Wednesday 1.10.08

So I'm back working on the Brian May commission and the smaller piece for either Brian Sinfield or Rob Whittle, who is showing at the Fair in Birmingham at the end of October.

Thursday 2.10.08

E mail from Jean-Marie at Galerie Alain Blondel to say that their collector has bought the large Nightclub painting, whilst we are on our way to London for Henrietta's birthday. I sit in the back wrapping presents and decorating them whilst my Mum sits in the front next to Richard, who made both a chocolate birthday and an apple cake last night. Isaac immediately gets out a new puzzle and I'm amazed at how well he puts the pieces together especially as it is for 3-6 year olds and he is only 2 and 7.5 months. My Mum and I look after the boys whilst R goes to collect Nathan who moved into a new studio space earlier this week and Henrietta goes for a swim. I take some nice photographs of Isaac on nathan's shoulders flying a kite in the garden before the birthday tea. isaac has a couple of boiled Omega 3 eggs with faces drawn on. I am amazed each time I see him at his vocabulary has broadened and he has become even more articulate. This morning he went for a swimming lesson whist Samuel was in the crèche; Henrietta said he commented "I really enjoyed that, Mummy". He learned to do 'monkeying' which is going along the edge of the pool hand over hand and 'the rocket' which is pushing off from the side at great speed. At about 6.45 Kev takes Nathan to Viner Street where he's meeting his assistant; last weekend they were working with Sadie Frost on a short film that she was directing. We leave about 10 after giving Henrietta her presents and sitting chatting with her and Kev who was back within a short time. We arrive home about 2 am.

Friday 3.10.08

Magazines with reviews and reproductions arrive from Paris today; Jean'Marie also e mails to say that the same collector who bought the large Nighclub painting also bought The lamb, the tiger and the angel. Spend all afternoon catching up on this diary which can at last go online as the new router from BT arrived toady and much to R's relief (and surprise) he has it set upand working within 20 minutes.

Saturday 4.10.08

I'm still picking apples (Bramleys and Coxs) from the trees. It always seems to me that fruit trees are not only a joy to watch through the seasons but you have the added bonus of the yearly harvest which happens year after year without very much effort on our parts. I've also taken great delight in the amber Passion fruits that hang suspended from the arch that forms the entrance into the back garden. Related to the pomegranate, this Malaysian fruit when opened, is filled with a cluster of juicy red seeds; the flesh though rich in colour is not flavoursome ( unlike those grown in Malaysia ) but beautiful to behold. Unfortunately the pear tree hasn't borne fruit this year; I think it's too much in the shade although I can see one dangling from the uppermost branch.

In today's post copies of Stargazer, the National Star College's Newsletter which always makes an interesting read as there are often achievements and events that I learn about for the first time in it. They've very generously given coverage to the Starart exhibition and auction inside and also on the front page with a photograph of Spencer, David, Aeron and one of the College staff, entitled 'Star Appeal Launch'. I was pleased to see also on the front page that Lucy Hawking, daughter of Professor Stephen Hawking had been up to the College to meet students at the beginning of June as she had promised to do at the Cheltenham Literature festival event last year when she and her father talked about their new book 'George's secret key to the universe'.

In the studio I've been working on Karl Monday's commission finishing and refining around the sides of the frame. E-mail from Sharron at the Fosse Gallery asking if I would have any small works for her Christmas exhibition.

Sunday 5.10.08

ditto

Monday 6.10.08

Travel over to Gloucester for the reception of the Anne Frank[+ you} exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral. On the way I read the post; an exciting letter from Greg Smith saying 'yes please' to ideas I had put forward for working with the College. Also one from Murray Edwards College Cambridge (New Hall that was) asking me to look at the web site information they have on me as one of the artists in their collection.

A beautiful reading is given by a school girl from Ann Frank's diary as a prelude after the Dean, Nick Bury's introduction to this exciting multi media exhibition. It consists of small video screens with children from many different religious backgrounds and cultures talking about the problems that often arise through the differences. Film of racism at a football match, war torn countries like Pakistan in 1972, Somalia, Darfur, Cambodia etc. etc. which brings home to us that the 'war to end all wars' sadly didn't and that there are still children suffering in similar ways to the persecution that surrounded Anne Frank and her family during the early 40s when the Germans attacked. We bump into Patricia Broadfoot and agree that this is a marvellous and moving exhibition; also John and Mrs Holroyd. As we walk back to the car we stand for a minute or two marvelling at this glorious building and recall the two beautiful photographs that John had in the Our Gloucestershire exhibition, one of the tower bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun, the other a moving shot of two tiny elderly figures one stooped and leaning on his stick under the cloisters .

Drive home in time to eat a boiled egg before Alec, chairman of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum arrives to interview me for the Friends newsletter. His questions are well thought out and pertinent and always delivered with wit.

Tuesday 7.10.08

Finishing off painting for Brian.

Wednesday 8.10.08

I attend the committee meeting of the Friends of the CAG&M which Anne Strathie, the Appeals Officer and Jane Lillystone, CEO are also at for the first half. It's fascinating to listen to the discussions of the items on the agenda and I think how dedicated these committee members are, giving up so much of their time organising events and the general running of the Friends. Through their activities the Friends raise moneys and help the Museum obtain new acquisitions or support exhibitions like the current Surrealism Returns.

meanwhile Richard's driven over to Burford to deliver the painting to Brian Sinfield.

Thursday 9.10.08

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Friday 10.10.08

I'm exchanging an e mail with Jean-Marie of Galerie Alain Blondel as R had inadvertently deleted an e mail from Jeanne St Marie who had e mailed to say that she had enjoyed looking at the works in progress on the web site; and in his reply he tells e that they have just sold The Storyteller to a client in Dubai via Tempest Radford, the London firm of international art consultants who handled the Standard Chartered commissions.

Saturday 11.10.08

Magazine arrives from the Royal West of England Academy which has two reproductions and a nice piece about the Paris exhibition, the Toronto Art fair but opens with a few words about me taking over from Sir Michael Angus as President of the Friends of Cheltenham AG&M and their new architectural development and finishes with the Gloucestershire College commission.

Sunday 12.10.08

Student Zoe comes to visit studio and interview me for her dissertation. She is quite overwhelmed by being in the studio, I suppose because I am in it every day I get used to working amidst the chaos of window sills full of papers, notes I've made, catalogues etc. Its paint spattered wooden floors, the stacks of canvases and frame, works that started but never came to fruition or in progress, pots of congealed paint piled high on my trolly and endless jars of paint brushes in various stages of ruin. But rising from it all, works in progress on easels and a few others borrowed back for exhibitions from dear Professor Ken and Nancy Simmonds. And although today I'm fairly well presented, whilst I'm at work I become part of that paint spattered studio scape and I'm sure that people who see me scurrying across the Lane from house to studio or studio to house must wonder who this little tramp is. An architect friend - a more cleanly profession - once came unexpectedly to my studio door and with a shocked expression he gasped "Oh! you're all dirty!". As I hadn't been gardening it wasn't dirt but the substance of my trade, glorious paint. Sometimes when I'm painting in oils Richard smiles at the warrior like impression on my face that has become smudged with colour too.

Monday 13.10.08

The country, or should I say the world, has been in a state of ever increasing panic as the economy, stock markets and banks have been falling in value, starting here with Northern Rock (earlier in the year) then Lehman Brothers in America and last week the three Icelandic banks who had been offering some of the highest rates of interest, went down taking with them moneys invested not only by Icelanders but internationally. Here many Councils, pension schemes and charities etc. have suddenly lost their huge investments. The British Government closed down the Icelandic banks branches here and froze their assets under a new law to protect against terrorism ; the Icelandic Prime Minister was not best pleased but after long discussions the UK Government is loaning an enormous amount to Iceland so that it can afford to honour all its British investors. But Mr Brown who is seen as the hero of the moment for being instrumental in bringing about a European policy for all its banks to be subsidised by governments. He and the government are subsidising the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and HBOS with £37 billion; four heads of banks and many top executives are losing their jobs. The bonuses that these people and the banking industry in general have been taking have been conspicuously vast. I have on occasion been flattered to get a phone call from my Bank or Building Society to see if I would like to take out another mortgage, and herein lies one of the roots of this downfall or credit crunch to use the American jargon - borrowing was made too easy and mortgagees were sometimes encouraged to borrow up to six times their annual income rather than the standard three times. The big problem now is that banks are reluctant to lend to one another in the way they had been, giving overnight unsecured loans. Investors in he UK are now guaranteed up to £50,000, a rise from £35,000. I do feel concerned that charities and big organisations (Councils etc.) will not be unduly damaged by this. In a capitalist culture you couldn't blame them for having invested with banks that offered the greatest return but as people are always waned, within any investment like playing the stock market, the higher the return, the greater the risk!

Tuesday 14.10.08

Sad news from the National Star College that Keith Anderson the chairman of the governors died peacefully yesterday morning following his illness. To repeat Helen, the Principal's, words "..Keith was a tremendous man who played a very important role in the growth and success of the National Star College, over his 25 years as Governor and 8 as Chairman." He was indeed a wonderful man; warm and charming as well as strong and guiding and almost always present at College events and celebrations. He had been Chief Education Officer for Gloucestershire so will have had a profound and lasting effect on the County.

Wednesday 15.10.08

Busy day on the communications front including a request from Jane at Tempest Radford asking for an artist statement to go with The Storyteller. Working on all fronts in the studio.

Yesterday I'd received an e mail from John Courts (to the Ambassadors) asking us to spread the word that "there will be a service celebrating the Women's Land Army and Timber Corps to be held at Gloucester Cathedral on Sunday 2nd November at 3pm to recognise the work of the women's Land Army HM Lord Lieutenant Henry Elwes would like to invite all Gloucestershire's 'Landgirls' to attend. Partners and friends welcome, tickets not required." Richard's Auntie Elsie had been a Landgirl in Lincolnshire and told him many stories of her adventures during that time including those of drawing portraits of the older farm workers in the evenings (the younger men had all gone into the army). I remember seeing a photograph of her looking rather stunning in her green corduroy regulation breeches. My Mum took down a notice to put up in the Senior Residents Club yesterday and has also given some out.

Thursday 16.10.08

We were going up to London to attend a lecture at the LSE given by Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Estonian President, on European Security, particularly as Margus had wanted to introduce us to him at the reception afterwards. But as they were going to be rushing off to a financial summit part way through the reception and things had become increasingly busy here, we decided to leave it until another occasion.

Friday 17.10.08

R delivers painting for artwork to Simon and Caroline.

Saturday 18.10.08

I'm working on the Brian May commission.

Sunday 19.10.08

Monday 20.10.08

In the evening I attend an appeal board meeting at the Star College as an introduction to the new appeal director, Kate Green. It is probably also the first time that Shaun Parsons, who is a governor and on the appeal board, has appeared as chairman of the governors. It's a small group including Anthony who gives us an update on their applications to three charitable trusts. Kate seems to be very nice and has worked for Oxfam and the National Trust. But I imagine it's going to be very challenging job in the present financial climate though I'm sure it doesn't lessen peoples compassion or generosity of spirit.

Tuesday 21.10.08

Spend the day working on the second of the pieces for Rob Whittle to take to the NEC fair at the end of the month.

Wednesday 22.10.08

ditto!

Thursday 23.10.08

Honourable Company of Gloucestershire dinner at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. We chat to Ian Mean, editor in chief of Gloucestershire media about the financial climate then as we are walking through we bump into Patricia Broadfoot and David Rockey [she's the Junior Warden] also John Holroyd and then Anne Cadbury. I'm sat between Michael, a surgeon on my left who has most wonderful long eyebrows which he tells me the small children and babies he used to treat, were fascinated by - it stopped them being afraid so he never cut them; he has the most delightful face and smile and now heads a small charity that helps and works with people with facial disfiguration. A simple charity he tells me, where the most important elements are people to talk to, counsel and encourage - the charity doesn't need large amounts of money but gives reassurance to the recipients. To my right an equally charming man. Chris, who has come out of retirement to head an NHS Hospital Trust. I think he is involved with several projects including rehabilitation for drug addicts etc. We have interesting discussions about art and my involvement with the National Star College and he suggest the name of a person he thinks I ought to meet who might be helpful for the NSC.

Friday 24.10.08

Morning, afternoon & evening all consumed by the two paintings for Rob.

Saturday 25.10.0.

Ditto!

Sunday 26.10.08

Day spent on the Brian May commission.

Monday 27.10.08

R delivers paintings to Rob Whittle in Birmingham for the art and antiques fair.

Tuesday 28.10.08

Working on a couple of small pieces for Sharon at The Fosse Gallery.

Wednesday 29.10.08

Phone call from the International Art Consultants requesting images of paintings that might be of interest to a client firm who are opening up a branch in London.

Thursday 30.10.08

Long letter from Andy Ginn, Head of Arts and Media, running through the suggestions I had made for working with the new Gloucestershire College.

Friday 31.10.08

The new DVD arrives from DGM of King Crimson's 40th Anniversary tour which is wearing Expresso on its front and back covers (they also do a matching tee shirt) plus a "Writing on the Wall" & a "Fin de Siecle" fridge magnet !