Monday 1.9.08

Calls from Brian Sinfield, Rob Whittle and an e mail from Sarron at the Fosse all saying how they particulalry liked the two still lifes; interesting that three dealers should all relate to these. I suppose they pose fewer questions that some of the works.

Three beautiful copies of the book on Lily Boubon the Russian poet arrive wearing my Tango painting on its cover. Richard notices inside that one of the chapter is called 'Tango with the President' all in French of course.

Tuesday 2.8.08

Today I officially take over from Sir Michael Angus as President of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. It should be an exciting time as it should encompass the new architectural development towards which the Friends are hoping to raise £150,000. Cheltenham BC (bless them) have allocated £2million to the project which in turn means that a further funding of £750,000 will come from a charitable trust - a wonderful bonus. Cheltenham does need and deserve a larger art gallery and museum. Apart from enhancing Cheltenham's magnificent collection, particularly from the Arts & Crafts movement, it will facilitate a appreciation and study and become a cultural centre for the region and will attract people from nation-wide. I think my new role will be very compatible with that of Patron of the National Star College as many of the Friends and staff at the Museum came and supported the Starart event and also came to the evening of creative and performing arts.

Wednesday 3.9.08

The shippers come to collect the seven largest works for Paris and also 'Weekend (Sunday)' in its custom made crate which is travelling to Zurich to join the wonderful collection of newspaper related works including a de Kooning and a César.

Thursday 4.9.08

Nice call from martin Kiszko the composer to say thank you for the Paris invitation which had been forwarded on to him even though he had changed address. It's always good talking to him about the creative process and the difficulties of survival. Martin recently wrote the brilliant score for The Killing of John Lennon. he has been asked about writing one for a film currently in the making but says he doesn't know whether he can bring himself to do so as it's so violent although would probably be well paid. A great dilemma for a man who has created the vast oratorio 'A Radius of Curves' on the life of Brunel performed at Bristol Cathedral and the dramatic soundtrack for David Attanborough's television series 'Battle of the Sexes'.

Starting the finishing off process on all the smaller works; very much a labour of love as most painters wouldn't be painting around the edges of their frames. I suppose I am obsessive.

Friday 5.9.08

Call from the shipping agent in Zurich who will be seeing the newspaper painting through customs when it arrives there on Monday - it will then be delivered to its new owner. He seemed very surprised that he was talking to the artist and had a very smiley voice.

Working on the two ends of the Coffee Pot construction and also Internationals newspapers construction.

Saturday 7.8.08

The Echo and Citizen have both printed Lucy Rutherford's article on my appointment to be President of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. It's very nicely written and they've obviously had fun with a quote from Alec Hamilton (Chairman of the Friends) saying that he saw it as a personal coup and both pieces having reproduced Rumba it made it feel rather South American particularly as in the Citizen on the Index page they had said 'President Unveiled'. Both papers are always very generous in their coverage and encouragement.

Spend the day working on tops bottoms and sides of the frames. This is the downside to having them photographed once the front has been completed.

E mail from Jean-Marie at Galerie Alain Blondel to say the seven large paintings had arrived. Always a great relief.

R has spent the morning measuring the church hall (the old primary school) and its playground/car park for a theatrical performance licensing application. After which he drives to Burford to swop one of my paintings over as I need the one they have for the exhibition.

Sunday 8.9.08

Still on the big finish.

Monday 9.8.08

ditto.

Tuesday 10.9.08

E mail from HansPeter in Zurich to say that the painting has arrived safely and that Mr Noble is very pleased with it and says it is a real eye catcher in the collection.

Call from Brian Sinfield as he has some collectors in the gallery who are interested in one of my small paintings.

A nice card from Mo Thursby, Peter (ex President RWA) wife wishing well with the exhibition saying they would like to have bought my little painting from the RWA 150@150 but says dear Peter Stoppard (Tom's brother "...was lucky.."

Up until 2am finishing the work.

Wednesday 10.9.08

We set out at 8.30 am. the car packed with the paintings. Richard drops me off at Ebbsfleet where I meet Henrietta, Kev, Isaac and Samuel. We are travelling on Eurostar with Richard driving onto Ashford where he will be taking the car on another train through the Eurotunnel. It's a bright sunny day and as we disembark at Gare du Nord, Paris the warmth surrounds us. We take a large rather expensive taxi over to the Marais where we alight outside the large arched porte cochere. We enter into the internal courtyard garden and are delighted with the ambience. A very nice woman who takes us through all the procedures for the doors and equipment. The apartment looks out over the courtyard. A little later I phone the greeter for our apartment which is about a ten minute walk away, where there are two travel cots that they have hired for us. When we enter through our large portal we are in a spacious hallway with black and white chequered floor. We are on the second floor. We then return to rue Vieille du Temple. Michelle rings and I tell her Richard is hoping to be at the gallery before they close at 7pm, which he manages to do. Unfortunately after he and Alain have unloaded the luggage at our apartment he finds a car park at Beaubourg only to discover that the car stops at the barrier and won't start again! The attendant helps him to push it into a parking space. So he arrives back rather late but Henrietta and Kev have rustled up a nice supper after Kev and Isaac had visited the supermarket.

Thursday 11.9.08

The gallery are hanging the exhibition today and tomorrow. When we arrive they have started to place them around the space propped against the walls. Michelle sends us off for a promenade whilst they do their provisional hanging. As we are walking along rue Vieille du Temple we bump into Ivan Loubinikoff, one of the gallery's other artists who is here with a russian woman who has recently opened a gallery in Moscow. Ivan has designed two Metro murals in Mosaic there and is currently here to discuss his work for the Paris Metro Madeleine which will be translated into coloured glass. We had been invited to have dinner with them and the Blondels last night but were running too late. When we return to the gallery the paintings have been beautifully arranged. We meet up with Henrietta Kev and the little ones; encourage them to go out for a meal whilst we baby sit.

Friday 12.9.08

We were going to visit Musée Picasso today but sadly it's closed for building repairs so decide to go over to the Pompidou Centre and also visit the wonderful water garden there with the Tinguily and Nikki de Saint Phalle water sculptures, still working beautifully after all the years since we had originally brought Henrietta and Nathan here as children. Isaac loved them and of course wanted to put his hands in the water. Whilst the boys have their picnic lunch we receive an e mail form Donna Medway saying she would like to reserve Bags and Shoes . R goes off to the gallery to meet Alain who has very kindly collected an alternator belt for the car which Richard needs, to persuade the little garage in the rue des Archives that they can fit it. We go into the Pompidou Centre and enjoy looking at works in their wonderful collection, the highlight of which for Isaac is a cave-like room by Debuffet, made in fibre glass, with an undulating floor, walls and ceiling in creamy white with black contour lines. Isaac loves walking and running around these. There are a few youths sitting in the floor recesses at the far end and Isaac is joined by a German boy of about 4 or 5 on his journeys around this exciting interior and also insists that I follow them. Eventually a young woman asks them to walk not run because of the noise but I think Dubuffet would have been very pleased to have seen these young art lovers engaging so wholeheartedly with his piece. Isaac's other preoccupation was going up the wonderful escalators in the glass tubes. Designed about 30 years ago by Richard Rogers whose submission was very last minute in arriving it has become one of Paris's biggest visitor attractions with all the services running on the outside through pipe like constructions. R arrives back at the apartment about 7.45, pleased that the car is now working! We then walk back to the gallery to join the Blondels who are taking us to a restaurant called Le Clown which is almost next door to Le Cirque d'Hiver. It is a fascinating interior with one persons collection of clown memorabilia. It's good to sit down with them to enjoy a meal and exchange news and reminiscences.

Saturday 13.9.08

Phone Wallace late morning and am surprised to receive a reply from him on top of the Eiffel Tower. There had been a terrible fire in the Channel Tunnel on Thursday so most of our friends who were coming over from England were unable to get here. But the intrepid Wallace and his sister Madge have made it - they flew from Exeter yesterday!!

I spend the day finishing off a small corrugated newspaper work to go into the side window. We deliver it late afternoon and then go back to change arriving at the gallery with three quarters of an hour to spare before the opening. When the guests arrive there are familiar faces and new ones. Mark Scholl and his partner Jarrat, whom we have know for many years. Mark bought Henrietta Street from my first Blondel exhibition; Olivier Gerrard the writer and film maker who bought the Magicians and also commissioned me to paint the cover for his last novel (such a charming man). Monique, the attorney and UN ambassador has arranged to meet the red indian chief who represents this Canadian aboriginal race - I suspect they have been here for the Pope's visit, certainly Monique met him this morning when he performed the service at Notre Dame. My journalist friend Tracey who I have also know for many years says that she, her mother and friend were very excited to have seen him by chance in his Pope mobile! Lots of the gallery's artists who we have also known for years turn up - they are always very generous in their encouragement and support. Also Lady Westmacott the wife of the British Ambassador and of course Henrietta, Kev, Isaac and Samuel, the first exhibition of mine that the latter two have attended have attended.

Afterwards fourteen of us go to the Clown Restaurant for dinner. It's a most enjoyable meal and we end the evening inviting them all to come and walk in the Cotswolds so that we can return their kindness. They often, as artists, dealers and friends walk together during the summer vacation.

Sunday 14.9.08

Although we've got our apartment until tomorrow we decide to travel back today, especially as I have a return ticket on Eurostar. They have one tunnel open so Henrietta, Kev, Isaac, Samuel and I are dropped off at Gare du Nord and without any delay we are told we can catch the 12.45 to the UK. They are serving a free breakfast - croissants, coffee etc. and small meringue like pastries - the man serving proffers a beaker full of soft sweets to Isaac who looks very pleased with it! especially when it's topped up with marshmallows which we subtly try to lose en route the train carriage. We are amazed when we find we have the whole of the end carriage to ourselves. We and Eurostar had thought there would be a mass exodus of people trying to get back either belatedly or early to the UK now the service is greatly reduced whilst repairs are carried out after Thursday's fire. The journey again is remarkably fast and trouble free on this bright and sunny day and Kev comments on how much easier it is than flying especially with children; the staff also seemed a lot warmer and favourably disposed towards children and babies at both ends. It's still sunny when we disembark at Ebbsfleet and within half an hour we are back at Henrietta and Kev's whilst R is still en route to Dover as the tunnel for road transport is not available and there are queues for the ferry at Calais so the journey takes him about six hours longer though this does include his waiting times. We leave at about 11 pm and arrive home about 2.30 am..

Monday 15.9.08

There are messages from three dealers, Lee in New York, Rob Whittle and Brian Sinfield, so I need to reply to them before I start work. I'd also received a statement from the Bridgeman for commission due from reproduction fees.

It's good to be back in the studio especially as I need to complete a work for the Royal West of England Academy annual exhibition. Tuesday 16.9.08

Work in the studio until about 8 pm.. when R arrives back having collected Henrietta and the little ones who have come to stay whilst Kev is walking in the Pyrenees with his father, uncle and brother in law.

Wednesday 17.9.08

We spend the day entertaining the little boys with a visit to the local children's playground and enable Henrietta to go for a swim at lunchtime. I work when they've gone to bed.

Thursday 18.9.08

Today we do Pittville Park with its peacocks, rabbits, chinese chickens and chipmunks; then to the playground where Isaac adores the blue wooden train more than all the other activities. afterwards we feed the ducks and moor hens on the lake although the moor hens and a muscly duck actually join us on land for more. Henrietta is abled to have a couple of hours looking round the shops.

Again paint late.

Friday 19.9.08

Coincidentally a message from Brian Sinfield asking if I had any small paintings as he had someone wanting one and he had just sold the piece he had. I tell him when I phone back that we are on our way to the Cotswold Wildlife Park and as I'm about to say "and I know the man who designed it" he says the same thing as of course it was him in a previous life before he became an art dealer 35 years ago. It's beautifully laid out and we are blessed with a gloriously sunny day which suits most of its inhabitants very well. Isaac loves the monkeys especially when I point out the mother and baby who he thinks will also be called Samuel although this one much tinier than his own baby brother is able to climb up the woven mesh walling - he also has a brother who would be equivalent to Isaac's age. Isaac loves to point out all the family members. There are some beautiful brown tapirs, a wonderful beast that seems to embody the characteristics of many others, including the pig the horse, the elephant and the rabbit and felt almost prehistoric. They seem very gentle and to like being stroked. There are red pandas, emus, zebras and a rhino which we spotted from the narrow gauge train. The penguins were a delight as were the beautiful brilliant blue and yellow macaws. We didn't see the lion but suspect one could spend days there making discoveries.

Saturday 20.9.08

R delivers to the RWA whist we spend time in the garden. When he arrives back he takes us into Cheltenham. Whist he and Isaac look in Waterstones Henrietta and I go to choose some boots which I am buying her as an early birthday present.

Sunday 21.9.08

This beautiful weather is still holding so most of the day spent in the garden with the boys. Our trees are laden with apples and I make some little cakes using segments of Coxs on top. My Mum comes to tea.

Monday 22.9.08

Whilst H, I and S are out during the afternoon, I spend time painting on the newspaper work for Toronto.

Tuesday 23.9.08

I have a lovely morning with Isaac and Samuel making a house with opening windows and doors out of a cardboard box for two dolls he's found in one of my toy and curiosity cabinets. Then we do face painting which echo the two boiled eggs that I've decorated in a similar pattern for his lunch. Samuel looks on and laughs at all Isaac's mischievous antics. One of the eggs had really been for my Mum's lunch but as Isaac asked for more after his first we had to cook her another. Meanwhile R takes Henrietta swimming. When they get back we make preparations for their journey home with Richard this afternoon and I walk my Mum home before returning to the studio.

Up late (3 am) finishing off and touching up the three works for the Toronto Art Fair.

Wednesday 24.9.08

R's up early to collect packaging materials for the paintings' journey to Canada. They are collected at about 3.30 whilst Alec Hamilton, Chairman of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum briefs me on my new role as President of the Friends and the new Patrons scheme he is hoping we can develop.

Thursday 25.9.08

Unfortunately our internet connection hasn't been working for the past week so we are having problems. BT engineers came earlier in the week and are coming again tomorrow. Thus we haven't been able to track the paintings on their journey to Toronto with Federal Express or put the diary on.

Friday 26.9.08

I'm working on a small painting for Brian when the BT engineer arrives. This engineer has no more luck than the last one as after all the line checks he says it's definitely the Router. R spends time on the phone getting cross with BT as the Router won;t arrive until later next week, meaning further delays.

In the evening we go to the opening of the Surrealism Returns exhibition at the Art Gallery & Museum. We just miss the part of Jane Lillystones welcome speech where she also had welcomed me as the new President of the Friends. She introduces Richard Cork who gives a nicely informal introduction to the Surrealists and opens the exhibition. The first people I see are Andrew North and his wife who introduces me to Martin Horwood the MP. Andrew asks if I would see my work as being surrealist and I tell him that whilst showing at the Royal Academy in the early 1980s an arts magazine reviewer wrote that my painting (Time and Time Again) was the best example of surrealism in the Summer Exhibition. I meet lots of the Friends committee people who come up and introduce themselves to me and also Jenny Ogle who has just been awarded the Joyner Cup for her services to the arts by the Cheltenham Arts Council. It's a beautiful exhibition, quite intimate and small for such a far reaching collection. I particularly like Miro's Tete d'un paysan Catalan; a very nice Eileen Agar; the two beautiful Roland Penrose works also the small Tanguay and a little Paul Nash drawing; the tiny Picasso Weeping woman drawing; a very good Edward Burra and an early Moore carving. No Dali, although photographs and references to him will also be made through some of the films shown during the exhibition's course. the exhibition is very evocative of both the era and the movement and well worth a visit.

Work late finishing the small piece for Brian Sinfield.

Saturday 27.9.08

It's bright and sunny so I eat my breakfast in the garden before going over to the studio. R delivers the painting to Burford, bringing back some very nice old frames that Brian has given him before his gallery moves to a new position in Burford High Street. Whilst he's away Derek comes to the door bearing a bottle of wine and a 'thank you' for Richard who has drawn up a plan of the church hall for the church hall committee to submit to the planning office to get a license for performances. I tell him that Richard didn't want payment it was labour of love - he said "and you've got a lot of those too". I wonder if he's particularly meaning the altar piece triptych or my other commitments.

Sunday 28.9.08

I have Brian May's commission back on the easel; I had hoped to finish it by August for the Edinburgh Festival but very generously he said I should take as long as it takes to get it right and today I've decided to change it quite dramatically by removing its painted frame and replacing it with another just gessoed in white, as I want to try out an alternative idea. Once I've roughly blocked it in with paint I decide it is better. When R comes over to the studio he agrees.

After dinner and our walk I compose my letter to back up the National Star College's application to a charitable trust for further funding towards the new development. It takes a couple of hours to get it just right though decide I will fax it to Gill Henry in the College's Appeals department to make sure she agrees before I send it. She had approached me early in September and I had promised to get it to her by the end of the month when I had more time after the Paris exhibition opening and Henrietta visit with the little boys.

Monday 29.9.08

Gill phones to generously say my letter is 'magnificent' so hopefully I've got it right. R sends it special delivery as they want to send off the application mid week.

Invitation to attend a lecture at the LSE delivered by Toomas Hendrik Ilvs, president of Estonia, on European Security Architecture - a paradigm shift, mid October. He was formerly a member of the European parliament.

Phone call from Rob Whittle.

Continuing on the Brian May commission.

Tuesday 30.9.08

Arrive at Jenny and Douglas Ogle's a bit after 10.30 for a meeting they had invited me to, to put forward ideas for the 25th anniversary of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum dinner at the end of next May. Jenny seemed concerned about ticket prices with the ever increasing forecasts of doom and gloom that the news through the media presents us with each day. They have thought that the Pump Rooms with Fosters the catering firm that have the franchise. I suggest that perhaps an alternative venue were found it would be possible to use students from the Catering Academy (part of Gloucestershire College) or their restaurant on the campus, who have a high reputation and were certainly very good at serving the champagne at the Star Art exhibition. Jenny was also concerned about getting a speaker for the occasion - she has in mind Tim Marlow, the art critic who's office is in the White Cube Gallery but hadn't been able to speak to him; or possibly Giles Brandrith the politician turned media presenter. I suggested the possibility of having someone more local like Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen who I know supports several charities. Jenny is hugely successful at achieving good results, events and trips for the Friends so I'm sure she will succeed.

We then go to visit Joyce who I haven't seen since she came out of hospital as it coincided with Paris. She's looking very good and walking well. She showed me the photographs of Kyla's wedding for which she had created the dress which looked stunning (she studied fashion when we were art students).

On our way back I have a terrible suspicion that I've made a mistake over the time of my dental appointment. Sure enough when I look in the diary it's not at 2.30 as I'd thought but 1.45 so I have to make big apologies as at 9 minutes past 2 it is too late to keep it. But my mistake has given me more time in the studio. Nice e mail from Gill Henry in the Appeals office at the National Star College thanking me for the hard copy my letter supporting their appeal to a charitable trust repeating that it is 'magnificent'.

Hurrah! - have just heard from the Toronto gallery that the paintings were delivered this morning just in time to be loaded onto their truck for the Art Fair that opens there this week. I had been getting rather worried and having no internet at the moment we were not able to track the packages.