls, pot and cake decorating for children as well s fabulous food including 500 scones made by the W.I.. I get the honour of pulling out the winning ticket for the beautiful quilt that has been raffled over the past few months and some of the proceeds will go to the Japanese Tsunami Fund. I also get the thrill of being the fortunate bidder in the silent auction for Jenny Whiskerd’s woodcut ‘The Hoss and the Hedgehog’. I’m delighted when she introduces herself and I’m able to thank her for donating it. She tells me she often takes her students from the University to the Museum to draw. We also enjoy sitting in the beautiful orangerie with Wallace, 95 yo George a prolific artist who Wallace has brought from Banbury and Martin who has driven up from Bristol.

Monday 22.8.11

Working intensely on Liberation and Circus by Moonlight.

Tuesday 23.8.11

ditto

Wednesday 24.8.11

Rob and Sandra arrive about 2.15 but we’re still sitting chatting (as he is such a wonderful storyteller) when Bob and Sylvia ring the doorbell; they also look very well and have just arrived back from a holiday with their son and daughter in law and grandchildren in a caravan in Torquay. They have come to see the Ballet Dancer painting that Bob commissioned for Sylvia’s birthday and I have painted for my National Star College Fund. Rob and Sandra come in whilst the are there to look at the two new paintings.

Phone call from Nathan who’s on a night shoot and will be again tomorrow night, from which they will go straight to the airport early Friday morning as he’s been nominated for best art director in the MTV music video awards for Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’. He doesn’t think he’ll actually get it as the other four are all expensive American productions and very high tech with special affects, whereas his has an exquisitely beautiful quality using simple elements like water, fire, earth and wind. But of course to be nominated is fantastic. Richard and Ronald set off in the big van for Paris at about 1. 15 am.

Thursday 25.8.11

I’m making an intensive effort to create a new composition whilst R is away so don’t do much e mail correspondence and luckily the phone doesn’t ring.......

Friday 26.8.11

....by 3 am I think I’ve managed it

R and Ronald arrive back after 4 am.

Saturday 27.8.11

It’s Nathan's Birthday phone him long distance to sing Happy Birthday. Brian Sinfield rings to discuss my forthcoming exhibition. And e mail from Rob again asking for titles, sizes and prices of the paintings he’s taking to London next week. Help! it’s getting increasingly difficult to create enough work. Up to the upstairs studio as we are trying to collect together works for the Michael Heseltine Gallery in Chenderit (which opens on the 7th) in the downstairs studio. Work a bit on Liberty Horse.

Sunday 28.8.11

Working in studio until late, anxiously anticipating the MTV awards, which is rather strange for someone who doesn’t really DO telly as you only get each minute once. But as Nathan has been nominated for Best Art Direction in the MTV Awards I am a little anxious. Having watched all five nominated videos I know from the art angle that his is the best but he tells me that the others, which are all American have had very very much more money spent on them and re full of special effects etc. So he doesn’t really expect to get it but is very pleased to have been nominated. He’s in Los Angeles with Ruth who was his assistant on the Adele ‘Rolling in the Deep’ video though she is an art director in her own right. I text him in the evening to wish us luck from us all - he texts back that he is already at the centre where it is very exciting but very chaotic. We call it a day at about 3 am. I’m suddenly awakened by a voice gently telling me “he’s done it PJ!!” as low as you can when you’re excited. Richard had read a tweet saying the show had come to an end so looked on Wikipedia and low and behold there is Nathan's name for Best Art Direction. We are over the moon and text him congratulations. He rings shortly afterwards obviously very surprised and very excited.

Monday 29.8.11

There is more work to do on Liberation and Circus by Moonlight than I had anticipated! and Rob is collecting them on Wednesday!

Tuesday 30.8.11

Intense concentration on the areas that don’t normally show like the sides tops and bottoms. work through till 6 am.

Wednesday 31.8.11

R takes the two paintings to the photographers to be photographed but when I get up he tells me they have just asked if he can take them back as the transparencies are too light due to the filter having slipped . He takes one at a time so that I can work on the other. R is still there when Sandra rings at 1 pm. to say that Rob is already at junction 14! I explain that there is still more I want to do so R delivers them at 8.30 in the evening!