March 2010 Monday 1.3.10 Four invitations including one to dinner and a trip round the Metropolitan in New York from Loughran, who has also sent me a very beautiful travelling sketchbook. Another to the Music Festival launch which has part of my painted ‘cello on the front and part of Lincoln Seligman’s on the back - plus a little mention that part of the collection of painted string instruments including Richard’s and Ruth’s are at the Bate Collection Oxford and the others have been on show at a gallery in St Ives and travelling to the Royal West of England Academy where they will be exhibited from 28 March to 9 May. The third is from Cleeve School to an evening at Launchpad the college of further education set up by Cleeve School, Tewkesbury School, Chipping Camden School and Gloucestershire College. And invitation to Cheltenham Racecourse on Gold Cup Day from Edward where it’s always exciting to be part of the throng. Tuesday 2.3.10 R drives up to London to get paints and materials from Cornelissen. In he evening he calls in to see H,K and the boys. Wednesday 3.3.10 Call from Alan of the Toronto Gallery in the evening, to say he’d very much like to do a show of my work using pieces that they already have and possibly a couple of new things. He just has a good feeling about the idea. This is the first time we’ve actually spoken although we have often exchanged e mails in which he’s always been very enthusiastic about my work. It’s even nicer talking to him in reality. Like Theo Waddington who with his brother Leslie are the sons of Victor who was a renounced who art dealer and Geoffrey in New York the grandson of the founder of ACA, Alan and his brother (who runs the Calgary branch of the Gallery) are also sons of the gallery’s founder who runs the original Loch Gallery in Winnipeg. It always seems a good way to learn the business by growing up in it. Thursday 4.3.10 The light is good again today in both studios and I’m surprised that it is still so when we leave to drive over to Gloucester for Gloucestershire College’s AGM. Remarkably in these difficult times the College has managed to navigate the troubled waters successfully having had another brilliant year it looks forward optimistically to a bright future even though it was with sadness that they had for the first time to decline a few applicants as they were well over subscribed according to new government restraints. Which is a great shame as this College has so much to offer those who do not always have the required academic qualifications from school. Afterwards we chat to Andy Ginn and Greg about the big painting I am working on for them, its installation and situ; also Robert Fripp and Theo Travis’ performance for Cheltenham International Music Festival in July for the benefit of the National Star College. Friday 5.3.10s During the morning a lot of e correspondence from dear Margus who has booked us air tickets to and from Tallinn and hotel for the opening of the exhibition there that he has organised for me. Busily working in the sun filled studio across the Lane when I receive a phone call from the Hay Hill Gallery; re my forthcoming show there in September. Saturday 6.3.10 After a day in the studio Edward comes to collect us, picking up Alyson on the way to drive to Kingswood near Wotton under Edge for dinner with Patricia and David. Henry and Caroline are already there standing in front of a fire in the beautiful drawing room where we sip champagne and chatter until David calls us into dinner in the enchanting Chinese wallpapered dining room. He’s also prepared and cooked the meal which starts with a scallop salad beautifully presented as is the main course of rare lamb cutlets and red current jelly. For desert he has prepared a beautiful fresh fruit salad within two pineapple halves accompanied by a giant merangue. I’m sat between Sir Henry and Lady Caroline; he tells me many wonderful stories both of his period as Lord Lieutenant and before. I was especially interested to know he had been a governor of the art school and knew dear Reggie Dent who was principal whilst I was there. he also told me what a witty and a warm person the Queen is, witty enough to go onto he stage. The most touching recollection that made smile was that when he was at prep school before Eton he had asked his mother if he could have a subscription to the Gloucestershire Echo as his birthday present which to me signifies that even as a child the man known as Mr Gloucestershire Master Gloucestershire. I love the image of the boy Henry sitting in his dormitory perusing the pages to keep his finger on the pulse. Not surprising then that he was a member of Gloucestershire County Council by the age of 24 and as he so affectionately says, he’s been interfering in the life of Gloucestershire ever since. Sunday 7.3.10 Painting! Monday 8.3.10 Painting! Tuesday 9.3.10 Painting! Wednesday 10.3.10 I ask R if he will go round to the house that we rent out to check on the tenants as the rent has not been paid. They have as I suspected disappeared so we need to put an ad in the Gloucestershire Echo’s “Property to Let”. Thursday 11.3.10 R drives over to Gloucester to collect the “Gloucestershire Nativity” from Bishop Michael’s office; then on to the Taylor's who are loaning “The Witness” Friday 12.3.10 Working on the small works for Estonia. Saturday 13.3.10 R journeys to Oxfordshire to borrow three paintings from Wallace’s collection. Sunday 14.3.10 R gets lost on the way to Simon and Caroline’s to borrow two pieces for the Estonian exhibition whilst I take distress call in my studio to get their number. The situation has become somewhat complicated as I got Richard to swap phones as it was his number he gave when we advertised the property we let, so that I wouldn’t be interrupted!! Monday 15.3.10 R collects the last two paintings that we are borrowing for the Estonian exhibition from lovely Rita. Tuesday 16.3.10 Receive an e mail from Melina who used to work at the Portal Gallery, with the sad news that the restauranteur Alvin Simon who bought my large painting “Croquet” in the latter half of the 80s has died. She says how he used to wax lyrical about my work and worlds. We have fond memories of having champagne and salted onions in West Kensington and the evening they came to take us out to supper at the Greenaway near Cheltenham. But perhaps best of all meeting up in New York during my ‘89 exhibition there when he took us to Greenwich Village with Melina to visit some very cool stained glass Artists; their wonderful apartment full of atmosphere and beautiful glass work. He then took us to Chinatown for the most amazing Chinese meal where Alvin broke the duck into pieces before serving it to us in pancakes. I seem to remember an exquisite little chest of drawers out of which we took Spring Rolls. Of course he was an expert having founded two legendary restaurants in LA, Cafe Jacoulet and Cinnabar, where the food was a combination of French and japanese.. Looking at the photograph above the obituary in the LA Times, Alvin was still as good looking and as cool as ever. R visits the Great Roberto and Toyah as they also are generously loaning two large works for the Estonian exhibition whilst I’m busily working in the studio. Up till almost 4 am finishing three little paintings. Wednesday 17.3.10 At 2 o’clock exactly the driver and vehicle from the Estonian Embassy arrive. A charming young man who packs the paintings in with great care and precision. I’m still working on the three small pieces when Richard comes to tell me he’s ready to leave (but is being delayed by tea and sandwiches). R hurriedly wraps these last three small works whilst I wash my hands and go down to meet the young man. Thursday 18.3.10 In the evening phone Rick Rumrell, good friend and collector, who has a law practice in St Augustine. He’s trying to track a dealer who showed my work in Florida but seems to have disappeared. I’m anxious to track her as she still has some of my work, which I desperately need back with so many commitments this year and next. Friday 19.3.10 The weather has been beautiful all week for the Cheltenham Festival and it’s still sunny this morning as we arrive at the Racecourse. There’s a great sense of excitement amongst the crowds (65,000 people in all). We are guests of Edward Gillespie and are delighted to be on the same table as his lovely daughter Siobohn who has travelled down on the coach from London with her charming beau and friends. We are sitting with the ladies of the Pitman family - Tara, Jennie’s granddaughter, is getting married at the end of May so I tell them about Charles Hudson’s Real Flower Petal Confetti Company. I listen to an interesting conversation between Tara, her Mum and Henry Birtles the racing poet and negotiator of television rights for sporting events. They were telling him how mother and daughter actually pre train horses, often breeding and nurturing from birth. A fascinating family Tara’s mother and aunt grew up on a farm learning to understand the way animals spoke - how to respect and communicate with them. There’s a lovely atmosphere of excitement and bonhomie at the table all comparing bets and cheering on the others but the intense anticipation outside amongst the vast crowds is electric. Undeterred by the rain they will the runners and riders on with their huge combined enthusiasm. We are particularly excited as my Mum has asked me to put £10 to win on Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup! like magic he puts on a spurt at the last fence, at which Kauto Star the favourite falls (but luckily both he and his rider Ruby Walsh are not hurt) to win. He’s closely followed by Denman the other favourite. I’d backed Tricky Trickster (who came in 9th) whilst Richard had placed his bet on Calgary Bay which came in 6th (though he had been sorely tempted by Mr Pointment which was last!). Most of the young people working there manning the door or serving the food etc. are students who were all very attentive and friendly. One of the young women (from Jersey) serving our table is a creative writing student at the University who was short listed for the young Man Booker and has also had a play performed in Washington and been commissioned to write another. The Tote lady comes from Doncaster and is staying in B&B and explains how it’s quite difficult it is to find this for the £50 allowed per day as the agent who finds the accommodation adds a percentage. Another ‘waitress’ we chat to thinks she is about to be made redundant by the Chelsea Building Society; bright faced and smiling she remains optimistic though Richard reminds me later that the CEO of the Chelsea has just left with a huge golden good-bye. We are always amazed that this event (the Cheltenham Festival) runs so beautifully; today there are 65,000 people here enjoying the occasion on the course. Everything runs so smoothly, Edward and his team’s organisational skills must be phenomenal yet he still finds time to go round the course saying hello to everyone and asking if everything is OK. We see him twice, once when he comes into the marquee to greet us all personally and then again when we make our early exit (as we are meeting my Mum). Am amazed on our return to receive an e mail from Rick. His colleague Mary has had confirmation from a Private Investigator in Palm Beach that the dealer is still living there and the telephone number is still the one I’ve been leaving endless messages on the answering machine with. She was seen this morning by a neighbour who the PI has asked to ask her to make contact. Saturday 20.3.10 Another bright and mild day; good light in the studios. Sunday 21.3.10 It’s a beautiful sunny day again so spend an hour or two planting pots for the gardens with daffodils, violas and primroses. mainly in the garden of number 80. I think we are jinxed with number 80 as the young couple, baby and dog who had signed to take it on have phoned to say she has been made redundant! Monday 22.3.10 Good working day in studio. Tuesday 23.3.10 ditto. Plus work on my introduction for tomorrow evening. Wednesday 24.3.10 Into Cheltenham to the Bacon Theatre to introduce the 11th de Ferriers lecture. on my way in two very nice women introduce themselves to me - they are Lindsey and Elizabeth who run the Cotswold Auction Company. They had just received my card thanking them for generously sponsoring the flyers and posters for the lecture. Charming young women who are obviously very enthusiastic about the event. Michael Storm comes to get me to introduce me to Richard Cork the award winning art critic, author and broadcaster, who is warm, friendly and has a very engaging smile. He tells me he has just been looking at one of my paintings. I’m very surprised until l remember that Michael and Jacqueline have one . The lecture is very well attended and starts a little late due to the numbers and problems with parking. I’m also a little sad as tonight I have to announce that Sir Michael Angus DL who I had the honour of taking over from just over eighteen months ago, sadly died on the 13th March at the age of 79. A man who once smilingly described himself as a toothpaste salesman. He rose to become one of the most influential industrialists of our time becoming amongst many other positions, chairman of Unilever, chairman of Boots, chairman of Whitbread, chairman of the CBI. Richard Cork’s lecture is brilliant, so illuminating yet delivered in such a relaxed way that you really feel that he is talking to you personally. Its a preview of his forthcoming book “Mercy, Madness, Pestilence and Death” the healing powers of art from the medieval to now. I was particularly interested that he included the extraordinary paintings at the beautiful historic Hospital at Beune which we had visited some years ago whilst in France. Richard has been Art critic on the Evening Standard, chief art critic of The Times and now writes on art for the Financial Times and many international art magazines, been Slade professor at Cambridge, curated exhibitions at the Tate, the Barbican, the Hayward, the Serpentine and most recently Wild Thing at the Royal Academy, an exhibition of the work of the sculptors Eric Gill, Henri Gaudier-Brezka and Jacob Epstein on which he wrote the definitive book. Thursday 25.3.10 R goes to London Friday 26.3.10 Statement from the Bridgeman Art Library; interesting to see that amongst the reproductions in Europe and the USA, The Coffee Pot Seller; After the Eleventh; The Bird Garden and The Thorn (or St Jerome and the Lion). R goes to London Saturday 27.3.10 Busy in studio. Sunday 28.3.10 Busy in studio. Monday 29.3.10 Busy in studio. Tuesday 30.3.10 R goes to London Wednesday 31.3.10 We’re off by 11.45 to Heathrow airport to catch our Scandinavian Airways flight to Copenhagen. I use part of check-in time sitting on a high stool at a table in one of the airport coffee shops, doing a little more to a small painting for Margus whilst Richard has afternoon tea and orders two glasses of water, one for me to wash my paintbrush in! It feels as if the whole world is passing by, the array of different nationalities and character types is fascinating. The flight to Copenhagen takes two and a quarter hours - our fleeting glimpse of Copenhagen is followed by a transfer to Estonian Airways for the final lap of our journey to Tallinn on which I manage to do another twenty minutes on the little painting. We touch down at about 10 past 11 and after we’d collected out bags which had been magically transferred from one plane to the other, we are surprised and delighted to see a smiling Margus waiting as we enter the arrivals lounge. He’s with Barbara from the gallery and her lawyer boyfriend who kindly drive us to the Schloessle Hotel which is in the Old Town. It felt quite familiar as we used to walk past it on our way to the Draakon Gallery when we were here in 2006. Unlike most hotels we’ve stayed in it is wonderfully quiet with no sound of traffic. I do a little more painting before turning in (we are two hours ahead of British summer time here).

March 2010

Monday 1.3.10

Four invitations including one to dinner and a trip round the Metropolitan in New York from Loughran, who has also sent me a very beautiful travelling sketchbook. Another to the Music Festival launch which has part of my painted ‘cello on the front and part of Lincoln Seligman’s on the back - plus a little mention that part of the collection of painted string instruments including Richard’s and Ruth’s are at the Bate Collection Oxford and the others have been on show at a gallery in St Ives and travelling to the Royal West of England Academy where they will be exhibited from 28 March to 9 May. The third is from Cleeve School to an evening at Launchpad the college of further education set up by Cleeve School, Tewkesbury School, Chipping Camden School and Gloucestershire College. And invitation to Cheltenham Racecourse on Gold Cup Day from Edward where it’s always exciting to be part of the throng.

Tuesday 2.3.10

R drives up to London to get paints and materials from Cornelissen. In he evening he calls in to see H,K and the boys.

Wednesday 3.3.10

Call from Alan of the Toronto Gallery in the evening, to say he’d very much like to do a show of my work using pieces that they already have and possibly a couple of new things. He just has a good feeling about the idea. This is the first time we’ve actually spoken although we have often exchanged e mails in which he’s always been very enthusiastic about my work. It’s even nicer talking to him in reality. Like Theo Waddington who with his brother Leslie are the sons of Victor who was a renounced who art dealer and Geoffrey in New York the grandson of the founder of ACA, Alan and his brother (who runs the Calgary branch of the Gallery) are also sons of the gallery’s founder who runs the original Loch Gallery in Winnipeg. It always seems a good way to learn the business by growing up in it.

Thursday 4.3.10

The light is good again today in both studios and I’m surprised that it is still so when we leave to drive over to Gloucester for Gloucestershire College’s AGM. Remarkably in these difficult times the College has managed to navigate the troubled waters successfully having had another brilliant year it looks forward optimistically to a bright future even though it was with sadness that they had for the first time to decline a few applicants as they were well over subscribed according to new government restraints. Which is a great shame as this College has so much to offer those who do not always have the required academic qualifications from school. Afterwards we chat to Andy Ginn and Greg about the big painting I am working on for them, its installation and situ; also Robert Fripp and Theo Travis’ performance for Cheltenham International Music Festival in July for the benefit of the National Star College.

Friday 5.3.10s

During the morning a lot of e correspondence from dear Margus who has booked us air tickets to and from Tallinn and hotel for the opening of the exhibition there that he has organised for me.

Busily working in the sun filled studio across the Lane when I receive a phone call from the Hay Hill Gallery; re my forthcoming show there in September.

Saturday 6.3.10

After a day in the studio Edward comes to collect us, picking up Alyson on the way to drive to Kingswood near Wotton under Edge for dinner with Patricia and David. Henry and Caroline are already there standing in front of a fire in the beautiful drawing room where we sip champagne and chatter until David calls us into dinner in the enchanting Chinese wallpapered dining room. He’s also prepared and cooked the meal which starts with a scallop salad beautifully presented as is the main course of rare lamb cutlets and red current jelly. For desert he has prepared a beautiful fresh fruit salad within two pineapple halves accompanied by a giant merangue. I’m sat between Sir Henry and Lady Caroline; he tells me many wonderful stories both of his period as Lord Lieutenant and before. I was especially interested to know he had been a governor of the art school and knew dear Reggie Dent who was principal whilst I was there. he also told me what a witty and a warm person the Queen is, witty enough to go onto he stage. The most touching recollection that made smile was that when he was at prep school before Eton he had asked his mother if he could have a subscription to the Gloucestershire Echo as his birthday present which to me signifies that even as a child the man known as Mr Gloucestershire Master Gloucestershire. I love the image of the boy Henry sitting in his dormitory perusing the pages to keep his finger on the pulse. Not surprising then that he was a member of Gloucestershire County Council by the age of 24 and as he so affectionately says, he’s been interfering in the life of Gloucestershire ever since.

Sunday 7.3.10

Painting!

Monday 8.3.10

Painting!

Tuesday 9.3.10

Painting!

Wednesday 10.3.10

I ask R if he will go round to the house that we rent out to check on the tenants as the rent has not been paid. They have as I suspected disappeared so we need to put an ad in the Gloucestershire Echo’s “Property to Let”.

Thursday 11.3.10

R drives over to Gloucester to collect the “Gloucestershire Nativity” from Bishop Michael’s office; then on to the Taylor's who are loaning “The Witness”

Friday 12.3.10

Working on the small works for Estonia.

Saturday 13.3.10

R journeys to Oxfordshire to borrow three paintings from Wallace’s collection.

Sunday 14.3.10

R gets lost on the way to Simon and Caroline’s to borrow two pieces for the Estonian exhibition whilst I take distress call in my studio to get their number. The situation has become somewhat complicated as I got Richard to swap phones as it was his number he gave when we advertised the property we let, so that I wouldn’t be interrupted!!

Monday 15.3.10

R collects the last two paintings that we are borrowing for the Estonian exhibition from lovely Rita.

Tuesday 16.3.10

Receive an e mail from Melina who used to work at the Portal Gallery, with the sad news that the restauranteur Alvin Simon who bought my large painting “Croquet” in the latter half of the 80s has died. She says how he used to wax lyrical about my work and worlds. We have fond memories of having champagne and salted onions in West Kensington and the evening they came to take us out to supper at the Greenaway near Cheltenham. But perhaps best of all meeting up in New York during my ‘89 exhibition there when he took us to Greenwich Village with Melina to visit some very cool stained glass Artists; their wonderful apartment full of atmosphere and beautiful glass work. He then took us to Chinatown for the most amazing Chinese meal where Alvin broke the duck into pieces before serving it to us in pancakes. I seem to remember an exquisite little chest of drawers out of which we took Spring Rolls. Of course he was an expert having founded two legendary restaurants in LA, Cafe Jacoulet and Cinnabar, where the food was a combination of French and japanese.. Looking at the photograph above the obituary in the LA Times, Alvin was still as good looking and as cool as ever.

R visits the Great Roberto and Toyah as they also are generously loaning two large works for the Estonian exhibition whilst I’m busily working in the studio. Up till almost 4 am finishing three little paintings.

Wednesday 17.3.10

At 2 o’clock exactly the driver and vehicle from the Estonian Embassy arrive. A charming young man who packs the paintings in with great care and precision. I’m still working on the three small pieces when Richard comes to tell me he’s ready to leave (but is being delayed by tea and sandwiches). R hurriedly wraps these last three small works whilst I wash my hands and go down to meet the young man.

Thursday 18.3.10

In the evening phone Rick Rumrell, good friend and collector, who has a law practice in St Augustine. He’s trying to track a dealer who showed my work in Florida but seems to have disappeared. I’m anxious to track her as she still has some of my work, which I desperately need back with so many commitments this year and next.

Friday 19.3.10

The weather has been beautiful all week for the Cheltenham Festival and it’s still sunny this morning as we arrive at the Racecourse. There’s a great sense of excitement amongst the crowds (65,000 people in all). We are guests of Edward Gillespie and are delighted to be on the same table as his lovely daughter Siobohn who has travelled down on the coach from London with her charming beau and friends. We are sitting with the ladies of the Pitman family - Tara, Jennie’s granddaughter, is getting married at the end of May so I tell them about Charles Hudson’s Real Flower Petal Confetti Company. I listen to an interesting conversation between Tara, her Mum and Henry Birtles the racing poet and negotiator of television rights for sporting events. They were telling him how mother and daughter actually pre train horses, often breeding and nurturing from birth. A fascinating family Tara’s mother and aunt grew up on a farm learning to understand the way animals spoke - how to respect and communicate with them. There’s a lovely atmosphere of excitement and bonhomie at the table all comparing bets and cheering on the others but the intense anticipation outside amongst the vast crowds is electric. Undeterred by the rain they will the runners and riders on with their huge combined enthusiasm. We are particularly excited as my Mum has asked me to put £10 to win on Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup! like magic he puts on a spurt at the last fence, at which Kauto Star the favourite falls (but luckily both he and his rider Ruby Walsh are not hurt) to win. He’s closely followed by Denman the other favourite. I’d backed Tricky Trickster (who came in 9th) whilst Richard had placed his bet on Calgary Bay which came in 6th (though he had been sorely tempted by Mr Pointment which was last!). Most of the young people working there manning the door or serving the food etc. are students who were all very attentive and friendly. One of the young women (from Jersey) serving our table is a creative writing student at the University who was short listed for the young Man Booker and has also had a play performed in Washington and been commissioned to write another. The Tote lady comes from Doncaster and is staying in B&B and explains how it’s quite difficult it is to find this for the £50 allowed per day as the agent who finds the accommodation adds a percentage. Another ‘waitress’ we chat to thinks she is about to be made redundant by the Chelsea Building Society; bright faced and smiling she remains optimistic though Richard reminds me later that the CEO of the Chelsea has just left with a huge golden good-bye.

We are always amazed that this event (the Cheltenham Festival) runs so beautifully; today there are 65,000 people here enjoying the occasion on the course. Everything runs so smoothly, Edward and his team’s organisational skills must be phenomenal yet he still finds time to go round the course saying hello to everyone and asking if everything is OK. We see him twice, once when he comes into the marquee to greet us all personally and then again when we make our early exit (as we are meeting my Mum).

Am amazed on our return to receive an e mail from Rick. His colleague Mary has had confirmation from a Private Investigator in Palm Beach that the dealer is still living there and the telephone number is still the one I’ve been leaving endless messages on the answering machine with. She was seen this morning by a neighbour who the PI has asked to ask her to make contact.

Saturday 20.3.10

Another bright and mild day; good light in the studios.

Sunday 21.3.10

It’s a beautiful sunny day again so spend an hour or two planting pots for the gardens with daffodils, violas and primroses. mainly in the garden of number 80.

I think we are jinxed with number 80 as the young couple, baby and dog who had signed to take it on have phoned to say she has been made redundant!

Monday 22.3.10

Good working day in studio.

Tuesday 23.3.10

ditto. Plus work on my introduction for tomorrow evening.

Wednesday 24.3.10

Into Cheltenham to the Bacon Theatre to introduce the 11th de Ferriers lecture. on my way in two very nice women introduce themselves to me - they are Lindsey and Elizabeth who run the Cotswold Auction Company. They had just received my card thanking them for generously sponsoring the flyers and posters for the lecture. Charming young women who are obviously very enthusiastic about the event. Michael Storm comes to get me to introduce me to Richard Cork the award winning art critic, author and broadcaster, who is warm, friendly and has a very engaging smile. He tells me he has just been looking at one of my paintings. I’m very surprised until l remember that Michael and Jacqueline have one . The lecture is very well attended and starts a little late due to the numbers and problems with parking. I’m also a little sad as tonight I have to announce that Sir Michael Angus DL who I had the honour of taking over from just over eighteen months ago, sadly died on the 13th March at the age of 79. A man who once smilingly described himself as a toothpaste salesman. He rose to become one of the most influential industrialists of our time becoming amongst many other positions, chairman of Unilever, chairman of Boots, chairman of Whitbread, chairman of the CBI.

Richard Cork’s lecture is brilliant, so illuminating yet delivered in such a relaxed way that you really feel that he is talking to you personally. Its a preview of his forthcoming book “Mercy, Madness, Pestilence and Death” the healing powers of art from the medieval to now. I was particularly interested that he included the extraordinary paintings at the beautiful historic Hospital at Beune which we had visited some years ago whilst in France. Richard has been Art critic on the Evening Standard, chief art critic of The Times and now writes on art for the Financial Times and many international art magazines, been Slade professor at Cambridge, curated exhibitions at the Tate, the Barbican, the Hayward, the Serpentine and most recently Wild Thing at the Royal Academy, an exhibition of the work of the sculptors Eric Gill, Henri Gaudier-Brezka and Jacob Epstein on which he wrote the definitive book.

Thursday 25.3.10

R goes to London

Friday 26.3.10

Statement from the Bridgeman Art Library; interesting to see that amongst the reproductions in Europe and the USA, The Coffee Pot Seller; After the Eleventh; The Bird Garden and The Thorn (or St Jerome and the Lion).

R goes to London

Saturday 27.3.10

Busy in studio.

Sunday 28.3.10

Busy in studio.

Monday 29.3.10

Busy in studio.

Tuesday 30.3.10

R goes to London

Wednesday 31.3.10

We’re off by 11.45 to Heathrow airport to catch our Scandinavian Airways flight to Copenhagen. I use part of check-in time sitting on a high stool at a table in one of the airport coffee shops, doing a little more to a small painting for Margus whilst Richard has afternoon tea and orders two glasses of water, one for me to wash my paintbrush in! It feels as if the whole world is passing by, the array of different nationalities and character types is fascinating. The flight to Copenhagen takes two and a quarter hours - our fleeting glimpse of Copenhagen is followed by a transfer to Estonian Airways for the final lap of our journey to Tallinn on which I manage to do another twenty minutes on the little painting. We touch down at about 10 past 11 and after we’d collected out bags which had been magically transferred from one plane to the other, we are surprised and delighted to see a smiling Margus waiting as we enter the arrivals lounge. He’s with Barbara from the gallery and her lawyer boyfriend who kindly drive us to the Schloessle Hotel which is in the Old Town. It felt quite familiar as we used to walk past it on our way to the Draakon Gallery when we were here in 2006. Unlike most hotels we’ve stayed in it is wonderfully quiet with no sound of traffic. I do a little more painting before turning in (we are two hours ahead of British summer time here).