September 2011 Thursday 1.9.11 Call from Rob who’s in London having just been to see the collector; he’s very excited as she has bought both the paintings I painted with her in mind plus another and is still wanting a bigger one. Into Cheltenham to Queen’s Hotel where we bump into several of the Rotarians; they are warm and generous of spirit and Richard their talks organiser tells me I am in the paper more than any of the other speakers they’ve had. We also see lovely Dr Gill Rouse who founded the CLIK charity briefly before going into another of the rooms for the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum’s first in a series of evening talks on the Museum’s collection whilst the Museum is closed for its building of the new development. For this the first one we have Gary Collins who is the lead architect from Berman Guedes Stretton. He’s very good and shows us on the projector the Museum’s past usage which included being the art school which I had not been aware of and school of science. The firm had won an RIBA competition to be shortlisted from seventy seven entrants to five and the Museum and planners chose their scheme because it was the most sympathetic to the existing architecture in the row, was very environmentally friendly, green and the most cost effective. It was interesting to see too the creative journey that it took and how they had to also be aware of the English Heritage suggestions and those from the local planning department. At the beginning he showed us some of the other exciting projects that they have or are working on. I’m touched as after my vote of thanks he thanks me and says it was very sweet. Buy four more copies of the Public Collection of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to help boost the Friends fund towards the new development. Friday 2.9.11 After dealing with a few things into Cheltenham to attend the Arts & Heritage panel of the Honourable Company for Gloucestershire meeting at Willans. At the moment the ethos of the Company seems a little fuzzy in parts and we all have our own charities, organisations and agendas so it is not clear whether it is right to help these as we all have vested interests or whether we should be embarking on a new ideal; perhaps to have some smaller life changing effects on the young in the County. So there was much discussion about whether we were there to do charitable things and make money as I suggested people like the Rotarians do or whether we are a posh dining club. After the meeting go for a lemonade with Stephen, Richard who had come to collect me joins us. It’s nice to chat to Stephen as hadn’t seen him for some time - I mention that one of my dear friends and collectors Dr Charles Slosberg had commented that the TV series Waking The Dead for which he wrote some of the episodes should have won an award and he tells me he did get an International Emmy. Then its back home. Later Caroline Fisher who writes for the Echo comes for afternoon tea with her friend Marg Crawford who used to be Anita, the previous editor’s pa. Caroline had asked if she could bring her to see the house which she tells me is her favourite house in Bishop’s Cleeve. They come bearing an apple cake from Daylsford Organics. There’s lots of laughter as they regale us with funny stories. Back to work. Saturday 3.9.11 Whole uninterrupted day in studio. Sunday 4.9.11 We drive to Mark and Ben’s for their joint birthday party in their lovely garden. It a delightful event with music from the Wells Cathedral School brass quintet whom he recently took to Hong Kong to promote the school. We’re greeted by Mark who says, as you couldn’t make the Wells concert I’ve brought it to you. There’s also a keyboard player and vocalist ex student of the school who now works with him singing a little later. Ben and the boys have prepared the most wonderful array of canapés and yummy cup cakes. The champagne is flowing and its really nice to be reacquainted with Chris (and meet his partner Jom) and Richard who were at Oxford with Mark. Richard is so sweet and says he’s like to organise a lunch at the Reform Club for me to meet the people who bought one of my paintings from the Royal Academy as he was actually talking to them when they made the purchase. Chris tells me that he and Jom have the most beautiful Richard Rogers apartment on the River at Hammersmith. We’re also reacquainted with their artist friend and partner. Quite a lot of members of Cheltenham Borough and Gloucestershire County Councils here. Heather McLain introduces herself then introduces me to Duncan Smith who’s leader of CBC; I say how grateful I am that they have been so supportive of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum’s new architectural development. He’s very enthusiastic about it and say there has been cross party backing for this project; he seems to be a very nice man. Is a most enjoyable afternoon/evening and we are blessed with glorious weather. Monday 5.9.11 R delivers exhibition in hired van to the Michael Heseltine Gallery at Chenderit School whilst I am working in the studio. He brings back some of their brochures for the Autumn programmes which looks beautiful; I’m most touched that half of it is devoted to reproductions of my paintings. He sees Wallace who is delivering the two paintings he is kindly loaning to the exhibition. Phone call from Rob asking if he’d be able to have a substantial work for the middle of his stand at the Fair that he’s doing towards the end of the month! Tuesday 6.9.11 Busy in studio Wednesday 7.9.11 Work in studio until time to leave for Chenderit for the exhibition at the Michael Heseltine Gallery opening. I had one there five years ago and John Childs who is head of art and gallery director, invited me back as very generously he and his staff said I had one of the biggest influences on the students’ work and they still often use it for inspiration. They have produced a beautiful programme for this Autumn season with the front cover and the first two ages devoted to reproductions of my work - he says this year they are particularly focussing on colour. It is a very nice space and the technicians have hung it beautifully. Wallace is already there when we arrive and shortly afterwards I spot Martin who has driven all the way from Bristol. It’s soon time for me to give my talk and I’m ideally positioned in front of several of the paintings I’m going to mention. They are a very attentive and receptive audience and very easy to talk to. John is very interested in the fact that I mention the Saturday morning classes that I went to at the Art School whilst still a child and says that there is a move currently under foot to bring them back and that he too attended them (at Hornsey) as did a man (probably a teacher) in the audience. Interestingly there are art teachers from several other schools who tell me they are going to bring their students to see the exhibition. I meet some interesting people there who are very generous in their observations of the work including Dr Leo de Freitis who is an eminent wood engraving historian who tells me he recently did a teaching block at the University of Gloucestershire on the Illustration course. Then we go back to Wallace’s for a supper party; he lays on a wonderful spread of food including his smoked haddock and apple salad. His house in enchanting still wearing the same wallpaper and decor that it had when he bought it. He has a fascinating collection of paintings a ceramics. Martin has to leave to drive back to Bristol before going to London tomorrow but first he gives a stunning performance of two of the poems. The little house seems to tremble with the power of his performance. The other guests leave shortly afterwards but Richard and I, Judy and George stay on and chatter whilst listening to the CD that Wallace has put on of Martin’s wonderful soundtrack music for David Attenborough’s television series ‘Battle of the Sexes’ and enjoy the lemon tart and strawberries before travelling back home on the road through Stow. Thursday 8.9.11 Into Cheltenham to Christ Church to judge the Heritage Open Award. Am running a little late but am greeted by the photographer from The Citizen and Nikki Seville. After we’ve posed for a few photos against the photographer’s favourite works; (he’s very nice as are all the photographers I’ve met at Gloucestershire Media). I’m delighted that two women who have been sitting with their backs to us stand up to greet me one being Niki Whitfield who works as a co-ordinator for COS introduces me to the other who turns out to be Lady Arabella Kiszley, chair of Cheltenham Open Studios, like the two Niky’s she’s a delightful person with a big smile and good sense of humour - she also owns and runs the Little Buckland Gallery -although we’ve corresponded this is our first meeting and it’s good to have an informal chat about COS with the three of them. Niki and Arabella go off to get a computer attended to but I’m still deliberating when they return though managing to narrow it down. We also look at the exhibition of icons in between. We are there for almost three hours I find it so difficult - we have two first prizes (and I ask if I might sponsor a third) and four highly commended. Then its back home to work. Friday 9.9.11 Off to London after attending to business; travel over to Henrietta’s. When we arrive both little boys and Henrietta are standing on the steps to greet us. It’s so lovely to see them looking bright and very happy. Five year old Isaac tells me he has now started Science and Geography classes - he’s full of energy and shows me things he’s been doing at school. Samuel’s keen to play Lego. We’ve come to help as Kev is walking in the Pyrenees with his Dad, Uncle and brother in law. Saturday 10.9.11 We’re looking after Samuel whilst Henrietta takes Isaac to a go-karting birthday party although we also have Samuel’s friend Thomas for the first hour. When Thomas goes home we ask Samuel if he’d like to go to the Maritime Museum or the park but he declines as he’s very happy building a Lego city with Richard, so I look at the images of the 22 panels that have been painted by 8 schools in Gloucester and Gloucestershire College. I have been asked to select an arrangement for the first hang which will be unveiled and presented later this month. Sunday 11.9.11 After Henrietta and Isaac come back from his swimming lesson we take the boys to the Horniman Museum eating lunch in the car on the way. Situated in South Norwood near Dulwich this beautiful building with its clock tower was created by the Horniman tea merchant to hose his vast collection. It has the biggest collection of musical instruments in the country and a marvellous natural history section including a very large stuffed walrus. But we spend te longest time in the aquariums in the basement; here we a wonderful array of water life from poisonous frogs with exotic almost fluorescent green, blue or yellow markings on black backgrounds which were used by the native South American indians for tips to their poison darts to tiny sea horses, crabs, lobster, the whole range of shell fish. The reconstruction of a coral reef in Fiji and likewise a reconstruction of British coastline and rock pools (complete with waves which the boys really enjoy). They also enjoy the interactive tables within the musical instrument collection where the sound of every instrument can be heard by pressing on the image which also gives the number of the particular instrument. They also enjoyed trying on the Balinese masks in the exhibition from Bali. After a visit to the cafe we end up in te gift shop where both boys decide upon sets that include sea animal, two or three different whales, a shark, a diver, sea otters and a penguin. Then its home for tea which Richard had prepared earlier Monday 12.9.11 We stay and play with Samuel while Henrietta takes Isaac to school then Henrietta and I take him for his booster jab ouch! he’s very brave but doesn’t want any more of that thank you. Meanwhile R’s driven to Lewisham to the school uniform shop to pick up more socks and blazer buttons. R fixes up a washing line and replaces the smoke alarm batteries After lunch we drop Henrietta and Samuel at the Park after making our fond farewells then drive to Tate Britain to see the Romantics then new contemporary works from the collection including a fascinating video by Mark Wallinger with a recording of Allegri’s Miserere Mei, Deus written to be sung in the Sistine Chapel, a setting of Psalm 51. Also Richard Wentworth’s sculpture of a red indian formed from metal cut from a washing machine, car door and ironing board to provide the three different colours. Then finally the small Lucian Freud memorial exhibition; sadly he died a couple of months ago. Its a very good little exhibition as it covers the whole span of his work from the early surrealism to the huge revealingly scrutinised veins ad all nudes of his latter oeuvre. Interestingly I’d also been looking at the Richard Hamiltons and sadly this week there is the news of his death but again like Lucian well into his 80s. Then to the cafe for pots of tea scone and flourless banana cake! whilst in the Tate had missed a call from Brian Sinfield Gallery. We’re home again by 9 Tuesday 13.9.11 Back in the studio at work. Call from Rob re work for the art fair he’s doing later this month. and also one from Miranda at Brian Sinfield. Wednesday 14.9.11 Another call from Rob re the work for the art fair! Thursday 15.9.11 Lunch in the Royal Box courtesy of Edward and the Racecourse, for artists and sponsors of Horse Parade. Its a lovely sunny day and see lots of familiar faces. Richard, Catriona, John Turney, Gina from the Friends and then spot Jill Stuart head of marketing and design at the University who tells me she has had lots of phone calls and favourable feedback on the horses especially Pantomime Horse who is very prominent on the Montpellier roundabout. She introduces me to Stephen Marston the new vice chancellor who seems a very amiable and charming man and we discuss the new art campus at Hardwick. Friday 16.9.11 Working intensely in the studio Saturday 17.9.11 ditto Sunday 18.9.11 ditto Monday 19.9.11 Richard drives to Ilkley to deliver The Horse and the Wingéd Man to Karl and Sharron Tuesday 20.9.11 Phone calls from Professor Ken of the London Business School such a joy to hear him as we haven’t spoken for some time ) and Rob Whittle re painting. Wednesday 21.9.11 Working intensely in the studio Thursday 22.9.11 ditto Friday 23.9.11 Up early to travel over the the Forest of Dean for the AGM and Board meeting for the Trustees of the FoD Sculpture Trail. A major topic of conversation is the interesting juxtaposition of chairman and vice-chairman who have reversed roles From this morning although this arrangement seems to be as a temporary measure, ( it was felt the Chair should be someone from the region). The Sculpture Trail is second only to the Cathedral in visitor popularity. The accounts are healthy and we are able to make repairs to ‘Cathedral’ a stained glass work and also Hill 33 which again dominates a lot of the discussion as fencing still needs to be erected around it. After their lunch the others are going to be walking the Trail but I need to leave for a very special event, the unveiling of the Gloucester City Railway Station murals by eight schools in and around Gloucester and Gloucestershire College. We seem to arrive at the same time as the Mayor and Sheriff and are greeted by Tom, Richard Graham’s Parliamentary assistant. The painted mural panels look stunning, extraordinarily beautiful and all with subtle influences of the artists they have used as their inspirations. Longlevens Infants has produced Some charming Lowry and Dali inspired painted panels in contrast with Beaufort school’s strikingly sophisticated darker pieces; It was wonderful to see Kings School and St Peter’s as I had visited them both and seen the works in progress. they are all so beautifully executed. I’m delighted to see Craig and James Alexander (ex Star students) from Gloucestershire College their panel really stand out in it’s abstract beauty - great sense of design as do all the elegant GC works. But they are all so exciting and well considered. It’s good to meet Karen the new head of art at GC and the new director of the Creative Academies (Andy Ginn’s replacement) who is very nice as is Michelle Louth from GC’s marketing Saturday 26.9.11 Work continuously on the painting for Rob to show in London at the fair next week. Poor man has been requesting an image throughout last week and rings again today just as Richard is about to e mail the photograph he has taken of it. So we are on the phone when he receives the image and comments immediately ‘oh, its lovely isn’t it’. Continue working on it till 3 am. Sunday 25.9.11 R sets off before I’m up to drive the painting to London where he’s meeting Rob and Sandra at 12.15. My Mum and sister Gill arrive about 2.20 as Gill has taken my Mum to The Hobnails for lunch. It’s really nice to see them and my Mum is seeming a lot better since Dr Robinson altered her prescription. Richard, who gets held up behind a funfair, still manages to arrive back in time to change to come down to St Michael’s for their Creative Arts Festival where I am being interviewed by Revd Malc. There’s a lovely atmosphere when we arrive to the strains of a guitar and Saxophone playing jazz. The exhibition by artists in the community has been hung beautifully by Del who has masterminded this festival. I’m delighted to see so many familiar faces. Rev’d Malc and I are perched on tall stools at the front under the Chancel Arch where my Crucifixion painting or Rood hangs high above us as a permanent fixture, with my white horse part of this current exhibition in front of the high altar and the Flowers on the Wall (Henrietta and Nathan) in the chancel leading up to it. The Tiger Angel and Dove print is in front of the chancel altar The Outsider, Bird Table and Samedi on the screen next to us in front of the pulpit and the Gloucestershire Nativity next to them. The interview feels very relaxed - more like a conversation. I don’t have to project my voice as we are both miked up. They are a lovely audience and when the questioning is opened to them Eric Schaske is the first to ask a good question about my painted frames and many others of follow and after the formal session too. I’m delighted to see Nikki Whitfield and Niki Seville from Cheltenham Open Studios the latter has brought her husband and daughter. Sue and Andy Roberts are there and Wallace, who we invite back for a cup of coffee and one of Richard’s rock buns although he ends up cooking a large mushroom omelette that he divides between us all, it rounds the event off nicely though still do two or three hours work afterwards. Monday 26.9.11 Back to work on the owls and the Gandhi commission. Tuesday 27.9.11 ditto plus Wednesday 28.9.11 Add toy dog Bingo to the Gandhi commission Thursday 29.9.11 Working on the Gandhi commission adding globe. Friday 30.9.11 Working on the Doctors Gandhi commission, painting in a copy of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species with animal illustrations on the cover as they have recently returned from a trip to the Galapagos Islands where they said they were able to observe Darwin’s finches and other wildlife at close hand. In the evening to Gloucester Cathedral for the High Sheriff's event ‘Gloucestershire Performs’ which includes several wonderful choirs, Gifford’s Circus, Mary-Jess, Johnny Coppin, and starts and concludes with the amazing award winning Flowers brass band their extraordinary powerful finale of Holst's Planets Suite, Mars the bringer of war vibrates through the whole of this magnificent, ancient building and is exceedingly dramatic. See lots of familiar faces especially at the reception in the Parliament Room given by the Honourable Company afterwards for performers and guests.