May 2010 Saturday 1.5.10 Come down in my dressing gown and spot the post on the table. I usually leave it and read it at breakfast but start to open them. There’s one from the University that must I think be about a forthcoming lecture although it doesn’t look quite the same as usual so then I think it’s an invitation to the graduation ceremony. But as I begin to read it I am overcome with emotion, so overwhelmed I can hardly believe my eyes, this august institution is honouring me for my ‘outstanding contribution to art locally, nationally and internationally and also for the considerable work (I) do in the local community’ by awarding me the honorary degree of Doctor of Arts which they say is the highest accolade that the University can bestow. I find it hard to take in, and am so moved I feel my eyes welling up. This was the art school at which I studied so many years ago, starting on Saturday mornings at the age of 13 and Reggie Dent, who was the Principal then offered me my full time place as a Junior Art Student at the interview I attended with my parents, at the age of 14; he would have been so pleased. We became great friends later in life; he was the first person through the door of my first London exhibition and the first person I bumped into on the first time I exhibited at the Royal Academy. I can barely speak when I take the letter and proffer it to Richard who is painting in the old studio; he is equally overcome as he knows how very meaningful this tremendous honour is like a huge unexpected embrace. Sunday 2.5.10 Good uninterrupted day in studio. Monday 3.5.10 This is a Bank Holiday and I am as usual pleased to be working in my studio. On the way over to the studio we meet the Reverend Malc and his wife who has been training for a 25 mile walk she is doing for the breast cancer charity. They have been out walking for five and a half hours - she will be walking with ‘Team Cleeve’. Tuesday 4.5.10 Local newsletter from the Liberal Democrats which are always interesting as they look at the local concerns such as new building policy and toxic waste disposal etc. Also a letter from the Liberal Democrat candidate for this region, Alistair Cameron. A couple of weeks ago we had the leaflet from Laurence Robertson (Conservative ) and prior to that one from the young Labour candidate. It’s going to be a very exciting election as in both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury constituencies it is a very small margin between the Liberal Democrats who hold Cheltenham where Martin Horwood is the MP and Mark Coote is standing for the Conservatives. Both such very nice men who seem to passionately care about the region and have been particularly supportive of the plight of the National Star College. The margin of difference was only a couple of hundred votes between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. In Tewkesbury, our constituency, it is greater. I still find it hard to forgive the Labour party for going into the illegal war in Iraq, which I feel has had a destabilising effect on the world and made it a much less safe place. Although their programme of new school buildings etc. has greatly improved schools across the country. Even my 87 year old mother who has staunchly supported Labour all her life has decided to vote for the Liberal Democrats. I’m still avidly reading all the relevant information although none of the policies are giving us the full picture on the cuts. There’s still a little thinking time left. Only the Daily Mirror is still supporting Labour, which is interesting as they were quite admirably the most fiercely opposed to the war in Iraq - though it did have a different editor then. Most now say that it will be a two horse race between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats so the probability of a hung parliament (or a coalition) is high; although many forecast that it will be David Cameron in number 10 on Friday. It’s hugely exciting and wonderful that more people have engaged with politics through the debates especially the young who seem particularly keen on Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, which can’t be bad as there is often a tendency towards apathy where voting is concerned. I’m still reserving my judgement until tomorrow. Wednesday 5.5.10 We spend quite a lot of time working on the garden of number 80. Again the prospective tenants we had are not going to take on the residency as sadly their marriage and relationship is off. So this might seem like a good time to sell it, especially as we are buying the property next to us. I look at the garden and think how pretty it is with the mulberry tree just coming into leaf and clumps of bluebells in the borders. The planted pots and Richard’s freshening up of the paintwork make it altogether rather beautiful. We also stripped the old brown kitchen out a couple of years ago had it replastered and turned it all white, including the units, which made it altogether lighter and big enough to eat in. The ground floor has beautiful parquet flooring that Richard sanded and varnished just after we bought it (so that we could take some of the garden back). At one time it would have been part of the old Denley’s Pleasure Garden. Thursday 6.5.10 We go down to vote with my Mum at about 4.15. The car park looks quite full so we imagine that voting numbers might be up. There seem to be large numbers of voters at various polling stations who are not able to get in to vote before polling stations close at 10pm, even though they have been there for half an hour or so beforehand, which seems shameful and inefficient on the part of the organisers. The early results are all of Labour held seats in Sunderland which however show a swing to the Conservatives, but not quite as large as they need. As the night rolls on the picture becomes clearer and the forecasted big increase in Liberal Democrat seats and votes does not materialise. We stay up until 4am. Friday 7.5.10 Cheltenham results not in as they are still counting - one of only fifteen seats still not known. Tewkesbury remains Conservative and most of Gloucestershire now has gone over to them, so Pandit Dhanda, a junior minister no longer has his seat in Gloucester nor David Drew in Stroud. I’m working in the studio when Richard comes in to tell me that Martin Horwood has held Cheltenham for the Liberals with a greatly increased majority of 5,000. He’s a very effective MP and a lovely man who speaks very generously of the wonderful campaign that his Conservative opponent Mark Coote has run over the past few years in Cheltenham. We’re as sad for Mark (who also gave a magnanimous speech) as we are happy for Martin as he too is really nice and very supportive; a Cheltenham boy (like Martin) and one of David Cameron’s A list candidates. I think had he run elsewhere he would have got in but Cheltenham has been Liberal for a long time although the margin in 2005 was very small. Interestingly both men had also worked for charities. Although there has been a swing to the Conservatives it is as predicted a hung parliament whereby although they have 306 seats to Labours 258, Liberal Democrats 57, the Conservatives would need another 20 seats for an outright majority. So they are now in discussions with the Liberal Democrats to see if there are areas where they both agree and others where there could be some compromise. Gordon Brown’s also making overtures to them but even with the Lib Dems they would need the Scottish Nationalist Party and seats from Ireland. There was a similar situation when Angela Merkel had to do deals with other parties when she and her party were elected in Germany and they have survived for five years; her coalition government seems to be well respected internationally. So there’s all to play for. Saturday 8.5.10 Discussions will take place all weekend. Nice uninterrupted day in the studio. Sunday 9.5.10 ditto Monday 10.5.10 Discussions between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour party have fallen through - the senior Labour politicians thought it would be a bad idea and rather unfair as the Conservatives had got a much larger proportion of the vote Gordon Brown has announced that he will be standing down as leader of the Labour party so the Liberal Democrats are back in discussion with the Conservatives Tuesday 11.5.10 Call from Robert Sandelson re the September exhibition. There are rumours that the Liberal Democrats will be given five seats in Cabinet. Yesterday, early evening Gordon Brown came out of number 10 to make a statement before leaving with his wife and two little boys for Buckingham Palace to hand in his resignation; shortly afterwards David Cameron and his wife Samantha went to the Palace for the Queen to officially ask him to become Prime Minister before their return to Downing Street. Wednesday 12.5.10 Whilst I’m busy in the studio R returns the paintings that Wallace had generously loaned to the exhibition in Estonia. He comes back bearing a gift from him; it’s a plate celebrating Estonia that he found in Exeter of all places. It’s rather wonderful as it gives not only biographical details of the country but also a potted history. Thursday 13.5.10 R takes the paintings back to the Great Roberto and Toyah’s who are both there as are Bill Riflin and Chris Wong - a full set of Humans. Friday 14.5.10 Call from Stuart at Paintings in Hospitals - I’d forgotten to put the Gift Aid form in with the details of the painting I’m donating to their auction at Bonhams. It had been rather a race to the post for Richard who ran down with that and my annual subscription to the Honourable Company. I didn’t think he’d make it with only a few minutes to go. After which he delivered The Witness back to the Taylors. Saturday 15.5.10 Bright day, good light working in the studio. R goes to the gallery in Burford then on to the Knowles’ to return their two paintings which had also been in Estonia. Sunday 16.5.10 Work late in studio trying to finish paintings to be photographed tomorrow for PR for the London show. Monday 17.5.10 R takes one of the paintings into the Darkroom to be photographed whilst I’m still working on the other pieces, two of them are in oil which means they won’t be quite dry!!when he...... Tuesday 18.5.10 ........takes the other five paintings into the Darkroom to be photographed. Edit the text I have written on the paintings for the gallery’s PR people to use. Wednesday 19.5.10 R’s now managed to scan the large transparencies but also makes hard copies to send in the post as well as by e mail. Nice e mail from Robert Sandelson in reply to the images, saying that the paintings look very strong indeed. The weather’s been so glorious for the past few days making the light in the studio really good for painting the big commission; I always feel very happy when doing so. Thursday 20.5.10 R goes to London to deliver some of his prints of the London Business School to them to present to alumni and the painting I am donating to the Paintings in Hospitals auction at Bonhams at the beginning of July. Friday 21.5.10 Late afternoon receive call from the Royal Academy asking if they can reproduce my painting Angel and Elephant on a postcard as part of the Summer Exhibition. Henrietta, Kev and the boys arrive at about 11pm and go straight to bed Saturday 22.5.10 R fills the pool for the two little boys - Isaac always takes particular delight with the hose pipe and again wants me to press my thumb on the end to change the shape of the water, turning it into a spray, sometimes jumping over it and sometimes when I hold it higher, running through. But there is simple science here too as we observe the rainbow and discuss the fact that it’s made by the sun’s rays refracting through the lens of the water droplets. My Mum comes and joins us in the afternoon; it’s very hot and Henrietta has to make sure that the boys are well protected with sun barrier cream. Isaac requests a visit to my studio; not as you might think with the intention of looking at my paintings! they immediately go upstairs to the cabinet that houses all Nathan’s robotic toys, the two of them standing on a chest to reach it. After this a period of circus activities jumping from a large package of bubble wrap onto the bed to rolly polly to the end. Similarly when we return back to the house garden where R has built them a teepee, I have to be the announcer for the ‘amazing stupendous incredible magnificent magical disappearing brothers. You see them in the teepee then you don’t!! In the evening Henrietta and Kev go out for a meal whilst we baby sit. Richard’s holding the fort whilst I water the pots in my studio garden when I spot two people at the front door before the sudden recognition that it’s Nathan and Ruth who have just spent three or four days on the Gower Peninsular camping and surfing. They took the opportunity as they had a bit of a break between shoots. Next week’s very busy for them again. So we have a lovely supper with them and the boys don’t wake at all - well not until after Richard has collected Henrietta and Kev from The Beckford Inn and they too have had a jolly reunion with them. Sunday 23.5.10 It’s even hotter today so R refills the pool for the boys having used yesterday’s contents to water the garden. I get drenched when Isaac directs the hose pipe at me; he’s such a rascal; he also managed to get Richard whilst he was holding Samuel to protect him. Nathan and Ruth add much to the boys’ entertainment particularly whilst Henrietta and Kev go for a run and then into Cheltenham for a quick shopping spree. Richard cooks splendid meal which we eat al fresco. Nathan and Ruth bid farewell to us about 6pm, followed by my Mum, then Henrietta and Kev (after we have bathed the boys) at about 8. I manage an hour or two in the studio before bedtime. Monday 24.5.10 The temperature is another two degrees higher today - almost too hot to sit out for my late breakfast and to do e mails. Potter in the garden before starting work in the studio on the Gloucestershire College painting. Tuesday 25.5.10 E mail from Martin Kyzsko whose book ‘Green Poems for a Blue Planet’ has just been published with delightful illustrations by Nick Park. It’s wonderfully witty but so pertinent to the plight of the planet. I remember that he and Nick had both been on a trip to Antarctica a few years ago. I shall certainly be buying lots of copies of this as they will make a brilliant read and a brilliant present. Wednesday 26.5.10 A big photographic session as the committee of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum asked me to write a piece for a new leaflet encouraging people to leave legacies to help enable the Museum to continue to care for and house so much of our history and culture within its walls, for us and the generations to come. We are very fortunate that past generations and the founder, Baron de Ferriers, who gave his fine picture collection did. They also would like a photograph; so whilst we’re at it Richard also takes more photographs of some of the pieces for the London show and the big Gloucestershire College commission, making more film of the latter too. I don’t always feel able to let him do this as sometimes it gets in the way of the creativity. Thursday 27.5.10 . Busy day on the communications front so pleased to eventually get into the studio. Friday 28.5.10 Stop painting on the big GC commission at half past five to change and go into Cheltenham for the University’s degree show. A stunning installation in the Summerfield Gallery greets the many visitors to the exhibition. Chat with Bob Davison Course Leader of Fine art Painting and Drawing before making our way round as much as possible of the exhibition. the show’s a real must for anyone interested in the cutting edge. Also see Peter and Beverley and later Andrew Stonyer, Professor of Fine Art. Unfortunately our conversation is cut a bit short as we have to make our way back as I have an important phone call to take at home at 7.30 and Jane and David (who we haven’t seen since they have been back from Australia) are coming to supper. They have had quite a difficult time as David had lost an aunt and his brother Chris (Harman) whilst they were in Australia. He tells us he had never realised quite how well known his brother was; he sadly collapsed at the podium whilst giving a lecture in Egypt. For thirty years he was the editor of the Socialist Worker and had studied for his PhD at the LSE under the father of David and Ed Milliband. A dedicated Marxist, he devoted his life to it ( not the Russian variety which he described as state capitalism) and wrote many influential books on the subject. David tells us that when they got together as a family it was family that they discussed not politics. Apparently people came to the memorial service form all over the world and there is now a tablet in Highgate Cemetery next to the grave of Karl Marx. David has spent a lot of his life teaching communication starting at Manchester University before moving onto Sydney, where Jane worked as a journalist on the Sydney Herald, later founding her own publications- journals on science and medicine. It’s such a joy to see them both and catch up with news. I’ve known Jane since I was an art student in my teens and we always recall the adventure of being pushed on tea trollies through the streets of Les Halles by two young men in the early hours of the morning, waved on by the gendarme before joining the marketeers for their early morning breakfast in a bar. It was an art school trip and my first time in Paris. Saturday 29.5.10 Up early to drive to Burford to meet dear Professor Ken and Nancy who we also haven’t seen for a long time. They look well although Ken has recently recovered from a virus. We show each other photographs of family and exchange news. they are such a delightful couple and it’s very much thanks to their generosity in loaning the paintings back that I am able to have so many exhibitions. We had been going to walk into Burford but as it’s raining we stay in the hotel for lunch and I depart with two exquisite little bonsai trees - early birthday presents -we have given Ken a belated one, a copy of the big, Art book which includes an image of one of my paintings. Henrietta had phoned last night on their way to stay at Kev’s parents en route to Devon and had told me that at the talk she gave in the school library to the year 7 students on books that were particularly meaningful to her, that as well as one on Picasso she had also taken in a book on my work. I’m so touched, particularly when she said the students looked at it with great interest. How lucky I am to have a daughter who teaches art nurturing it in the young. Teaching is such an important job. Sunday 30.5.10 Stop work at 5 to go to see Rita and deliver and return the paintings she had generously loaned for the Estonian exhibition. With her most recent acquisition she now has quite an extensive collection. She’s so sweet and has prepared little delicacies for us to nibble and things to drink that she knows we like. I am so lucky to have collectors who have become dear friends, we always laugh a lot when with Rita, she is such a culture vulture that we feel rather lacking. She frequently goes to London for exhibitions on the coach with her friend Jenny. Recently they had been to the Dulwich Picture Gallery to see the Paul Nash exhibition - she has now been twice. Twice also to the sound exhibition by Bill Fontana based on the noises of the Thames and held in the basements of Somerset House both of which she recommends whole heartedly. Monday 31.5.10 Louise Bourgeois the French/American artist has died at the age of 98. Her giant spider sculptures and installations came to particular popularity when she reached her 70’s and 80’s followed by a large exhibition at Tate Modern a couple of years ago. She was still working into her 90s. She left France for America in 1938 after marrying an American art critic, Robert Goldwater. The works are very much based on her relationship with her parents, the mother she adored and the father she hated. And sexuality. She has influenced generations of art students whose imaginations she captured.

May 2010

Saturday 1.5.10

Come down in my dressing gown and spot the post on the table. I usually leave it and read it at breakfast but start to open them. There’s one from the University that must I think be about a forthcoming lecture although it doesn’t look quite the same as usual so then I think it’s an invitation to the graduation ceremony. But as I begin to read it I am overcome with emotion, so overwhelmed I can hardly believe my eyes, this august institution is honouring me for my ‘outstanding contribution to art locally, nationally and internationally and also for the considerable work (I) do in the local community’ by awarding me the honorary degree of Doctor of Arts which they say is the highest accolade that the University can bestow. I find it hard to take in, and am so moved I feel my eyes welling up. This was the art school at which I studied so many years ago, starting on Saturday mornings at the age of 13 and Reggie Dent, who was the Principal then offered me my full time place as a Junior Art Student at the interview I attended with my parents, at the age of 14; he would have been so pleased. We became great friends later in life; he was the first person through the door of my first London exhibition and the first person I bumped into on the first time I exhibited at the Royal Academy. I can barely speak when I take the letter and proffer it to Richard who is painting in the old studio; he is equally overcome as he knows how very meaningful this tremendous honour is like a huge unexpected embrace.

Sunday 2.5.10

Good uninterrupted day in studio.

Monday 3.5.10

This is a Bank Holiday and I am as usual pleased to be working in my studio. On the way over to the studio we meet the Reverend Malc and his wife who has been training for a 25 mile walk she is doing for the breast cancer charity. They have been out walking for five and a half hours - she will be walking with ‘Team Cleeve’.

Tuesday 4.5.10

Local newsletter from the Liberal Democrats which are always interesting as they look at the local concerns such as new building policy and toxic waste disposal etc. Also a letter from the Liberal Democrat candidate for this region, Alistair Cameron. A couple of weeks ago we had the leaflet from Laurence Robertson (Conservative ) and prior to that one from the young Labour candidate. It’s going to be a very exciting election as in both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury constituencies it is a very small margin between the Liberal Democrats who hold Cheltenham where Martin Horwood is the MP and Mark Coote is standing for the Conservatives. Both such very nice men who seem to passionately care about the region and have been particularly supportive of the plight of the National Star College. The margin of difference was only a couple of hundred votes between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. In Tewkesbury, our constituency, it is greater. I still find it hard to forgive the Labour party for going into the illegal war in Iraq, which I feel has had a destabilising effect on the world and made it a much less safe place. Although their programme of new school buildings etc. has greatly improved schools across the country. Even my 87 year old mother who has staunchly supported Labour all her life has decided to vote for the Liberal Democrats. I’m still avidly reading all the relevant information although none of the policies are giving us the full picture on the cuts. There’s still a little thinking time left. Only the Daily Mirror is still supporting Labour, which is interesting as they were quite admirably the most fiercely opposed to the war in Iraq - though it did have a different editor then. Most now say that it will be a two horse race between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats so the probability of a hung parliament (or a coalition) is high; although many forecast that it will be David Cameron in number 10 on Friday. It’s hugely exciting and wonderful that more people have engaged with politics through the debates especially the young who seem particularly keen on Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, which can’t be bad as there is often a tendency towards apathy where voting is concerned. I’m still reserving my judgement until tomorrow.

Wednesday 5.5.10

We spend quite a lot of time working on the garden of number 80. Again the prospective tenants we had are not going to take on the residency as sadly their marriage and relationship is off. So this might seem like a good time to sell it, especially as we are buying the property next to us. I look at the garden and think how pretty it is with the mulberry tree just coming into leaf and clumps of bluebells in the borders. The planted pots and Richard’s freshening up of the paintwork make it altogether rather beautiful. We also stripped the old brown kitchen out a couple of years ago had it replastered and turned it all white, including the units, which made it altogether lighter and big enough to eat in. The ground floor has beautiful parquet flooring that Richard sanded and varnished just after we bought it (so that we could take some of the garden back). At one time it would have been part of the old Denley’s Pleasure Garden.

Thursday 6.5.10

We go down to vote with my Mum at about 4.15. The car park looks quite full so we imagine that voting numbers might be up. There seem to be large numbers of voters at various polling stations who are not able to get in to vote before polling stations close at 10pm, even though they have been there for half an hour or so beforehand, which seems shameful and inefficient on the part of the organisers. The early results are all of Labour held seats in Sunderland which however show a swing to the Conservatives, but not quite as large as they need. As the night rolls on the picture becomes clearer and the forecasted big increase in Liberal Democrat seats and votes does not materialise. We stay up until 4am.

Friday 7.5.10

Cheltenham results not in as they are still counting - one of only fifteen seats still not known. Tewkesbury remains Conservative and most of Gloucestershire now has gone over to them, so Pandit Dhanda, a junior minister no longer has his seat in Gloucester nor David Drew in Stroud. I’m working in the studio when Richard comes in to tell me that Martin Horwood has held Cheltenham for the Liberals with a greatly increased majority of 5,000. He’s a very effective MP and a lovely man who speaks very generously of the wonderful campaign that his Conservative opponent Mark Coote has run over the past few years in Cheltenham. We’re as sad for Mark (who also gave a magnanimous speech) as we are happy for Martin as he too is really nice and very supportive; a Cheltenham boy (like Martin) and one of David Cameron’s A list candidates. I think had he run elsewhere he would have got in but Cheltenham has been Liberal for a long time although the margin in 2005 was very small. Interestingly both men had also worked for charities.

Although there has been a swing to the Conservatives it is as predicted a hung parliament whereby although they have 306 seats to Labours 258, Liberal Democrats 57, the Conservatives would need another 20 seats for an outright majority. So they are now in discussions with the Liberal Democrats to see if there are areas where they both agree and others where there could be some compromise. Gordon Brown’s also making overtures to them but even with the Lib Dems they would need the Scottish Nationalist Party and seats from Ireland. There was a similar situation when Angela Merkel had to do deals with other parties when she and her party were elected in Germany and they have survived for five years; her coalition government seems to be well respected internationally. So there’s all to play for.

Saturday 8.5.10

Discussions will take place all weekend.

Nice uninterrupted day in the studio.

Sunday 9.5.10

ditto

Monday 10.5.10

Discussions between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour party have fallen through - the senior Labour politicians thought it would be a bad idea and rather unfair as the Conservatives had got a much larger proportion of the vote Gordon Brown has announced that he will be standing down as leader of the Labour party so the Liberal Democrats are back in discussion with the Conservatives

Tuesday 11.5.10

Call from Robert Sandelson re the September exhibition.

There are rumours that the Liberal Democrats will be given five seats in Cabinet. Yesterday, early evening Gordon Brown came out of number 10 to make a statement before leaving with his wife and two little boys for Buckingham Palace to hand in his resignation; shortly afterwards David Cameron and his wife Samantha went to the Palace for the Queen to officially ask him to become Prime Minister before their return to Downing Street.

Wednesday 12.5.10

Whilst I’m busy in the studio R returns the paintings that Wallace had generously loaned to the exhibition in Estonia. He comes back bearing a gift from him; it’s a plate celebrating Estonia that he found in Exeter of all places. It’s rather wonderful as it gives not only biographical details of the country but also a potted history.

Thursday 13.5.10

R takes the paintings back to the Great Roberto and Toyah’s who are both there as are Bill Riflin and Chris Wong - a full set of Humans.

Friday 14.5.10

Call from Stuart at Paintings in Hospitals - I’d forgotten to put the Gift Aid form in with the details of the painting I’m donating to their auction at Bonhams. It had been rather a race to the post for Richard who ran down with that and my annual subscription to the Honourable Company. I didn’t think he’d make it with only a few minutes to go.

After which he delivered The Witness back to the Taylors.

Saturday 15.5.10

Bright day, good light working in the studio. R goes to the gallery in Burford then on to the Knowles’ to return their two paintings which had also been in Estonia.

Sunday 16.5.10

Work late in studio trying to finish paintings to be photographed tomorrow for PR for the London show.

Monday 17.5.10

R takes one of the paintings into the Darkroom to be photographed whilst I’m still working on the other pieces, two of them are in oil which means they won’t be quite dry!!when he......

Tuesday 18.5.10

........takes the other five paintings into the Darkroom to be photographed.

Edit the text I have written on the paintings for the gallery’s PR people to use.

Wednesday 19.5.10

R’s now managed to scan the large transparencies but also makes hard copies to send in the post as well as by e mail. Nice e mail from Robert Sandelson in reply to the images, saying that the paintings look very strong indeed.

The weather’s been so glorious for the past few days making the light in the studio really good for painting the big commission; I always feel very happy when doing so.

Thursday 20.5.10

R goes to London to deliver some of his prints of the London Business School to them to present to alumni and the painting I am donating to the Paintings in Hospitals auction at Bonhams at the beginning of July.

Friday 21.5.10

Late afternoon receive call from the Royal Academy asking if they can reproduce my painting Angel and Elephant on a postcard as part of the Summer Exhibition.

Henrietta, Kev and the boys arrive at about 11pm and go straight to bed

Saturday 22.5.10

R fills the pool for the two little boys - Isaac always takes particular delight with the hose pipe and again wants me to press my thumb on the end to change the shape of the water, turning it into a spray, sometimes jumping over it and sometimes when I hold it higher, running through. But there is simple science here too as we observe the rainbow and discuss the fact that it’s made by the sun’s rays refracting through the lens of the water droplets.

My Mum comes and joins us in the afternoon; it’s very hot and Henrietta has to make sure that the boys are well protected with sun barrier cream.

Isaac requests a visit to my studio; not as you might think with the intention of looking at my paintings! they immediately go upstairs to the cabinet that houses all Nathan’s robotic toys, the two of them standing on a chest to reach it. After this a period of circus activities jumping from a large package of bubble wrap onto the bed to rolly polly to the end. Similarly when we return back to the house garden where R has built them a teepee, I have to be the announcer for the ‘amazing stupendous incredible magnificent magical disappearing brothers. You see them in the teepee then you don’t!!

In the evening Henrietta and Kev go out for a meal whilst we baby sit. Richard’s holding the fort whilst I water the pots in my studio garden when I spot two people at the front door before the sudden recognition that it’s Nathan and Ruth who have just spent three or four days on the Gower Peninsular camping and surfing. They took the opportunity as they had a bit of a break between shoots. Next week’s very busy for them again. So we have a lovely supper with them and the boys don’t wake at all - well not until after Richard has collected Henrietta and Kev from The Beckford Inn and they too have had a jolly reunion with them.

Sunday 23.5.10

It’s even hotter today so R refills the pool for the boys having used yesterday’s contents to water the garden. I get drenched when Isaac directs the hose pipe at me; he’s such a rascal; he also managed to get Richard whilst he was holding Samuel to protect him. Nathan and Ruth add much to the boys’ entertainment particularly whilst Henrietta and Kev go for a run and then into Cheltenham for a quick shopping spree. Richard cooks splendid meal which we eat al fresco. Nathan and Ruth bid farewell to us about 6pm, followed by my Mum, then Henrietta and Kev (after we have bathed the boys) at about 8.

I manage an hour or two in the studio before bedtime.

Monday 24.5.10

The temperature is another two degrees higher today - almost too hot to sit out for my late breakfast and to do e mails. Potter in the garden before starting work in the studio on the Gloucestershire College painting.

Tuesday 25.5.10

E mail from Martin Kyzsko whose book ‘Green Poems for a Blue Planet’ has just been published with delightful illustrations by Nick Park. It’s wonderfully witty but so pertinent to the plight of the planet. I remember that he and Nick had both been on a trip to Antarctica a few years ago. I shall certainly be buying lots of copies of this as they will make a brilliant read and a brilliant present.

Wednesday 26.5.10

A big photographic session as the committee of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum asked me to write a piece for a new leaflet encouraging people to leave legacies to help enable the Museum to continue to care for and house so much of our history and culture within its walls, for us and the generations to come. We are very fortunate that past generations and the founder, Baron de Ferriers, who gave his fine picture collection did. They also would like a photograph; so whilst we’re at it Richard also takes more photographs of some of the pieces for the London show and the big Gloucestershire College commission, making more film of the latter too. I don’t always feel able to let him do this as sometimes it gets in the way of the creativity.

Thursday 27.5.10 .

Busy day on the communications front so pleased to eventually get into the studio.

Friday 28.5.10

Stop painting on the big GC commission at half past five to change and go into Cheltenham for the University’s degree show. A stunning installation in the Summerfield Gallery greets the many visitors to the exhibition. Chat with Bob Davison Course Leader of Fine art Painting and Drawing before making our way round as much as possible of the exhibition. the show’s a real must for anyone interested in the cutting edge. Also see Peter and Beverley and later Andrew Stonyer, Professor of Fine Art. Unfortunately our conversation is cut a bit short as we have to make our way back as I have an important phone call to take at home at 7.30 and Jane and David (who we haven’t seen since they have been back from Australia) are coming to supper. They have had quite a difficult time as David had lost an aunt and his brother Chris (Harman) whilst they were in Australia. He tells us he had never realised quite how well known his brother was; he sadly collapsed at the podium whilst giving a lecture in Egypt. For thirty years he was the editor of the Socialist Worker and had studied for his PhD at the LSE under the father of David and Ed Milliband. A dedicated Marxist, he devoted his life to it ( not the Russian variety which he described as state capitalism) and wrote many influential books on the subject. David tells us that when they got together as a family it was family that they discussed not politics. Apparently people came to the memorial service form all over the world and there is now a tablet in Highgate Cemetery next to the grave of Karl Marx. David has spent a lot of his life teaching communication starting at Manchester University before moving onto Sydney, where Jane worked as a journalist on the Sydney Herald, later founding her own publications- journals on science and medicine. It’s such a joy to see them both and catch up with news. I’ve known Jane since I was an art student in my teens and we always recall the adventure of being pushed on tea trollies through the streets of Les Halles by two young men in the early hours of the morning, waved on by the gendarme before joining the marketeers for their early morning breakfast in a bar. It was an art school trip and my first time in Paris.

Saturday 29.5.10

Up early to drive to Burford to meet dear Professor Ken and Nancy who we also haven’t seen for a long time. They look well although Ken has recently recovered from a virus. We show each other photographs of family and exchange news. they are such a delightful couple and it’s very much thanks to their generosity in loaning the paintings back that I am able to have so many exhibitions. We had been going to walk into Burford but as it’s raining we stay in the hotel for lunch and I depart with two exquisite little bonsai trees - early birthday presents -we have given Ken a belated one, a copy of the big, Art book which includes an image of one of my paintings.

Henrietta had phoned last night on their way to stay at Kev’s parents en route to Devon and had told me that at the talk she gave in the school library to the year 7 students on books that were particularly meaningful to her, that as well as one on Picasso she had also taken in a book on my work. I’m so touched, particularly when she said the students looked at it with great interest. How lucky I am to have a daughter who teaches art nurturing it in the young. Teaching is such an important job.

Sunday 30.5.10

Stop work at 5 to go to see Rita and deliver and return the paintings she had generously loaned for the Estonian exhibition. With her most recent acquisition she now has quite an extensive collection. She’s so sweet and has prepared little delicacies for us to nibble and things to drink that she knows we like. I am so lucky to have collectors who have become dear friends, we always laugh a lot when with Rita, she is such a culture vulture that we feel rather lacking. She frequently goes to London for exhibitions on the coach with her friend Jenny. Recently they had been to the Dulwich Picture Gallery to see the Paul Nash exhibition - she has now been twice. Twice also to the sound exhibition by Bill Fontana based on the noises of the Thames and held in the basements of Somerset House both of which she recommends whole heartedly.

Monday 31.5.10

Louise Bourgeois the French/American artist has died at the age of 98. Her giant spider sculptures and installations came to particular popularity when she reached her 70’s and 80’s followed by a large exhibition at Tate Modern a couple of years ago. She was still working into her 90s. She left France for America in 1938 after marrying an American art critic, Robert Goldwater. The works are very much based on her relationship with her parents, the mother she adored and the father she hated. And sexuality. She has influenced generations of art students whose imaginations she captured.