Thursday 1.7.10

Phone call from Miranda at Brian Sinfield’s Gallery. Two of their clients were interested in a painting in the catalogue, that had of course sold a couple of months ago! It has ever been thus - once something has sold, someone else will want to buy it.

Friday 2.7.10

Went into the Museum for two meetings, one with Andrew Stonyer, Professor of Fine Art at the University who wanted to talk about the current situation of the Pittville Campus which at the moment is in limbo as they don’t know if the campus is being sold and if so which of the two other University campuses they will be moved to.  He feels It is having a very demoralising effect on staff and students. I studied there many moons ago and both Henrietta and Nathan did their foundation courses on the same campus before it was absorbed into  the university(which included the teacher training colleges of  St Paul’s and St Mary’s) . The Art School which always had a high profile reputation he feels is in danger of losing its way. The Museum is building a very positive partnership with the University and is going into partnership with the art faculty which seems exactly right. I think it is at our own peril if we let this wonderful art school slip into decline as we are all dependent on the creative industries both culturally and for the income it brings into Gloucestershire and the country as a whole. They account for much of our export.

I then have a meeting with Jane, head of the Museum, Gina, chairman of the Friends and Jenny one of the founders of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum re the fund raising appeal for the new development.

Saturday 3.7.10

R’s gone to Paris to deliver a new painting whilst I’m working on the tops bottoms and sides of the three Gloucestershire College panels. he does remarkably well as he’s completed the whole trip in 241/2 hours stopping for naps en route and on the ferry. Alain jumped into the car with him on his third circuit  around the Gallery looking for a parking place and tells Richard that he has to do several circuits himself every morning. It is quite close to the Picasso Museum so it is a popular part of Paris (the Marais) and has very narrow streets. The gallery has a very interesting exhibition on at the moment, three painters and two generations of the Leipzig School. Leipzig of course was in the former East Germany and one feels there is a reflection of this in the paintings. R shows him images of the big Gloucestershire painting I am working on, on the computer. Alain then takes him out for a drink and they discuss what’s currently happening at Galerie Blondel and my forthcoming exhibition at the Hay Hill in London; Alain is hoping to come to the opening. Alain very kindly invites us to go and stay in their beautiful home and garden in Normandy during August but R sadly has to decline, explaining I will still be busily working towards the exhibition at the Hay Hill which opens on the 13th September with the private view on Thursday 16th, allowing them time to tweak the hanging if they need to.

Sunday 4.7.10

Good day in studio

Monday 5.7.10

Set out for London at half past four to attend the ACS (of which I am a director) party sponsored by the Bridgeman Art Library in the garden of the Chelsea Arts Club. Sophy is very apologetic about my having gone up to London last week for a meeting that had been postponed; she leads us into the garden and gets us Pimms. It’s full of happy people in party mode. We see Pandora and chat about Peter Thursby who was President of the RWA when I was hon Sec, who sadly isn’t well, and his wife Mo whom Pandora had dinner with a while ago. Then Sharon of the Fosse Gallery spots us so we chat to her, Mick Rooney and Ken Howard. Harriet introduces us to Ed from the New York office who says he and his team will come to my exhibition at ACA there next year. Interestingly he’s talking to Celia Washington whom I have known for many years. She has founded a charity - an art centre in Khatmandu - so spends quite a lot of time trying to raise moneys for it, to finance their Nepalese artists in residence there. I discuss the National Star College with her as we like to exchange tips on fund raising - Celia gave us a painting for the first Star Art exhibition. We wend our way back home, arriving back at about 11 then go for a walk.

Tuesday 6.7.10

Busy day on e mail front including several between Cheltenham Music Festival and Trev Wilkins, Robert and Theo’s technical support. A lovely one from the Great Roberto in Massachusetts where the temperature is 94 and another from Alan Loch of the Loch Gallery who is on a family holiday in northern British Columbia where I imagine it is much cooler, enjoying fatherhood with his six month old son. Also from Ali at Gloucestershire College.

Wednesday 7.7.10

After a full day in the studio, whilst we are having dinner, Lee rings to see how the work is coming on for the New York show!! I tell her that although I have the London show in between I have also been preparing the big apple! Work till 5 am on the Gloucestershire College painting as Alistair of The Darkroom is coming to take transparencies tomorrow afternoon and the Echo photographer is coming after that.

Thursday 8.7.10

R rings to the house to tell me that Mikel the Echo photographer has arrived with a 6th former who is doing his work experience - he hopes to become a photo journalist. Although Alistair has finished he’s still collecting up his lighting etc. I’m pleased it’s Mikel as he’s really good to work with; he always takes a lot of care and tries out several ideas. By the time he has finished it’s almost time to go up to the National Star College for the photography exhibition and evening of Creative and Performing Arts though just enough to invite Rose (friend and neighbour) who had requested a viewing of the painting before it is collected on Friday morning, to do so.

The photography at the College is as always brilliant and I’m very pleased to see Nick Sergeant, head of Art & Design at the University, here to open the exhibition. These students are quite remarkable and overcome many obstacles to achieve their photographs. I’m particularly moved to be introduced to Jonathan Brough whose father has worked at the College for over 20 years as a speech therapist. Jonathan was training to be a ski instructor in Canada when he contracted meningitis. It wasn’t the meningitis but a lumbar puncture given by the hospital there, that has caused him to be paralysed from the neck down. He operates the shutter on the camera with a muscle in his cheek and the wheelchair from his mouth. He has the most beautiful smile and has written all his own course work and I am hugely grateful that the new technology has allowed him to do so independently. He has just spent two years in hospital before coming to the National Star College and is going on to further his studies at Gloucestershire College which often has students in wheelchairs from the National Star College. We need to make haste as the performance in the marquee begins at 7.30 and we’ve invited several guests including Patricia Broadfoot, vice chancellor of the University who we meet on our way across the lawn and introduce her to Gill Henry. When we are sat down we also spot our team Rector Malc who has come with his wife and lovely daughter Chloe. I’m delighted to see Peta Hoyle is here - she’s always supportive and full of enthusiasm. In the interval I meet Sue and Andy Roberts who have come along for the first time; they were both very supportive when I did the open studio in aid of the new Creative Arts Centre, buying a small painting and when they told her sister about it and she also bought a little work too . It was great to see Kevan Blackadder, editor of the Echo, who asked how the photo shoot had gone this afternoon; he’s a great supporter of the National Star College and is also very generous in coverage of my work and wonderfully involved in all that is happening in the County. The performances by the students are stunning. Paul Tarling has as usual worked magic with them, a wonderful piece in conjunction with Gloucestershire Dance that has a strong Mexican feel - demon skeletons. Another a collaboration with the Everyman that they have taken round schools in Gloucestershire based on gang rivalry is totally compelling and evocative of the age. The finale is a piece conducted by Will Carslake with the Music festival academy and Star students in which he gets the audience to participate. We also have sticks researched and donated by Proctor and Gamble which when wafted give the aroma of the sea. A tale of the sea based on the return of Odysseus to Ithaca and Penelope. It also has a lot of humour as it keeps the audience very busy with making sound effects from the creaking of the ship’s timbers to raindrops and thunder. The students so obviously enjoy working with him. All in all a thrilling evening.

We get home at about 11 pm after eating the egg and sandwich supper en route I start work - my final session on the big Gloucestershire College painting, Glocorama with which I will be reluctant to part when it is collected tomorrow morning.

I work through the night.......

Friday 9.7.10

.......until quarter to ten am, only minutes before the van arrives, and depart the studio for my bed, leaving Richard to wrap the three  parts up and organise the removal. He travels over to the College in the car followed by the big van and films the whole process - a scaffolding tower is already in place and four men led by another Richard who leads this estates team in the hanging. All of which I witness when my Richard shows me the film footage later in the evening.

Saturday 10.7.10

Speak to Nathan who’s back from Spain where he’s been working as art director for a music video.

Sunday 11.7.10

Quick trip into Cheltenham for a rare shopping spree. Early evening R drives my Mum up to London to spend a week with Henrietta, Kev and the boys. They are always so kind and caring towards her and she so looks forward to it. Meanwhile after watering the garden by watering can, I go into the studio which still feels quite barren without the big Gloucestershire College painting which everything else fitted around. So now the everything else gently homes into the space that is left by its departure. Start two new ideas on the same theme

R gets back just as I’m ready to turn in

Monday 12.7.10

There seems to be a frenzy of e mails and phone calls as we try to get ready to travel up to London for Margus’ farewell party at the Embassy. I’m still taking calls on the way. Richard drops me at the gate whist he goes to park the car. I sign the book then make my way upstairs where Margus is waiting to greet each of his guests. When I enter the room  the first person I meet is Peep, Margus’ friend from University days, another historian who is here finding graves of Estonians in London and Leicester. He had very kindly driven us to the airport when we were in Tallinn. Richard arrives a few minutes later and shortly afterwards Robert and Toyah appear; Toyah looking very well, beautifully and bright in black and white. We haven’t seen them since The Humans concert at St Michael’s in February, when they came back here afterwards, so there’s quite a lot of catching up. Interestingly although there is delicious food and wine, Margus Toyah and I notice we are each drinking water and Robert and Richard are on orange juice. I spend time talking to Mikael, Margus’ son and his mother Eva, who tells us a most fascinating story of seeing her late grandmothers spirit. Robert asks if it was at the Brompton Oratory and it was. They tell her it is famous for its ghosts. We spot Wallace who then comes up for a chat. When we leave we walk back to our cars with Robert and Toyah so that I can give her the programme for the evening on Thursday. 

Tuesday 13.7.10

Painting

Wednesday 14.7.10

Painting & shopping

Thursday15.7.10

Up early to go to the National Star College. Today it’s the Awards Ceremony. I have to be there by 9.30 to meet Helen, Kathryn, Sean and the other presenters including the Paralympic  skier Talan Skeels-Piggins. This handsome man is an ex Naval fighter controller with a world ranking f 5th. He tells me he was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2003 Later after he’s presented a group of prizes he gives a short but hugely moving speech in which he explains the empathy he feels with the students being now confined to a wheelchair himself. He’s tall and upright in the chair. He had it adapted. I suggest to him that he would be in a very good position to design One that would be more appropriate to his own requirements. I’m sure he’s a huge inspiration to the students. My photography prizes this year went to Katie Nicholls; Madeleine Berry and Jake Nickels who had all produced some beautiful work. The awards ceremony is always such a moving occasion; to see the progress the students have made during their time at College. Sadly there wasn’t a lot of time to chat to them afterwards as there was a farewell lunch for Helen who has been Principal and CEO for ten years; she started there as a secretary over 30 years ago and has done a brilliant job leading the College from strength to strength. During this time there has been a considerable expansion too. She’ll be a hard act to follow but Kathryn Rudd has all the flair, imagination and strength to do so. I was introduced to David, the new chief executive who seems to be a good choice on the part of the governors to lead it through the next period of new developments and into the future. The luncheon is a lovely occasion; I am seated next to Sir Henry with a very nice woman on my other side, a parent governor whom it is particularly interesting to talk to about her son Alex and his time at the College (he finishes today).

After the event we have to rush back home where I change before going over to Gloucestershire College for the grand unveiling. When we arrive Jane and David are in the reception area. As I enter the atrium I see Martin Kiszko, his friend Shaunagh, Nick Park, Toyah and her friends the fashion designers and artists Helen and Colin David; also Margus. Martin shows me a copy of the Green Poems for a Blue Planet which has just arrived in the country today; it looks really beautiful. It’s a large square format with Nick’s beautiful illustration that runs from the front to the back. Colin comments on what a very pleasing format the square is. Robert and Theo appear on the stage and I make the introduction telling the audience how the seeds were sown at a supper party over a year ago when Robert most generously volunteered to play two venues for ‘my’ charity the National Star College and that Meurig Bowen ( Director of  the Music Festival ) was also a guest at the same supper, (after the performance Robert and Theo had given in St Michaels’s for the fabric fund) a big fan of Robert’s he suggested he could make them Cheltenham Music Festival events. Andy Ginn, ( Director  of the Creative Academies GC ) another huge fan of Robert’s had long hoped that Robert might one day play at Gloucestershire College and Robert had said long ago that he would play at the unveiling if his schedule permitted). So this is for me a dream come true. The audience is soon bewitched by the extraordinary spontaneous soundscapes that Robert and Theo create - quite magical and ethereal, I feel as if transported through time and space to the dawn of time and creation itself. The visual imagery they conjure up is profound. There is a  most brilliant rapport between Robert with his guitar and Theo on saxophone and flute. The applause is rapturous and prolonged. I am truely humbled and overwhelmed by their achievement and thank them from he bottom of my heart for for giving up so much of their own creative time to give us all so much pleasure in aid of the National Star College. I  take the opportunity to mention Dr Margus Laidre the Estonian Ambassador and on the cultural exchanges he has organised, including tours of Estonia of Robert playing churches and Toyah with The Humans and two exhibitions of my work, the first with Yuri Arak bidding him a public farewell. I also mention Martin and Nick and their Green Poems.... before introducing another extraordinary man Dr Greg Smith, Principal of Gloucestershire College, who has transformed the College and brought to fruition this new campus which is transforming so many young lives. Greg tells us a bit about the College before inviting everyone to have a glass of wine for the unveiling of THE PAINTING which is hidden behind a black curtain. Toyah and I pull the cord and the curtain floats down to the ground. Toyah then gives an eloquent and generous speech on the painting and my work. She looks beautiful and very relaxed and has a lovely smile. I manage to introduce Andrew Fox head of Gloucester City Museums and Heritage  to Martin and Nick who suggests Martin ought to give a poetry reading at the Folk Museum; he’s also spoken further to Margus about a joint exhibition of Yuri Arak and myself in 2012.

Friday 16.7.10

Up VERY early to go to Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum for the Bishop’s Breakfast Group who I had invited there. I’m the first to arrive and am greeted by Jane Lillystone (manager) who shows me today’s Echo which has given such generous coverage to the big painting. It’s on the front page with a photograph of me and also the centre to pages are filled by the painting and a further two photographs, one of the College’s technician Richard, fixing it to the wall and one of me sat in front of it with my paint trolly. They also made a quiz for readers to spot the different courses the College offers seen within the painting so on a further page there is another reproduction with the answers. The Gloucester Citizen has also done a similar spread. Ian Mean (the editor in chief)  had shown Peter White and I a proof of this at the unveiling last night. The Museum are generously giving us breakfast in the Meeting Room; I had been asked to do a presentation on the arts in Gloucestershire but had been rather pleased (due to how busy I am) that Peter Bungard, chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council is giving a presentation on the effects of the recent change of government and budget with the big cuts are having on public spending and how it will affect the people of Gloucestershire. It’s a wonderfully thorough survey and Peter explains how some of the cuts actually prove to be much bigger than they sound. Although he remains his usual optimistic self it is going to be exceedingly difficult for them. I’m sitting next to Andrew North (chief executive of Cheltenham Council) who is more optimistic and says he thinks Cheltenham is in a better situation and says they have been preparing. Patricia tells us about the situation in the Universities and that one of the difficulties is that student loans incur very little interest. Greg, at the Bishop’s invitation, tells us how it will affect the four colleges of higher education in the County and that there may be some merging, perhaps even with the University. It is being hoped that small, medium and new start up business enterprises will bring in much needed moneys especially from exports to the County and Country.

The day seems to be taken up with a lot of exchanging of e mails and thank yous.

In the evening it’s off to Cheltenham for the Travis and Fripp performance at All Saints. On the way in we meet Peter and Beverley. I’d been asked to do the introduction again; tonight’s performance also includes the Cheltenham Music Festival debut for Voice a young female a capella trio whose voices are exquisite; there’s an evident joy in their singing and likewise the rapport between them. I felt as if I’d heard the voices of angels and followed by Robert and Theo’s performance the music of the gods. It was once again brilliant and intuitive totally moving,  it made me tremble as these evocative and timeless soundscapes echoed through the ancient pillars and arches into it’s very fabric and the souls of those who sat within.

Saturday 17.7.10

I’m working in the studio when I get a phone call from Niki Whitfield to see if I would approve the bids they have had on the painted quartet. I always bear in mind particularly with charity auctions,  that people are always hopeful of a bargain which is why I had put low guide prices on my instruments. She did still another receive a bid on the cello after 6 (the deadline ) but her colleagues had already accepted a bid from a couple of my dearest collectors who have also bought the viola; so I know they will be going to a very good home where they will be much loved and surrounded by many of my other works. And the under bidder also a dear friend did win the angel violin. I’m particularly thrilled by my ‘Peter Grimes’ seascape violin as it has gone for as much as the cello and exceeded by quite a long way my low guide price I’m touched to learn later that this too  has gone to Sue and Andy two of my lovely local friends and collectors. Also delighted that Richard’s cello has found a good home and Ruth’s witty violin too. The moneys will be going 60% towards the new creative arts centre National Star College and 40% to the Cheltenham Music Festival’s educational outreach programme of which the National Star College is also a beneficiary. So I’m feeling very happy particularly as I hadn’t had any time to promote this although of course it was when Richard put a little mention on the website that dear Karl and Sharon spotted it.

R drives up to London after supper so that he and Kev can spend all of tomorrow putting up the tree house we have bought for the boys - and to collect my Mum who has spent the week with them.

Sunday 18.7.10

Busy painting for the London and New York shows. I’ve got two or three new ideas underway. R arrives back about eleven.

Monday 19.7.10

Trying to make progress before tomorrow’s jaunt.

Tuesday 20.7.10

Set off quarter to one for London. The journey goes well but as we move into central London the traffic is very slow moving and I wonder if it’s the effect of all the cars of the other guests at the Garden Party parking in the reserved places either side of the Mall. But our patience has paid off, we are directed to a spot almost opposite to the Palace gates. Out of the next car comes a Mayor whose driver is placing the mayoral chain around his neck. We make our way through the gates over the forecourt, through the Palace with the many other visitors and are astounded on emerging out onto the terrace to see the throngs of people on the lawn and the long tea tents at either side. It’s very picturesque with ladies in hats and fascinators and pretty dresses; every age; shape; colour and size; clergy in their cassocks, one of whom is processing towards me - it’s Bishop Michael who is invited every year although doesn’t always come but this year he’s made a special effort so that he can bring Alison his wife and two of their daughters, one of whom has just become a doctor. He introduces us to the Dean of Westminster, Dr John Hall whom he had been at University with, studying theology. I ask them at what age they decided they wanted to enter the church - Bishop Michael was only eight and the Dean of Westminster seventeen. They discuss ordinands and he says they are getting more young ones recently which is good as it had been a policy for some time to send people away until they had gained experience of life through other careers. The Dean of Westminster in his beautiful red cassock shows us the medal he wears round his neck pendant like. It is a couple of hundred years old and has the insignia of the Order of the Bath of which he is the Dean and a Knight. We are then joined by Nick Bury, Dean of Gloucester Cathedral, and his guest.

After this we wander into the crowd lining the Queen’s route to the Royal tea tent. I’m fascinated to listen to a conversation between one of the Gentlemen at Arms dressed in morning suits and black top hats. One is chatting to two Scout leaders in a very nice way; they have travelled up from the North of England but he has come even further than them. he tells them that their job at garden parties is to clear a path for the Queen but that the Yeomen who appear in their beautiful Tudor red black and gold uniforms are really in charge! One stands almost in front of me, the sword hilt just touching my arm and opposite him another Yeoman with a perfectly trimmed pointed silver beard and moustache. they do look very beautiful and historic. The Queen soon appears and stops to chat to a couple who have been placed in the centre of her path. I’m fascinated to see that the hat she’s wearing is very similar to the one I’ve painted her in on GloCorama although paler and covered in silk, a similar arrangement of feathers in turquoise blue and scrolled stiffened ribbon. The dress too, three quarter length sleeved with long pale blue gloves, perhaps silk - very pale blue background with a predominantly blue floral design accompanied by a black patent bag and shoes with lowish heeled and a white umbrella which I presume gives her a little support when walking, she is 84. She looks very pretty, nicely made up with a touch of lipstick and blusher. Other Royals including the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Duke of Gloucester process along another route through the crowds.

After this we make our way to the tea tent. Tea is served from the numerous urns in largish cups that are placed on an oblong white china plate which is shaped to take this plus sandwiches or cake. The sandwiches seem to be ham and what Richard thinks is piccalilli, crusts cut off and oblong in shape. Richard eats these while I have a piece of fruit cake with nuts on the top; there are also tubs of Loseley ice cream being brought round which people enjoy in the glorious sunshine. It is wonderfully warm. Followed by a  promenade around the lake. The atmosphere is  very relaxed with people sitting not only in chairs but also on the grass, ladies removing their high heeled shoes and walking barefoot. We pass a very interesting looking man probably of west Indian origin who Richard says is a jazz musician, black and white golfing shoes and longish greying curly hair. We’re interested to spot the enormous Waterloo vase captured by Wellington from Napoleon in 1815; I wonder if it had been floated back behind a ship as it stands magnificently silhouetted against garden and skyline. It’s interesting to observe the symmetry of the architecture at the back of the Palace and try and guess when and which parts were added. We are looking across the lawn admiring it when we recognise one of the two people sitting  on the grass in the middle of it. It’s Mark Coote, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate from Cheltenham who introduces us to Baroness Fookes whose guest he is. She had first met Mark when he was seventeen years old at the house of Charles Irvine, the then MP for Cheltenham, whom she speaks of very fondly. She was once the MP for Portsmouth Drake and was also deputy speaker in the Commons and now in the Lords. He comments on the big coverage the Echo gave me on Friday. He’s such a nice man and makes a joke that he fought Cheltenham in the Election but Cheltenham fought back. We all join the throng for the mass exodus through the Palace, Baroness Fookes to walk back to the House of Lords and Mark to a meeting at the Garrick Club.

Wednesday 21.7.10

E mail form Constance, a dealer and appraiser in New York, asking if I could give her further details on a painting from the 90s which I think was probably sold by the New York dealer Barry Friedman or Theo Waddington. It was interesting as she only had a photograph of the bottom part of the painting but Richard managed to recognise and locate it on Encyclia, the catalogue raisonee he is compiling of my complete works. It’s good to have a full day back in the studio as time has been rather fragmented over the last week. Working on a couple of new pieces.

Thursday 22.7.10

Parcel arrives with chocolate from Margus - a parting gift. Also a letter from Niki Whitfield saying thank you for contributing to the Painted Quartets auction which raised £15,000 of which over £9,000 was from Richard’s, Ruth’s and mine.

Richard’s fixed up Skype (as invented in Estonia) so that we are able to speak to Nathan and also see him on location in Cairo.

I’m surprised when my Mum comes through the door of my studio as I’d momentarily forgotten that I had promised her a bottle of wine and a tin of biscuits to take to the Club as an early celebration of her 88th birthday at the weekend. I walk down through the village via the post box to the Club with her and am grateful for how well she walks and how well she is. Today she’s playing  indoor bowls. I count my blessings.

E mail from the Hay Hill gallery to see if I have a title for the exhibition for which they are in the process of writing the press release.

Back in the studio painting when I hear on the news that Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP who had an invitation to today’s Royal Garden Party ( as he is a member of the European Parliament ) has been told he will be refused entry for using the invitation for his own political ends on a live broadcast that morning. Apart from standing for racist and homophobic policies he comments that the garden parties are only for the middle and upper classes. Quite the contrary I had commented to Richard on Tuesday how nice it was that the guests seemed like ordinary real people as opposed to the glamorous glitterati. I remember the couple who were  Scout leaders who were quite young and spoke with a lovely Northern accent in a long chatty conversation with one of the Gentlemen at Arms. As mentioned on Tuesday there were people of every colour, shape, size and age.

Friday 23.7.10

Very nice e mail from Margus thanking us for the wood engraving and sending us a link to the site on a famous Estonian artist Eduard Wiiralt, the only artist in Estonia to have a cafe named after him.

Have been enjoying the fruits of the garden each day, plucking crimson desert gooseberries from the bushes, blackcurrents and strawberries (although most of the raspberries seems to have disappeared) black berries and mmmmmmmulberries from the tree.

Most of the day and evening spent as usual in the studio.

Saturday 24.7.10

It’s my Mum’s 88th birthday so go into Cheltenham to buy her a beautiful huge pink hydranga, some presents for the little boys who will be here next weekend. Rush back to prepare the birthday meal. My Mum and sister arrive shortly after. Gill has driven down from Bedford. It’s good to see her and we are able to catch up on news. her job has been very high powered working for the Department of Children, Schools and Families which entailed huge responsibility. She and her colleagues were probably the most successful region in selling their services to other regions. She’s looking very well and is soon going on a ‘competent crew’ course for sailing. My Mum, who perhaps gets a little tireder now has a little rest mid evening but does remarkably well.

Spend the early hours writing.

Richard points out that my private view at the Hay Hill Gallery is Tuesday 14th September, not the 16th as I have been telling everyone.

Sunday 25.7.10

Sad to hear that Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, the genius of snooker, has died of throat cancer. I was chatted-up by him many years ago whilst he was at the top of his game; I went for a drink with him, as an artist it was fascinating to meet this young man on a roll of talent and determination. A coterie of admirers hung onto his every Irish word and it seemed to me that the fame was hard for him to handle. Known for his fiery temperament and outbursts, he stood in contrast to the other players of the gentleman's game, people like the up-and-coming Steve Davis who was younger, non drinking and highly disciplined. He too knew my parents as my father was an ardent snooker player and coached the then Women's British Champion. My children still have fond memories of Steve sleeping in their grandparent’s front room ( they were putting him up overnight, whilst we were staying )  and him going out to the ice cream van to buy them ice creams in a pair of my father’s slippers!

Work into the early hours in the studio (the nocturnal habit was probably inherited from my father).

Monday 26.7.10

Working on pieces for the London show and a commission.

Tuesday 27.7.10

ditto

Wednesday 28.7.10

ditto

Thursday 29.7.10

ditto

Friday 30.7.10

Late afternoon the doorbell rings; it’s Heather (Carel Weight’s niece) and her husband Adrian. She’s very apologetic for calling when they haven’t given me notice; they’ve been to Lechlade to visit a newly discovered uncle of Adrian’s. Its also a jaunt as part of their ruby wedding anniversary celebrations this weekend. We drink tea and eat some of Richard’s freshly baked rock buns.  Adrian wonders if they can look at the work for my forthcoming London show in the studio ? which they are doing when Heather spots a small painting hanging on a pillar, looks at Adrian and asks if it’s for sale. He says no! and leaves a bit of gap before adding “because it’s yours.” At which she flings her arms round me in tearful joy, then around Adrian and then Richard. This was Adrian’s secret plan; the little painting echoes their time in Osgodby, Lincolnshire, where they kept sheep, chickens and ducks whilst their three daughters were growing up. Its always moving to feel that something one has created causes joy.

Saturday 31.7.10

Henrietta, Kev and the boys arrive at lunchtime to stay for two or three days on their way down to Devon. After lunch we take Isaac and Samuel into the Museum to see their ‘walking with dinosaurs’ exhibition and then up through the galleries looking at Richard’s two panoramic views of Cheltenham on the way. They spot the dinosaurs that are hidden in various places through out the galleries and particularly enjoy the children's play and stay area where Isaac finds a puzzle of my paintings which we proceed to almost complete as there are two or three pieces missing now. We proceed to Mothercare to buy swimming trunks and a Buzz Light-year cutlery set for Samuel to match the one that R had got for Isaac. They both choose the same toy, animal rescue teams which include a chimp and a toucan. Then to Pittville Park to see the peacocks and their new infant, play in the playground and feed the ducks.